A pair of Keeneland winners are favorites for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby

Keeneland got its props at Monday afternoon’s post-position draws for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.

After Ashland Stakes winner Nest was installed as the 5-2 favorite for Friday’s Oaks at Churchill Downs, Blue Grass Stakes winner Zandon was made the 3-1 favorite for the 148th running of the Derby on Saturday.

The latter was a bit of a surprise considering Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter was projected to be the favorite, considering trainer Steve Asmussen’s colt had won three of his last four starts and finished second in the other.

“A little bit, yeah,” Epicenter’s trainer Steve Asmussen said after his colt drew post No. 3. “Only because (people were) saying how does it feel to saddle the favorite? Well, I guess I’m not there yet. But the morning line doesn’t change how they run.”

Meanwhile, Zandon trainer Chad Brown said he wasn’t surprised his colt was tabbed as the favorite by Churchill oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. “But I could see it going either way,” said Brown, whose colt drew post No. 10.

After all, his colt made an impressive move through traffic to win the Blue Grass on April 9, two weeks after Epicenter’s win in the Louisiana Derby.

“He ran a little more recently than Epicenter,” Brown said. “I think it’s human nature is the last thing we see is the best thing. Epicenter ran a super race in the Louisiana Derby and maybe because he ran it a couple of weeks ago that factored in to people’s memory.”

At 8-1, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier was installed as the third choice for the Kentucky Derby. Wood Memorial winner Mo Donegal and Florida Derby winner White Abarrio are both 10-1. Having won the Santa Anita Derby in just his second career start, Taiba is 12-1. The rest of the field is at least 20-1 in the morning line.

Mo Donegal drew the dreaded No. 1 post position, the second straight year that a Todd Pletcher trainee has drawn the rail. Ferdinand in 1986 was the last Derby winner to break from the inside post. Churchill Downs eliminated the auxiliary gate with a new 20-hole starting gate last year. But after drawing the No. 1, Pletcher’s Known Agenda finished ninth.

“He didn’t get a great trip from there,” said Pletcher after Monday’s draw. “But it wasn’t really the 1 hole.”

Mo Donegal came off the pace, going from last to first to win the Wood Memorial for Pletcher, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2010 with Super Saver and 2017 with Always Dreaming.

“I think it’s different now with the 20-stall gate. It’s not quite as much of a disadvantage as it was,” Pletcher said. “Mo Donegal has experience from the 1 hole. He won the Wood Memorial from there. He had a lot of kickback thrown in his face. I think he’s the type of horse that can hopefully overcome it.”

As for the Oaks, Nest is not one of three fillies that enter Friday’s race unbeaten. Second choice Kathleen O (7-2), third choice Echo Zulu (4-1) and Shahama (15-1) all own perfect records. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Nest is 4-for-5 lifetime but has won her last three outings, including the impressive 8 1/4-length triumph in the Ashland.

Secret Oath is the Oaks’ fourth choice at 6-1 for 86-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who got some good news Monday morning when his colt Ethereal Road was bumped into the Derby field after it was announced that Un Ojo would not be running.

While Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times, Asmussen is still looking for his first win. The profession’s all-time leader in victories joked that his 0-23 record in the Run for the Roses may have been the reason why Epicenter was made second choice.

“Everybody is well aware of my Derby record,” Asmussen said. “Maybe that’s why the difference. Maybe I’m the reason he’s not the favorite. But he’s a fabulous horse doing extremely well. When you’re leading Epicenter over there, you’re expecting to have success.”

Kentucky Derby

When: 6:57 p.m. Saturday

Where: Churchill Downs

TV: NBC-18

Purse: $3 million

Distance: 1 1/4 miles

For: 3-year-old Thoroughbreds

The field, with odds:

1. Mo Donegal (10-1)

2. Happy Jack (30-1)

3. Epicenter (7-2)

4. Summer Is Tomorrow (30-1)

5. Smile Happy (20-1)

6. Messier (8-1)

7. Crown Pride (20-1)

8. Charge It (20-1)

9. Tiz the Bomb (30-1)

10. Zandon (3-1)

11. Pioneer of Medina (30-1)

12. Taiba (12-1)

13. Simplification (20-1)

14. Barber Road (30-1)

15. White Abarrio (10-1)

16. Cyberknife (20-1)

17. Classic Causeway (30-1)

18. Tawny Port (30-1)

19. Zozos (20-1)

20. Ethereal Road (30-1)

Also eligible:

21. Rich Strike (30-1)

22. Rattle N Roll (30-1)

Note: Horses listed as also-eligible only gain entry to the Kentucky Derby field if one of the primary 20 is scratched before 9 a.m. Friday.

favorite. But he’s a fabulous horse doing extremely well. When you’re leading Epicenter over there, you’re expecting to have success.”

Kentucky Oaks

When: 5:51 p.m. Friday

Where: Churchill Downs

TV: USA

Purse: $1.25 million

Distance: 1 1/8 miles

For: 3-year-old fillies

The field, with odds:

1. Secret Oath (6-1)

2. Nostalgic (15-1)

3. Hidden Connection (20-1)

4. Nest (5-2)

5. Goddess of Fire (15-1)

6. Yuugiri (30-1)

7. Echo Zulu (4-1)

8. Venti Valentine (20-1)

9. Desert Dawn (20-1)

10. Kathleen O. (7-2)

11. Cocktail Moments (30-1)

12. Candy Raid (30-1)

13. Shahama (15-1)

14. Turnerloose (20-1)

This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 6:05 PM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-472-4218

John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription