15 Kentucky Derby prospects are in 7 races Saturday

There are 15 horses that are in the Kentucky Derby futures market in Las Vegas or are on the verge of being there. 15 Kentucky derby prospects are running in 7 races on Saturday.

Sgt. Pepper is the 5-2 morning-line favorite to win his debut at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides him in the $84,000 maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.

Power in Numbers (8-5) is the morning-line favorite in a field of eight maidens going seven furlongs at Aqueduct. Seth Klarman paid $200,000 for a Girvin colt. Clubhouse (5-2) has won only two races in his career.

Six of the nine horses in the 7 1/2-furlong "a other than" turf race at Gulfstream Park have dirt or synthetic-track records. Tumbarumba (4-1) was beaten favorite last out Dec. 10 at Fair Grounds in Louisiana Juvenile for state-bred horses. He won his maiden race in November at Churchill Downs for owner John Amerman.

Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen train the three Derby futures horses in this two-turn mile for non-winners of a race other than maiden, claiming, starter or state-bred. Verifying (6-5), 125-1 at Caesars and 75- 1 at Circa, was a debut winner for Cox last summer at Saratoga. Justify (775,000), who finished second in Champagne (G1), and a troubled sixth in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will be ridden by Martín García. Judo (8-2), 225-1000 at circa and 150-000 at caesar, comes back for the first time since he finished a distant second at Churchill Downs. Gun Pilot (15-10), 200- 1000 at cca, has not raced in the seven weeks since his three-length victory as a first-time starter going seven furlongs at the Churchill downs.

Champions Dream, Handsome Playboy and Armstrong are the morning-line favorites for the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Samy Camacho rides the Justify colt owned by Jeffrey Weiss. Armstrong is going for his third straight win. Mucho Macho Man is owned and trained by Dean and Patti Reeves and paired with jockey Antonio Gallardo.

Kingsbarns (7-2) is the morning-line favorite for the one-mile maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park. The $84,000 purse is biggest on the card. Kingsbarna is an $800,00 Uncle Mo colt owned by Spendthrift Farm. Weyhill Road (8-1) was a distant fourth in his debut at Keeneland. Tyler Gaffalione rides him at a distance suitable for his pedigree.

Rocket and Roll and Shopper’s Revenge are the top morning-line horses in the $90,000 maiden special weight race at Oaklawn. Arabian Knight earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure on Breeders” Cup Saturday. Shoppers‘ Revenge finished second in his only race, which covered seven furlongs Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.