Bet this race at Top pick: #17 (Highly Motivated ) (10-1) - Stamina and a late burst are needed for the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby. Unbeaten Essential Quality is getting much of the publicity, but only two Breeders' Cup Juveniles champions have ever gone on to win the Derby. And in a crowded, 20-horse field, a lot of variables come into play. Highly Motivated lost only by a neck to Essential Quality when they met April 3, nearly pulling the upset. He'll be ridden by Hall-of-Famer jockey Javier Castellano, and is trained by three-time Eclipse Award-winning Chad Brown. In five starts, Highly Motivated has finished 1st twice, 2nd twice, and 3rd once.
2nd pick: #9 (Hot Rod Charlie) (8-1) - Hot Rod Charlie is the most experienced horse of this group. Trained by two-time Derby winner Doug O'Neill, Hot Rod Charlie won the Louisiana Derby by two lengths and is second to Essential Quality with 110 Derby points. The Kentucky Derby will be his eighth career race, and he has the late speed potential that is essential for this track.
3rd pick: #15 (Rock Your World ) (5-1) - Rock Your World draws a good position in this crowded field, and he won the Santa Anita Derby by 4.25 lengths. That was his first start on the dirt, and he's won twice already on turf. Jockey Joel Rosario has been aggressive on speed horses during Derby preps. In 2013, he rode the winners of the Dubai World Cup and the Kentucky Derby.
4th pick: #1 (Known Agenda) (6-1) - This high-energy horse is trained by two-time Derby-winner Todd Pletcher. Known Agenda has finished first in two straight races, and three of his last six, most recently taking the Florida Derby. Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. participates in his fifth Derby and is leading the national standings in wins and earnings in 2021. Known Agenda has the stuff to be in this one all the way, though drawing the rail is a concern in a 20-horse field.
5th pick: #14 (Essential Quality ) (2-1) - The favorite is a perfect five-for-five, has Luis Saez aboard, and has been showcasing outstanding versatility. Essential Quality had a Blue Grass victory at Keeneland on April 3 to move to the top of the Derby standings with 140 points. However, of the horses that win the Blue Grass Stakes, only one has gone on to win the Kentucky Derby over the past 25 years.