American Pharoah and Dortmund both fancied for Kentucky Derby

American Pharoah remains the favourite ahead of the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby. The Bob Baffert trained three year-old is listed at a short 5/2 in horse racing betting at Coral.

With impressive wins in his last three races, including a crushing eight-length victory at the recent Arkansas Derby, American Pharoah looks ready to compete at Louisville’s Churchill Downs.

However, American Pharoah has now been moved from post No. 18 to post No. 17, a position from which no horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby, after Stanford was scratched from the race late Thursday.

American Pharoah will also receive stiff competition from stablemate Dortmund, who closely trails in the Kentucky Derby betting, with 4/1 odds at Coral.

Dortmund has steadily climbed the Derby betting odds while going a perfect 6-0 in his last six races, including a lopsided 4.5-length victory in last month”s Santa Anita Derby, and will have a comfortable start for the No. 8 post position. Carpe Diem rounds out the front of the pack at 8/1.

The son of Giant’s Causeway has recorded victories in each of his last two races, the Blue Grass Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby, but has seen his odds stall after steadily climbing from as distant as 18/1 in early February.

Perhaps the most intriguing selection on the Kentucky Derby betting board is Mubtaahij, who is currently listed at 10/1.

The Irish-bred colt was an also-ran in two races at Newmarket before moving to Dubai for his last five races, dominating the field in wins at the UAE Derby and Al Bastakiya.

Mubtaahij makes his American debut at Churchill Downs, where the forecast for warm, dry weather could offer a big advantage when he starts from the No. 6 post.

Frosted will be looking for his second straight victory when he runs on Saturday as a 12/1 bet. The Kentucky-bred colt topped Derby rivals Tendendur and El Kabeir at the recent Wood memorial at Aqueduct, to claim his only win so far in 2015 and first win since October.

Materiality hangs tough alongside Frosted at 12/1, after earning the No. 3 post at Wednesday’s draw. The former is undefeated in three races this year, all at Gulfstream, including the Florida Derby and Islamorada.

Firing Line finished second to Dortmund in the Los Alamitos Futurity and Robert B. Lewis Stakes before claiming victory in his last outing at the Sunland Derby, and will take the track on Saturday at 14/1.

He is followed by International Star, who enters the race atop the Kentucky Derby Points Standings, with 171, and is a 16/1 shot after posting victories at the Louisiana Derby, Risen Star Stakes, Lecomte Stakes.

International Star topped War Story, who finished top three in each of those races, and Stanford, who finished second at the Louisiana Derby.

Now starting from the 18-post, Upstart rounds out the front of the betting pack with 16/1 odds, followed by five horses at 33/1, including Bolo, Danzig Moon, El Kabeir, Itsaknockout and Tencendur.

Far Right is joined at 50/1 by Frammento, with Keen Ice, Mr. Z, Ocho Ocho Ocho and War Story all trailing as 66/1 betting long shots.