Essential Quality early Kentucky Derby favorite
An undefeated grey colt named Essential Quality leads as the early 2-to-1 favorite ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
That’s after the horse drew the 14th gate on Wednesday for the race at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Essential Quality, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin, will have jockey Luis Saez aboard in the 20-horse racethat is the first jewel of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.
The race will also be a chance at redemption for Saez, who crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby on a different horse, but was disqualified for interference.
The second favorite - Rock Your World - will start from Essential Quality's outside in the 15th post while third choice, Known Agenda, will start along the rail.
Perfect in five career starts, Essential Quality will attempt to become the first reigning juvenile champion since Nyquist in 2016 to win the Kentucky Derby.
