The latest: Kentucky Derby 127 Order of Finish
HORSE	JOCKEY	TRAINER
Monarchos	Jorge Chavez	John Ward
Invisible Ink	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher
Congaree	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert
Thunder Blitz	Edgar Prado	Joe Orseno
Point Given	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert
Jamaican Rum	Eddie Delahoussaye	James Caddidy
AP Valentine	Corey Nakatani	Nick Zito
Express Tour	David Flores	Saeed bin Suroor
Fifty Stars	Donnie Meche	Steve Asmussen
Startac	Alex Solis	Simon Bray
Millennium Wind	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	David Hofmans
Arctic Boy	Calvin Borel	Tony Richey
Songandaprayer	Aaron Gryder	John Dowd
Balto Star	Mark Guidry	Todd Pletcher
Dollar Bill	Pat Day	John Ward
Keats	Larry Melancon	Niall O'Callaghan
Talk Is Money	Jerry Bailey	John Scanlan

Monarchos

With the trend of fresh horses performing well at the Oaks, Monarchos falls in between the gaps: he's run strong in the Florida Derby and in the Wood, though trainer John Ward held up Monarchos a bit in that race. A very fine talent, who is also sitting on a great race. Headed into Derby Day, he is at 11-1. If he stays above 7 or 8-1, take him. We're headed for closers deep in our exotics, especially this one and Dollar Bill.   

Invisible Ink

Came in fourth in the Blue Grass, and is definitely facing an uphill battle against the even tougher Derby competition. Tough to see this one making his way through the crowd to the winner's circle, though he is a son of 1995 Derby and Belmont winner Thunder Gulch. Simply racing against too tough a crowd, and is too much of a long shot for us to consider seriously.

Congaree

A very talented horse that trainer Bob Baffert has done a brilliant job with in hiding behind Point Given. We're probably going to avoid him for the following reasons: Congaree is too lightly raced, has a rookie Derby jockey aboard, and comes from Arazi, who was also lightly prepped for the Derby and finished up the track.

Thunder Blitz

He admittedly didn't beat much at the Flaming Stakes, so questions can fairly be raised. But has run close among other horses that will run in the Derby, such as Monarchos and Invisible Ink, so maybe he deserves a shot. Comes from Holy Bull and could replaces Macho Uno as the Stronach Stable Derby entrant. You'll see him tossed around in a few exotics, but he doesn't thrill us.   

Point Given

At 4-1, you've got to be kidding not to put money on Point Given. People will snatch that up early on Saturday, and that price will go down. This is a live horse. He has trained real well, there was a very strong Saudi feel at the Oaks today, and horses who are fresh and lightly raced are looking strong on a blazing track. With Gary Stevens aboard, and with the comfort of the outside post, if he gets a lane Point Given could be something else.   

Jamaican Rum

Wow, we do feel lucky to have both Laffit Pincary, Jr. and Eddie Delayoussaye running in the Derby! This is definitely a treat. What makes this horse so exciting is his ability to come off the pace. Ran well with Point Given in the San Felipe Stakes, and may be one of those rare horses who may actually benefit from the longer Derby distance. His price will tempt you if not his talent, and lots of people will use him as the darkhorse in playful exotics.  

AP Valentine

No other colt in the Derby has the pedigree of AP Valentine, and you know Nick Zito has done his finest work with this colt. We think AP Valentine is bred to perform well in the Derby, likes the Churchill Downs surface and will show some heart in a game performance. Unless he hits the board, we'd rest him and save him for the Belmont.   

Express Tour

Is offering a tremendous value at 19-1, anything above 15-1 is a bargain across the board--even 12-1 is a solid price for a stable anxious, and ready, for a big Derby showing. Godolphin Stable has improved every year, Express Tour is actually physically bigger than Point Given, and trained on Thursday like none other. A fire rocket likely to hit the board if he can resist going to the lead early, which will be a temptation in the 6 hole just to the right of three speed horses.   

Fifty Stars

We think this horse has some innate talent, and his performance in the Louisiana Derby against legit competition, while maybe a fluke, was at least an impressive fluke. Seems to border being a speed and distance horse, which could keep him right behind the bunch of more serious closers.  

Startac

Finished fourth in the California Derby in his last race, hardly a menacing accomplishment. Was slated to run in the Santa Anita Derby, but pulled out due to the wet track that day. Made a successful crossover from turf to grass earlier in the Derby prep season, but seems outmatched against this Derby group. MIght we see him down the road back on the turf? We do use the Startac mobile phone, however, so we at least have some connection to him.  

Millennium Wind

Showed enough in the Louisiana Derby to make us reconsider our opinion of this horse, and now after the Blue Grass he looks for real. He won't be able to win the Derby wire-to-wire though, and will have to be able to come off the pace. Laffit Pincay, Jr. will have the mount in the Derby, his 20th career Derby start. How great is it to see Laffit aboard a horse like Millennium Wind? We'd put $2 on that just because we're glad to see it happen.  

Arctic Boy

We had him on our names to look out for during the Derby prep season, but this one, who finished last in the Arkansas Derby, probably doesn't belong with this group. Is taking a gigantic leap up in class, and hasn't even proven he can dominate or compete at levels below that of the greatest race in the world. Would be headed to the mutual field if it still existed; we'll pass.  

Songandaprayer

We think this horse, a grandson of 1990 Derby champ Unbridled, deserves a shot. Or at least a song and a prayer. Has been competitive in all his Derby prep races, so why not roll the dice once more in Kentucky? He'll be a long shot, but a long shot who belongs. Will set the race's blazing early pace shooting out of the 1 post position, but this one is bound tire down the stretch.

Balto Star

Really blew them away in the Spiral Stakes, setting a 30-year stakes record in winning by 12 3/4 lengths, then dominated at the Arkansas Derby. He'll be taking a step up in class, but after the way he's run in his last two races he's shown he's deserving of a tougher fight. Would be an incredible feat, and although we think it's unlikely, something about it seems interesting. At low 6-1 odds, however, it's tough to find a bet for him.  

Dollar Bill

The only dual qualifier in the Derby this year, and with Pat Day aboard he is going to be bet down to a level that doesn't equal his past performances. While there are excuses for the way he ran in the Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass, he hasn't had the perfect trip yet. Maybe this is the time; this one has the talent, and frankly, Pat Day will win a second Derby, and we're going to be there when he does. A closer who like Monarchos brings season but leaves questions. Only in exotics now due to the low price for him, though we think Point Given will be the actual favorite.  

Keats

Won wire-to-wire in the Lexington Stakes, which paved the road for him to head to Louisville. Joins Millennium Wind and Balto Star as the true speed horses in the race. Looks like the early fractions will be blazing in this race, but it's unlikely Keats will be able to hang on and hit the money. Too much a step up in class, and too much indecision from the trainer.  

Talk Is Money

The biggest thing going for this horse is the decision by Jerry Bailey to take him in the Derby over Songandaprayer. Finished second in the Federico Tesio Stakes, but didn't fare well against Monarchos and others in the Florida preps. Even Bailey considers his horse a real long shot, but the site of Jerry this far back is only due to Macho Uno's injury and Hero's Tribute not coming through. We're sure it won't happen again soon.