Kentucky Derby 131 Order of Finish:
1. Giacomo 2. Closing Argument 3. Afleet Alex 4. Don't Get Mad 5. Buzzards Bay 6. Wilko 7. Bellamy Road	8. Andromeda's Hero 9. Flower Alley 10. High Fly 11. Greeley's Galaxy 12. Coin Silver 13. Greater Good 14. Noble Causeway	15. Sun King 16. Spanish Chestnut 17. Sort It Out 18. Going Wild 19. Bandini 20. High Limit
Here are the morning line odds and post positions for the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby, followed by the DerbyPost.com tipsheet.
1. Sort It Out: 50-1 2. Andromeda's Hero: 50-1 3. Sun King: 15-1 4. Noble Causeway: 12-1 5. Coin Silver: 20-1 6. High Limit: 12-1 7. Flower Alley: 20-1	8. Greater Good: 20-1 9. Greeley's Galaxy: 15-1 10. Giacomo: 50-1 11. High Fly: 8-1 12. Afleet Alex: 9-2 13. Spanish Chestnut: 50-1 14. Wilko: 20-1	15. Bandini: 6-1 16. Bellamy Road: 5-2 17. Don't Get Mad: 30-1 18. Closing Argument: 30-1 19. Going Wild: 50-1 20. Buzzards's Bay: 20-1
HORSE	JOCKEY	TRAINER
Afleet Alex	John Velazquez	Tim Ritchey
Bellamy Road	Javier Castellano	Nick Zito
Bandini	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher
High Fly	Jerry Bailey	Nick Zito
Noble Causeway	Gary Stevens	Nick Zito
Greeley's Galaxy	Kent Desormeaux	Warren Stute
High Limit	Ramon Dominguez	Bobby Frankel
Wilko	Corey Nakatani	Craig Dollase
Sun King	Edgar Prado	Nick Zito
Buzzards Bay	Mark Guidry	Jeff Mullins
Coin Silver	Patrick Valenzuela	Todd Pletcher
Giacomo	Mike Smith	John Shirreffs
Greater Good	David Flores	Bob Holthus
Andromeda's Hero	Rafael Bejarano	Nick Zito
Flower Alley	Jorge Chavez	Todd Pletcher
Don't Get Mad	Tyler Baze	Ron Ellis
Closing Argument	Cornelio Velasquez	Kiaran McLaughlin
Going Wild	Jose Valdivia Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas
Sort It Out	Brice Blanc	Bob Baffert
Spanish Chestnut	Joe Bravo	Patrick Biancone
There are simply no marks against Afleet Alex, with the exception of his Derby-rookie jockey. But we think he's got the talent, pedigree, speed figures and health and should be considered the Derby favorite. He's proven it against other Derby contenders, and posted two positive races in his last three. We think he's the one to beat. High Fly is improving, and primed for a good race, which Derby vet Jerry Bailey should maximize. Zito will definitely at least hit the board. Bandini has improved off of each race and with a decent trip could grab a piece of the action. Exotics should include Bellamy Road for insurance, plus flyers on Noble Causeway and Greeley's Galaxy.

Afleet Alex

Afleet Alex will go into the Derby off an incredible performance in the Arkansas Derby, a la Smarty Jones. Looked maybe even stronger than Bandini, and his closing kick in the Arkansas Derby was all power. When healthy, this horse has a fantastic record of hitting the board, and he loooked strong. If he can rate in Louisville as he did in Arkansas, and Bellamy Road tires, there could be room for another strong kick from this one. Among the Derby field, only Greater Good, who Afleet Alex handily defeated in the Arkansas Derby, can claim four career graded stakes victories. He's the only contender with three career triple-digit Beyer speed figures. You're not going to get a great price, but you will get a great horse. We like his pedigree more than Bellamy Road's, so that's why gets the nod here.  

