The Courier Journal sports staff makes its picks for the Kentucky Derby
Not to be left out of the excitement around Churchill Downs, the Courier Journal’s sports staff has taken time out of their schedules to submit their own picks for this year’s Kentucky Derby. While one staff member considers himself an expert on the horses, the rest are going with what we’ve gathered through the past few whirlwind weeks — and their gut.
Make bets according to our picks at your own risk. Here are the sports staff’s picks for the 2021 Kentucky Derby:
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Jonathan Saxon
Winner: Bourbonic
On the board: Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie
Longshot: Like the King
Coming from the DMV, I don’t know a lick about ponies or racing. The closest I’ve been to the sport is watching the horses run the practice track that sits behind my grandmother’s house. Having said that, my instincts have me leaning towards Bourbonic. He and the jockey, Kendrick Carmouche, have overcome big odds before, and I’m interested to see if they can keep the good times rolling.
David Kim
Winner: Essential Quality
On the board: Hot Rod Charlie.
Long shot: Highly Motivated
Don’t want to go against such a heavy favorite who went 5-0-0 in five starts. Considering he was behind early in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but managed to come back and win, I like his chances, and seeing an exciting finish too, at the Kentucky Derby.
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Reina Kempt
Winner: Bourbonic
On the board: Medina Spirit, Super Stock
Long shot: Soup and Sandwich
I’m a Louisiana gal, so Kendrick Carmouche’s story resonates with me and I have to stick to my roots! Bourbonic is also trained by Todd Pletcher, who has had his fair share of high-caliber horses in the Derby.
Dominique Yates
Winner: Essential Quality
On the board: Rock Your World and Highly Motivated
Long shot: O Besos
Picking the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby is far from exciting, but what would be if Essential Quality got the win is the fact that Louisville native Brad Cox would be the first trainer from this city to win the prized race. It won't be easy and there's many horses like Rock Your World and Highly Motivated that could spoil Essential Quality's shot of winning, but with the odds in Cox's favor (2-1 as of Tuesday), a good pole position at 14, let's see what Saturday brings.
Shannon Russell
Winner: Midnight Bourbon
On the board: Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie
Long shot: Helium
The headstrong horse won me over with his feisty breakaway after a recent post-workout bath (which included a brief dash through hay). I mean, who hasn't done that before, especially after a midnight bourbon? Add in Hall-of-Fame jockey Mike Smith and it's a winning combination.
Tim Sullivan
Winner: Rock Your World
On The Board: Essential Quality, Super Stock
Longshot: Medina Spirit
After two victories on the turf, Rock Your World moved to the dirt and dominated the Santa Anita Derby, easily the most impressive performance during any of the final prep races. His path is unconventional, but not unprecedented. Barbaro and Animal Kingdom both began as turf horses and won the Derby.
Cameron Teague Robinson
Winner: Bourbonic
On the board: Essential Quality, Known Agenda
Long shot: Midnight bourbon
I read up on everything I needed to know about these Kentucky Derby horses in the Courier Journal, as you should, so I'm basically an expert. With that said, I'm a bourbon fan so I'm going with my heart on my winning pick.
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Gabriel Stovall
Winner: Essential Quality
On the Board: Bourbonic, Medina Spirit
Long shot: Sainthood
I’m a sucker for a good hometown hero story, and I’m also slightly baffled that a Louisville-born trainer has never produced a winning horse in the Kentucky Derby. My pick isn’t just about sentiment, though. Brad Cox has a solid horse in Essential Quality who’s running as well as any horse in the field right now.
Jon Hale
Winner: Highly Motivated
On the board: Essential Quality, Medina Spirit
Longshot: Helium
I’m not sure horses understand a rivalry, but I can’t resist a story line like Highly Motivated making good on his name by coming back to reverse the finish of the Bluegrass Stakes by holding off favorite Essential Quality to give Chad Brown his first Derby win.
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Hayes Gardner
Winner: Rock Your World
On the board: Essential Quality, Highly Motivated
Long shot: Midnight Bourbon
In his debut on dirt, Rock Your World rocked the world, convincingly winning the Santa Anita Derby by 4 ¼ lengths. Although it’s tempting to pick Essential Quality, I’ll go with Rock Your World – who’s also undefeated.
Jason Frakes
Winner: Essential Quality.
On the board: Hot Rod Charlie, Rock Your World.
Long shot: Mandaloun.
Nobody likes picking the favorite, but let's not make it harder than it is. Essential Quality is the best horse, and the time is now for Brad Cox.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2021: Courier Journal sports staff makes picks
