The usual field of 20 horses will be reduced by one for the 2019 Kentucky Derby after Haikal was scratched from the race on Friday.
The horse, considered a longshot to win at 30/1, withdrew from the race after trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Haikal was too sore to train due to an abscess on his front left foot. The horse is the second to withdraw after top contender Omaha Beach, the 4/1 odds on favorite, was scratched on Wednesday due to a breathing problem that will require surgery.
After Omaha Beach was removed from the race, the horse was replaced by Bodexpress, the only other horse to qualify for the 2019 Derby.
Without another alternate, the field for Saturday will be 19 horses.
Three favorites at Churchill Downs — Improbable, Game Winner and Roadster — all work under the same trainer, Bob Baffert, who would tie all-time winner Ben Jones for a horse trainer at six wins if one of his horses finishes first in the Run for the Roses.
Sportsline lists Maximum Security as the favorite at 9/2, followed by Improbable and Tacitus at 5/1. Game Winner (6/1) and Roadster (9/1) round out the top six.
For Sportsbook, Game Winner is listed at 19/5 followed by Tacitus at 4/1. Improbable and Maximum Security both command 5/1 odds, followed by Roadster at 7/1.
On the Kentucky Derby website, Maximum Security, Tacitus and Improbable all sit at 5-1 while Game Winner is 6/1 and Roadster 9/1.
Because of Haikal's scratch, horses will run from posts 2 through 20 on Saturday.
2019 Kentucky Derby Posts
1. [No horse]
2. War of Will
3. Tax
4. By My Standards
5. Gray Magician
6. Improbable
7. Vekoma
8. Maximum Security
9. Tacitus
10. Plus Oue Parfait
11. Cutting Humor
12. Code of Honor
13. Win Win Win
14. Master Fencer
15. Game Winner
16. Roadster
17. Long Range Toddy
18. Spinoff
19. Country House
20. Bodexpress
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