Bellamy Road

Wow -- when it rains, it pours for Nick Zito. He could set all sorts of training records with the potential of his entries in Derby 131. Just when you thought his deck was stacked, along comes Bellamy Road with the most impressive Derby prep race this year. Dominating and fast, a message sent loud and clear. Some may think it was too good, but he still had some energy left to run. This one will be the Derby favorite. Owner George Steinbrenner will be in attendance with his best shot yet to win the Run for the Roses. Is bound to bounce from his performance in the Wood, where he posted biggest career Beyer figure (120) of any contender. Since 1947, only Sunny's Halo in 1983 has won the Derby off two preps as a two-year-old. The question is, does he have enough leeway to still be considered the top contender? The morning line will say yes. His performance in the Wood was simply too impressive to ignore at the Derby betting window.  

Bandini

Good luck finding another horse performing this well on the Derby trail with this kind of pedigree. Finished strong to take second in the Fountain of Youth, and then simply dominated the best Derby prep field this year in the Blue Grass. The Derby will be his sixth race of the year, showing time for growth, learning and development. Will be interesting to see what the price will be on him in the Derby, but this horse is hot and is ready to run. Has shown he can come off the pace, and also run wide and still win. His time in the Blue Grass was a little suspect, but he ran an awesome race. The Blue Gass hasn't produced a Derby winner in over ten years; it's been since 1996 that a Derby winner has had a Derby winner for a sire.  

High Fly

With all the horses out there who are untested, here is one who has taken not one but two Derby preps, the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. Critics will complain that he received good trips in both races, but having Jerry Bailey aboard tends to make that happen. Slightly questionable pedigree, but most will dislike his going into the Derby on a five-week layoff, which didn't work for any horses last year in the Derby. Bailey wouldn't ride him unless he liked him, and that says something. But the public has its reasons to be nervous despite his precious record as a winner. He's lost only once in six starts, but some question if he can go the distance. Might offer a good price and worth considering in exotics.  

Noble Causeway

Will be going into the Kentucky Derby with a five-week layouff, his second place finish in the Florida Derby. Broke his maiden in February. And although he has looked sharp, there's just not enough there for us to support this colt at the Derby. Too much competition. Won't be surprised to see him run a good race, and he does have a sparkling pedigree. His owner founded Barnes & Noble bookstores. A very good horse who we have just enough of a tough time envisioning as a Derby champ to lead else elsewhere. Still, he's got the pedigree of a horse who could go the distance, and like High Limit has room to improve. Or is that just because we haven't seen him in five weeks?  

Greeley's Galaxy

Becomes the first supplemental Derby horse ever. The last Derby winner to go unraced as a 2-year-old was Apollo was back in '82 --1882. His trainer, at age 83, would become the oldest Derby winning trainer. Looked good in Illinois, but is probably up against it with this kind of competition. Has a nice pedigree and put up a good speed figure in his last race; could be worth a show bet.  

High Limit

With Bellamy Road and Greeley's Galaxy also looking like firecrackers out of the gate, there could be a major speed duel up front in this year's Derby. Has the same sire as 2001 Derby champ Monarchos, and with Bobby Frankel training, well, you know he's going to win a Derby one of these days. Judge for yourself based on his results in the Blue Grass, which is a mixed bag of finishing a well-beaten second. He'll have only two races this year going into the Derby. Unlike some of the favorites, this colt has room to improve heading into the Derby. Does this colt have the distance? Could threaten if he still has enough energy after a stalking trip, but his speed figures are less than compelling.  

Wilko

Shocked pretty much everybody with his win in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Many will hold that against him, due to the lack of success of BC Juvenile winners in the Derby. Struggled mightily in the San Felipe, but then put up a very game effort, running wide the whole way, to finish third in the Santa Anita Derby. Has fought off foot injuries to keep his training on pace, and really is a legit talent. Might offer a good price on Derby day and could be worth a flier. A very competitive, game horse. Has a dosage of 7.00, which would make him an extreme longshot to win the Derby. We like him, but just can't see him making his way to the winner's circle. Would be a big surprise despite the talent. He's got a Derby winner in his pedigree.  

