Journalism will begin Kentucky Derby 151 from post 8 and has been tabbed the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Run for the Roses. The Santa Anita Derby winner leads 21 entrants (20 can start) in America’s most important horse race, as drawn this evening at a special ceremony between live races at Churchill Downs.

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Favorites have dropped 6 straight Derby decisions dating back to Justify’s Triple Crown sweep in 2018. Chief opposition to Journalism figures to come from Florida Derby runner-up Sovereignty (post 18), second choice in the morning line at 5-1 odds. The Derby field lost one of its leading players Saturday morning when Florida Derby winner Tappan Street exited his final major workout with a condylar fracture in his right front leg.

The often-contentious early Kentucky Derby pace could set the table for the finishing kick of Journalism, Sovereignty and a band of late runners. The draws of the prospective Derby 151 pacemakers figure to ratchet up an already-expected wicked pace. Blue Grass runner-up East Avenue (post 12), Virginia Derby winner American Promise (post 5), Tampa Bay Derby champ Owen Almighty (post 20), Florida Derby tempo-setter Neoequos (post 2), Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez (post 4) and last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Citizen Bull (post 1) all have early gas. The latter pair hail from Bob Baffert’s stable, back after a 3-year ban by Churchill Downs for his 2021 medication infraction and subsequent disqualification of Derby winner Medina Spirit.

Japan has a pair of representatives in the field, UAE Derby winner Admire Daytona (post 6) – who could also be part of the early pace discussion – and the Kentucky-bred American Pharoah colt Luxor Cafe (post 7), winner of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series and 4 straight races.

As for the post draw’s winners and losers? Winners include Journalism (post 8), Sandman (post 17), Luxor Cafe (post 7) and East Avenue (post 12, particularly with deep closers immediately inside and outside of him in the gate). In addition to the aforementioned speed horses all drawn down inside, synthetic specialist Final Gambit (post 3) is another of the draw’s losers – he’ll have all the dirt kicked back in his face for the first time from far back in the pack.

Friday’s Kentucky Oaks also was drawn tonight, topped by the undefeated Good Cheer, who aims for her seventh straight victory. She will start from post 11 of 14 and slated at 6-5 odds by track handicapper Mike Battaglia.

Kentucky Derby 151 | Churchill Downs | Race 12 | 6:57 pm ET

1-Citizen Bull (Bob Baffert / Martin Garcia) 20-1
2-Neoequous (Saffie Joseph Jr. / Flavien Prat) 30-1
3-Final Gambit (Brad Cox / Luan Machado) 30-1
4-Rodriguez (Bob Baffert / Mike Smith) 12-1
5-American Promise (D. Wayne Lukas / Nik Juarez) 30-1
6-Admire Daytona (Yukihiro Kato / Christophe Lemaire) 30-1
7-Luxor Cafe (Noriyuki Hori / Joao Moreira) 15-1
8-Journalism (Michael McCarthy / Umberto Rispoli) 3-1
9-Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes / Brian Hernandez Jr.) 12-1
10-Grande (Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez) 20-1
11-Flying Mohawk (Whit Beckman / Joe Ramos) 30-1
12-East Avenue (Brendan Walsh / Manny Franco) 20-1
13-Publisher (Steve Asmussen / Irad Ortiz Jr.) 20-1
14-Tiztastic (Steve Asmussen / Joel Rosario) 20-1
15-Render Judgment (Kenny McPeek / Julien Leparoux) 30-1
16-Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley / Juan Vargas) 30-1
17-Sandman (Mark Casse / Jose Ortiz) 6-1
18-Sovereignty (Bill Mott / Junior Alvarado) 5-1
19-Chunk of Gold (Ethan West / Jareth Loveberry) 30-1
20-Owen Almighty (Brian Lynch / Javier Castellano) 30-1
21-Baeza (John Shirreffs / Flavien Prat) AE 12-1