The term contender is relative when it comes to this year's Derby in a race that is as wide open as we have seen in recent years. Classic Empire opens up as a slight favorite at 4-1 in the morning line odds. He had been an early favorite for the Derby but a foot abscess slowed him down during the prep season. He had a disappointing third-place showing in the Holy Bull but bounced back with a victory at the Arkansas Derby in what turned into a must-win race for the horse to qualify for Churchill Downs. Two horses are tied for second in the opening odds, Always Dreaming and McCraken, at 5-1. Always Dreaming is coming off a Florida Derby victory which in recent history has produced the most Derby winners. McCraken had won four straight races prior to finishing third in the Blue Grass. The horse did battle an ankle injury that forced him to miss the Tampa Bay Derby. Irish War Cry is fourth in the odds at 6-1. The horse has won four of his last five races but his seventh-place finish in the Fountain of Youth has many questioning whether he has what it takes to win the Derby. Unlike some years where there are only three or four horses expected to compete for a Derby victory, most horses in the field have a chance to find the Winner's Circle in Saturday's race. Heavy is here to breakdown the leading contenders and rank our top horses heading into Churchill Downs. The horses are listed in order from least to greatest. Click the arrow on the right side of the middle of the page to see Heavy's rankings of the top 2017 Kentucky Derby contending horses. (Getty)
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Kentucky Derby Contenders 2017: Predictions for Best Horses