2023 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Entries, Odds and Predictions: Hit Show

The 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve will be run on Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The purse is $3 million, with $1.86 million going to the winner. US Racing is profiling each horse in the field. The post-position draw is Monday, May 1. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw.

By US Racing Team

Make no mistake, Hit Show knows how to win, with three victories in five career starts. Just because he was in the middle of a three-horse jostling match and finished second in the Wood Memorial (G2) in his most recent start doesn’t mean his Derby chances have diminished.

The Gary and Mary West-owned gray colt will show up at Churchill Downs as one of trainer Brad Cox’s four starters.

A year ago, Cox sent out three starters with his best finish a seventh by Tawny Port. Two years ago, the two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer sent out Mandaloun, who ran second but became the official winner when Medina Spirit was disqualified for a race-day medication violation.

A betting favorite at every stop he’s made, Hit Show won at first asking at Keeneland on Oct. 9, ran fourth at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26 after a bobble at the start, then won at Oaklawn Park on Dec. 17 before jumping on the Derby trail with a 5 ¼-length win in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct. His 40 Derby-qualifying points in the Wood boosted his point total to 60 – 11th on the leaderboard.

2023 Kentucky Derby Entries: Hit Show

Post position: 1

Odds: 30-1

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Manny Franco

Owner: Gary and Mary West

Career record: 5-3-1-0

Career earnings: $404,375

Derby qualifying points: 60 (11)

Best Equibase speed figure: 99

Pedigree: Candy Ride-Actress, by Tapit

Color: Gray

Running style: Stalker

Notes: Cox led all trainers with 38 horses nominated to the Triple Crown races … his other scheduled starters on Derby Day are Angel of Empire, Verifying, and Jace’s Road … Franco finished second in the 2020 Derby aboard Tiz the Law.