Tapwrit on a practice run for the 2017 Kentucky Derby. (Getty)
The field of horses, post positions and morning line odds have been set for the 2017 Kentucky Derby. It looks like all is well for the top horses with each escaping an unfavorable draw.
This year’s race is slated to be exciting with no clear-cut favorite. Four horses do enter the race as the main contenders but the entire field is in play. Classic Empire enters the race as the slight favorite at 4-1 in the morning line odds. He responded well to pressure at the Arkansas Derby.
After missing time with a foot abscess, the horse needed a strong finish in the Arkansas Derby to qualify for Churchill Downs. Classic Empire found the Winner’s Circle and is expected to perform well at the Derby.
Always Dreaming is coming off a Florida Derby victory and is tied for second in the odds at 5-1. McCraken is the other horse joining Always Dreaming with 5-1 odds. He is coming off a disappointing third place finish in the Blue Grass.
Irish War Cry won the Wood Memorial, but it is hard to know what to expect from the horse after his 7th place finish in the Fountain of Youth. He enters the race with 6-1 odds.
Here’s a look at the field of horses, morning line odds and post positions that were announced via the Kentucky Derby press conference on Wednesday, May 3.
| POS. | HORSE | ODDS |
| 1 | Lookin at Lee | 20-1 |
| 2 | Thunder Snow | 20-1 |
| 3 | Fast and Accurate | 50-1 |
| 4 | Untapped | 30-1 |
| 5 | Always Dreaming | 5-1 |
| 6 | State of Honor | 30-1 |
| 7 | Girvin | 15-1 |
| 8 | Hence | 15-1 |
| 9 | Irap | 20-1 |
| 10 | Gunnevera | 15-1 |
| 11 | Battle of Midway | 30-1 |
| 12 | Sonneteer | 50-1 |
| 13 | J Boys Echo | 20-1 |
| 14 | Classic Empire | 4-1 |
| 15 | McCraken | 5-1 |
| 16 | Tapwrit | 20-1 |
| 17 | Irish War Cry | 6-1 |
| 18 | Gormley | 15-1 |
| 19 | Practical Joke | 20-1 |
| 20 | Patch | 30-1 |
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Kentucky Derby 2017: Post Positions & Odds