Kentucky Derby Blog

The 137th Kentucky Derby is only a couple of hours away and here is the live odds and post positions.

Last Updated: May 7, 2011 4:40pm EST
Pool Total: $15,245,764.69

National Weather Service hydrologist Mike Callahan says light rain is possible in Louisville – just enough to make the Churchill Downs infield muddy Saturday. Callahan says the first batch of rain could reach Louisville by late morning, with scattered showers in the afternoon.

With the Kentucky Derby 2011 post time being 6:24 EST, it looks like the odds of rain are that of a coin toss.
1 pm
* Temp: 66° F
* Chance of Rain: 60%

2 pm
* Temp: 66° F
* Chance of Rain: 35%

3 pm
* Temp: 66° F
* Chance of Rain: 15%

4 pm
* Temp: 67° F
* Chance of Rain: 60%

5 pm
* Temp: 67° F
* Chance of Rain: 50%

6 pm
* Temp: 67° F
* Chance of Rain: 50%

The weather forecast for Saturday’s 137th Kentucky Derby calls for rain with a chance of thunderstorms. The expected post-time temperature is 75 degrees, which is similar to last year. The chances for a muddy track may have a big impact on this years winner as well as the chances for a Triple Crown winner this year.

The Friday forecast calls for light rain and isolated thunderstorms. Both Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby will be run on the muddy track.

Archarcharch and Brilliant Speed jumped up after winning the Arkansas Derby and The Blue Grass Stakes respectively. Kentucky Derby 2011 contenders by graded earnings as of April 18th.

Uncle Mo arrived under the twin spires on Monday afternoon following an eventful trip from New York. Uncle Mo will gallop on Tuesday morning for trainer Todd Pletcher, though his status for the Run for the Roses on May 7 remains unclear. Tests following a disappointing third-place finish in the Wood Memorial on April 9 discovered a gastrointestinal infection.

Pletcher says the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner will undergo two workouts before making a Derby decision.

Uncle Mo joins stablemate Stay Thirsty, Repole Stable’s winner of the Gotham, among five Kentucky Derby contenders now on the grounds and those horses will bid to give Pletcher his second consecutive victory in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher picked up his first Derby victory last year with WinStar Farm’s Super Saver.

Todd Pletcher, looking to explain previously undefeated Uncle Mo’s disappointing third-place finish in last Saturday’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York, said Thursday that post-race blood tests point to a gastrointestinal infection.

According to a statement released by Pletcher, treatment for the infection began immediately and veterinarians cleared the former Kentucky Derby favorite to continue preparations for the opening leg of the Triple Crown.

The 2-year-old champion, who had been dominant in sweeping his first four starts, is still scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday. He is expected to have two workouts there to determine his readiness for the 1¼mile classic.

Interestingly, owner Mike Repole already mentioned the Preakness as a possibility for Uncle Mo’s next start. “Though it has been a lifelong dream to run (in) and win the Kentucky Derby, if Uncle Mo is not 100%, we will skip the Derby and go right to the Preakness,” Repole said

The third and final pool of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager ended April 3 with unbeaten champion Uncle Mo favored to win the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Dialed In closed fast in the pool’s final minutes to end up as a solid second choice.

Kentucky Derby bettors wagered $392,910 during the April 1-3 pool to lift total wagering for the three 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pools to $1,362,101. The final pool betting figures included $269,354 wagered to win and $123,556 in exacta betting.

The overall wagering total for all three pools was the fifth highest in the 13-year history of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and its largest three-pool betting total since 2007.

The 3-year-old son of Warfront turned the Rebel into his third consecutive wire-to-wire victory, blazing through the 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.19, a stress-free 6¼ lengths in front.

The Factor returned $4.80, $4 and $3.20. Caleb’s Posse paid $14.20 and $6.80, outsprinting in the stretch Southwest Stakes winner Archarcharch, which paid $4.20.

The Factor could return to the Hot Springs, Ark. track for a run in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (GI) at 1 1/8 miles on April 16.

Watch the Rebel Stakes replay.

Win handle was $279,534 on Pool 2, with another $97,165 bet on exactas. The total of $376,699 was up 6 percent from 2010 Pool 2 and ranks right in the middle for all-time Pool 2 handles (seventh-highest of 13) since Churchill Downs first began offering parimutuel futures in 1999. The record Pool 2 handle of $511,655 was set in 2005.

Leading three-year-old Uncle Mo has been made the favorite with the close of betting in the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Here is the complete list of the 24 betting interests for the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The third and final Future Wager will be on the first weekend of April.

Uncle Mo, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a strong favorite and the top contender. Check out the top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders in the graded earning as of March 13.