2023 Kentucky Derby post draw, odds: Favored Forte starts from Post 15 in Saturday's Run for the Roses

The 2023 Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday at Churchill Downs, and the draw for the 149th Run for the Roses was held Monday with current betting favorite Forte (3-1) and regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. starting from Post 15 in a full field of 20. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Violence enters on a five-race winning streak.

The only post to never house a Kentucky Derby winner is No. 17. Last year, 81-1 long shot Rich Strike became only the second winner from Post 20, which is as far outside as a horse can begin. Six times a horse has won the Derby from Post 15, last Authentic in 2020.

Forte, the 2022 Eclipse Award winner as the champion 2-year-old colt, has six wins in seven career starts, last the Florida Derby on April 1 at Gulfstream Park. Forte was well back early after drawing the 11th post in the 12-horse race and didn't take the lead until the very last strides. Forte covered the 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.51 seconds and returned $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Pletcher is now a seven-time Florida Derby winner.

The Florida Derby has been the most productive prep in Kentucky Derby history, producing 24 winners of the Run for the Roses. Forte was the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and only twice has a horse won the Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double: Street Sense in 2006 and Nyquist in 2015.

Pletcher is looking for his first Kentucky Derby winner since Always Dreaming in 2017. Pletcher will also saddle Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns in pursuit of a third Kentucky Derby victory. Ortiz is a four-time Eclipse Award winner but hasn't won the Derby or even hit the board (finish in the top three) in his six prior Kentucky Derby rides.

Forte hasn't raced previously at Churchill Downs. The last race favorite to win the Derby was Justify at 3-1 in his Triple Crown year of 2018. Omaha Beach was scratched in 2019, Tiz the Law placed second in 2020, Essential Quality was third in 2021 and Epicenter was the runner-up last year.

The dreaded inside and outside posts for Saturday's race went to No. 1 Hit Show and No. 20 Continuar.

1. Hit Show, Manny Franco, 30-1
2. Verifying, Tyler Gaffalione, 15-1
3. Two Phil's, Jareth Loveberry, 12-1
4. Confidence Game, James Graham, 20-1
5. Tapit Trice, Luis Saez, 5-1
6. Kingsbarns, Jose Ortiz, 12-1
7. Reincarnate, John Velazquez, 50-1
8. Mage, Javier Castellano, 15-1
9. Skinner, Juan Hernandez, 20-1
10. Practical Move, Ramon Vazquez, 10-1
11. Disarm, Joel Rosario, 30-1
12. Jace's Road, Florent Geroux, 50-1
13. Sun Thunder, Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1
14. Angel of Empire, Flavien Prat, 8-1
15. Forte, Irad Ortiz Jr., 3-1
16. Raise Cain, Gerardo Corrales, 50-1
17. Derma Sotogake, Christophe Lemaire, 10-1
18. Rocket Can, Junior Alvarado, 30-1
19. Lord Miles, Paco Lopez, 30-1
20. Continuar, Ryusei Sakai, 50-1

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