KY Derby Field

Curlin is the morning-line favorite for the Derby (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Unbeaten Arkansas Derby (G2) winner CURLIN (Smart Strike) has been tabbed the

7-2 favorite on the morning line in Saturday's $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1) by

oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The Steve Asmussen-trained colt is a slight choice

over two-year-old champion STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]), who exits a

runner-up finish in the Blue Grass S. (G1) and is listed at 4-1. Louisiana Derby

(G2) hero CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch) and Wood Memorial (G1) victor NOBIZ LIKE

SHOBIZ (Albert the Great) both come next at 8-1. The rest of the field is 10-1

or higher.

Curlin, who will attempt to become the first unraced two-year-old to win the

Kentucky Derby since 1882, will break from post 2 with jockey regular rider

Robby Albarado.

"Considering the 16th selection (in the Derby post position draw), the

two-hole was an excellent option for him," Asmussen said. "A horse of his size

can take his position, but we would have preferred to be further outside."

Curlin captured the Arkansas Derby by a record 10 1/2-length margin to

improve to three-for-three, breaking from post 2 in the process. Asmussen

doesn't put much credence into him being selected as the morning-line favorite.

Stormello will break from post 17 (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com)

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Street Sense's connections had the sixth

choice in the draft order and selected post 7 for the dark bay colt.

"I thought it was a good selection, Unbridled (1991 Kentucky Derby winner)

was number seven," Nafzger noted. "Like I always say, we're 19-1 when we go in

the gate (20 horses in the field). I don't care what the morning line is, I just

want to be number one at the wire."

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out a record-tying five entries. Florida

Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth S. (G2) winner SCAT DADDY (Johannesberg), the

10-1 fifth choice on the morning line, was placed in post 14 by his connections

with the eighth pick. That's the last spot in the main gate.

"You'll see that this horse has mostly raced on the outside," Pletcher

explained. "He was outside in the Fountain of Youth; he was four wide in the

Florida Derby. So we chose the outside thinking it was easier for him to start

out there."