CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Dialed In, the winner of the Florida Derby, was installed Wednesday as the 4-1 early-line favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. The three-year-old male foal of Horse of the Year, Mineshaft, will break from post No. 8 in the 137th Run for the Roses on Saturday.
The second choice in the race, which drew a full field of 20, is 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo, who will break from post position No. 18 in the outside auxiliary gate. Uncle Mo’s early line is 9-2, set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.
Arkansas Derby runner-up Nehro is the third choice at 6-1 and the horse that edged him by a nose in that race, Archarcharch, is projected the co-fourth choice at 10-1, along with Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude
Twenty-two horses entered into the race on Wednesday morning. But the number of starters is limited to 20, with preference given to those horses with the highest graded-stakes earnings. That left Sway Away and Ruler on Ice on the outside looking in on Saturday.
Post time for the race is set for 6:24 p.m. Eastern time.
Here are the horses who will make the race Saturday, in post-position order with morning-line odds, trainer and jockey:
1. Archarcharch, 10-1, William Fires, Jon Court
The horse had a big spring at Oaklawn Park, winning the Southwest Stakes and the Arkansas Derby. Even though Nehro was catching him at the wire in the Arkansas Derby, his pedigree suggests stamina is his game.
2. Brilliant Speed, 30-1, Tom Albertrani, Joel Rosario
The winner of the Blue Grass Stakes, on Keeneland’s synthetic track, has been horrendous on conventional dirt.
3. Twice the Appeal, 30-1, Jeff Bonde, Calvin Borel
The presence of Borel, a master of riding the rail to victory at Churchill Downs, will draw bettors. The fact that Twice the Appeal’s only big victory came in the not-yet-prestigious Sunland Derby, will not.
4. Stay Thirsty, 20-1,Todd Pletcher, Ramon Dominquez
Fifth in the Juvenile last year and seventh in his final prep race, the Florida Derby. He should like the Derby distance, but that may not be much help.
5. Decisive Moment, 30-1,Juan Arias, Kerwin Clark
He’s been in the money in seven of eight races, with two victories. Unfortunately, neither of those victories were in graded stakes.
6. Comma to the Top, 30-1, Peter Miller, Patrick Valenzuela
The cagey veteran of the field, with six wins and two seconds in 13 starts, Comma to the Top. But will the experience overcome his lack of Derby-distance pedigree?
7. Pants on Fire, 20-1, Kelly Breen, Rosie Napravnik
The Louisiana Derby winner has experience and tactical speed but questions about his distance pedigree are on handicappers’ minds.
