Kentucky Derby predictions: What the experts are saying
Alicia Wincze Hughes
Affiliation: Herald-Leader
Win: Nyquist
Place: Destin
Show: Brody’s Cause
Comment: On form, I can't see a way to go against Nyquist as he has already defeated most of the leading contenders and is versatile enough to make his own luck regardless of pace.
John Clay
Affiliation: Herald-Leader
Win: Nyquist
Place: Mohaymen
Show: Exaggerator
Comment: Nyquist hasn't done anything wrong and there's no reason to believe that will change Saturday.
Ben Roberts
Affiliation: Herald-Leader
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Suddenbreakingnews
Show: Mor Spirit
Comment: Exaggerator is much improved since his last meeting with Nyquist, and he doesn’t need the slop to prove it Saturday.
Franklin Renfro
Affiliation: Herald-Leader
Win: Creator
Place: Exaggerator
Show: Nyqist
Comment: Creator is improving with each start and his move through traffic in the Arkansas Derby shows he’s willing to fight to get to the front.
Rick Bozich
Affiliation: WDRB
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Brody’s Cause
Show: Nyquist
Comment: WARNING: I did not pick American Pharoah.
Ed DeRosa
Affiliation: TwinSpires.com
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Mor Spirit
Show: Gun Runner
Comment: Exaggerator has lost to Nyquist all three times they’ve met, but at twice the price in the Kentucky Derby I’m willing to gamble that the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin can turn the tables on the undefeated champion.
Bill Finley
Affiliation: National turf writer
Win: Danzing Candy
Place: Nyquist
Show: Exaggerator
Comment: If Danzing Candy can get comfortable on the lead he has a big shot to win wire-to-wire at a big price; it's all about the pace.
Katie Gensler
Affiliation: Keeneland analyst
Win: Nyquist
Place: Gun Runner
Show: Mohaymen
Comment: The 2-year-old champion keeps getting better and better with hopes of becoming the first undefeated 3-year-old to win the Derby since Big Brown in 2008.
Neil Greenberg
Affiliation: Washington Post
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Gun Runner
Show: Creator
Comment: Exaggerator is the only horse in the field to post back-to-back triple-digit speed figures in his last two prep races and has the running style and pedigree to stay competitive throughout the Derby. (More: Greenberg’s betting column).
Steve Haskin
Affiliation: The Blood-Horse
Win: Suddenbreakingnews
Place: Whitmore
Show: Nyquist
Comment: Although Nyquist and Exaggerator could be standouts, I'm looking for a price and I love the way Suddenbreakingnews is coming into the race and am hoping the addition of a shadow roll will help him concentrate and he can launch his devastating closing kick a little earlier.
Tom Leach
Affiliation: UK radio announcer
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Suddenbreakingnews
Show: Brody’s Cause
Comment: Exaggerator is peaking at the right time to turn the tables on his old rival Nyquist and help the Desormeaux brothers make Derby history.
Jonathan Lintner
Affiliation: Courier-Journal
Win: Brody’s Cause
Place: Nyquist
Show: Gun Runner
Comment: The Blue Grass Stakes winner has the type of acceleration to be the best of the closers. Hopefully, Nyquist isn't too far in front to catch.
Marty McGee
Affiliation: Daily Racing Form
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Creator
Show: Brody’s Cause
Comment: Kent and Keith win one for the Family Desormeaux ... and for Cajun Nation.
William Nack
Affiliation: Author and journalist
Win: Gun Runner
Place: Brody’s Cause
Show: Mor Spirit
Comment: A stakes-winning stalker who can stay out of traffic trouble and who has much stamina in his pedigree, consistency in his performances, and our new Hall of Fame trainer, Steve Asmussen, to get him there.
Ray Paulick
Affiliation: PaulickReport.com
Win: Exaggerator
Place: Creator
Show: Nyquist
Comment: As a son of Curlin, Exaggerator has the breeding to get the Kentucky Derby’s testing mile and a quarter distance, and I can’t say the same of favored Nyquist, whose sire line suggests a mile to nine furlongs being his optimum trip.
Mike Penna
Affiliation: Horse Racing Radio Network
Win: Destin
Place: Mor Spirit
Show: Brody’s Cause
Comment: Defeated fellow derby entrants Outwork and Brody's Cause in his track-record-setting Tampa Bay Derby win. Has great tactical speed which should place him in a perfect spot turning for home.
Laffit Pincay
Affiliation: NBC Sports
Win: Outwork
Place: Nyquist
Show: Whitmore
Comment: Outwork will avenge his sire Uncle Mo's Derby disappointment.
Jennie Rees
Affiliation: WAVE-3
Win: Gun Runner
Place: Brody’s Cause
Show: Creator
Comment: Steve Asmussen could win with either of his horses, but I’ve been on Gun Runner’s bandwagon all along.
Kenny Rice
Affiliation: NBC Sports
Win: Nyquist
Place: Outwork
Show: Mor Spirit
Comment: The setting is right for upset, but hard to go against perfection so far.
Tim Sullivan
Affiliation: Courier-Journal
Win: Nyquist
Place: Gun Runner
Show: Shagaf
Comment: Hard to pick another favorite, but harder to find a better horse.
Mike Watchmaker
Affiliation: Daily Racing Form
Win: Creator
Place: Mor Spirit
Show: Danzing Candy
Comment: Creator’s recent rate of improvement has been eye catching and this looks like a good year for a “now” horse in the Derby.
Tim Wilkin
Affiliation: Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union
Win: Mohaymen
Place: Mor Spirit
Show: Brody’s Cause
Comment: Mohaymen gives Lexington’s Kiaran McLaughlin his Derby win and makes up for Florida Derby flop.
This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Kentucky Derby predictions: What the experts are saying."