Kentucky Derby odds and post positions: Run for the Roses on tap Saturday

The big day for horse racing fans is almost here, and the Kentucky Derby odds say that Forte is the most likely winner on Saturday.

When Monday’s post-position draw was finished, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite.

All 20 spots in the starting gate were filled — with three also-eligibles waiting.

Forte will break from the 15 post and will need to maneuver in the early going to avoid having to travel three- or four-wide into the first turn at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ, Forte also captured the April 1 Florida Derby.

The second choice on the morning line for the 149th running of the Derby is Tapit Trice, another colt trained by Pletcher, at 5-1. He’ll break from Post 5.

Tapit Trice won the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes.

The third choice is another classy stakes winner, Arkansas Derby champ Angel of Empire (8-1 on the morning line).

Brad Cox trains Angel of Empire, who drew the 14 post, along with three other Kentucky Derby runners.

Rounding out the leading contenders are Practical Move, who won the Santa Anita Derby, and Derma Sotogake, who captured the UAE Derby. Both are listed at 10-1.

The third of three Pletcher-trained entries is Kingsbarns (12-1), who took the Louisiana Derby.

“We’re blessed to be in the position of having three colts of this quality,” Pletcher said. “The way they’ve been training leading into it, we’re really excited about it.

“Now we’re just hoping for everything to continue to go as well as it has. Hopefully we can work out some good trips.”

The Derby favorite Forte has won five races in a row and is among the stronger morning-line favorites of the past several years.

“Well, I think his versatility is part of what makes him good,” Pletcher said in a WHAS11.com story. “But really, he just has that natural instinct of the desire to win to get to the wire first.”

(Post position, horse, trainer/jockey, morning line odds):

1. Hit Show, Brad Cox/Manny Franco (30-1)

2. Verifying, Brad Cox/Tyler Gaffalione (15-1)

3. Two Phil’s, Larry Rivelli/Jareth Loveberry (12-1)

4. Confidence Game, Keith Desormeaux/James Graham (20-1)

5. Tapit Trice, Todd Pletcher/Luis Saez (5-1)

6. Kingsbarns, Todd Pletcher/Jose Ortiz (12-1)

7. Reincarnate, Tim Yakteen/John Velazquez (50-1)

8. Mage, Gustavo Delgado/Javier Castellano (15-1)

9. Skinner, John Shirreffs/Juan Hernandez (20-1)

10. Practical Move, Tim Yakteen/Ramon Vazquez (10-1)

11. Disarm, Steve Asmussen/Joel Rosario (30-1)

12. Jace’s Road, Brad Cox/Florent Geroux (15-1)

13. Sun Thunder, Kenny McPeek/Brian Hernandez Jr. (30-1)

14. Angel of Empire, Brad Cox/Flavien Prat (8-1)

15. Forte, Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz Jr. (3-1)

16. Raise Cain, Ben Colebrook/Gerardo Corrales (15-1)

17. Derma Sotogake, Hidetaka Otonashi/Christophe Lemaire (10-1)

18. Rocket Can, Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado (15-1)

19. Lord Miles, Saffie Joseph Jr./Paco Lopez (30-1)

20. Continuar, Yoshito Yahagi/Ryusei Sakai (50-1)

The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby will air on NBC, with a scheduled post time of 6:57 p.m. ET.