Sun King

One of the few Derby contenders whose sire is a Derby champ. Going into the Blue Grass, he needed a good showing to prove worthy of a shot at the Run for the Roses, and also needed to run well against some solid competition in the Blue Grass. Unfortunately, he did neither. There's no denying his talent, but a win in a weak Tampa Bay Derby is not enough to make a serious Derby challenger.  

Buzzards Bay

At least this horse earned his way to Louisville, taking a surprise win in the Santa Anita Derby. No one is really giving this horse much of a chance. Hasn't proven he can win away from California or win a race with a hot pace. Look elsewhere.  

Coin Silver

What a story this horse would make. A late edition to the Pletcher stable who will have controversial jockey Patrick Valenzuala, making his first Derby mount since 1993, aboard. We like his pedigree because we thought Anees and Conquistador Cielo were great horses. But that doesn't equal a Derby champion. Could have the pedigree for a sloppy track, but rain is not in the forecast. Probably a real longshot, but we admit, this one is at least compelling, unlike many of the horses below. We're going to toss him out, but not with 100% confidence.  

Giacomo

We actually like this horse and had high expectations for him, but after a disappointing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, it's tough to move him up higher on the board. Only four horses since 1955 have won the Derby without winning a race as a three-year-old, though that does include Funny Cide in 2003. Another possible strong closer. Use only if you've got extra cash to burn.  

Greater Good

Finished fifth to Afleet Alex in the Arkansas Derby. He's got a late kick, which means he might be able to sneak up and catch tired horses to grab some of the purse. We have a tough time seeing this one being able to handle the distance.  

Andromeda's Hero

Probably still riding the coattails of his pedigree. One of two horses, Bandini being the other, with 2000 champ Fusaichi Pegasus as a sire. Was an unimpressive third in the Arkansas Derby in his last race. Would be making a nearly impossible jump up. We're not worried.  

Don't Get Mad

With the latest trends of babying horses on their way to Louisville, let's hear it for the real archaic notion of running in the Derby trial and then again one week later in the Derby. A one-week layoff? Unheard of these days. Ran well as a two-year old and was prepping nicely in California before a dismal 6th-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby. Won the Derby Trial to bounce back, but faces serious distance questions as well as questions of how much he has left in the tank. But we're pulling for a good performance just to shake up current Derby training practices. B. Wayne Hughes is truly in horse racing for the sport of it.  

Flower Alley

Finished second to Afleet Alex in the Arkansas Derby. Won the Lane's End Stakes earlier in the year. He'll get blinkers for the Derby, but would become the first horse since Exterminator in 1918 to win the Derby off only four previous career starts. He has improved, at least, in each of those four starts, but that doesn't add up to winning the Kentucky Derby. A talented horse with good potential later on that is probably overmatched here.  

Closing Argument

A third-place finish in the tough field of the Blue Grass Stakes has sent this colt on to Louisville for an even tougher race with an even tougher field. This one is bred to be a sprinter, and has raced only twice as a three-year-old, though one of those was a win in the Holy Bull Stakes. Looks sharp in morning workouts, but we think he'll falter under the strain of the Derby stampede and distance.  

Sort It Out

At least this one hit the board in his last race, and has a decent pedigree. When was the last time a Lukas and Baffert duo have been at the bottom of our list? Just another reminder that horse racing can be a tough game for everyone. We'd rather invest in a mint julep that lay a wager on this horse.  

Going Wild

If we had run as poorly as this one did in the Wood and Blue Grass, would we be running in the Derby, too? With Consolidator out, this now becomes the only entry from D. Wayne Lukas. This one doesn't stand a chance, and worse, hasn't shown that he deserves to be in the field.  

Spanish Chestnut

The street thinking on this speedster is that his owners are using him as a rabbit to tire out Bellamy Road to make things easier for Bandini. Regardless if this is true or not, the fact remains it's highly unlikely this horse will be able to maintain his lead till the end, assuming he goes for the lead early. Ran well last year but has flamed out in Derby preps. Might be good at shorter distances later in his career, but not a threat on Derby Day.