2023 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Entries Odds and Predictions: Lord Miles

The 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve will be run on Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The purse is $3 million, with $1.86 million going to the winner. US Racing is profiling each horse in the field. The post-position draw is Monday, May 1. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw.

By US Racing Team

The road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) was a little bumpy, but Lord Miles won a three-horse battle in the stretch to take the Wood Memorial (G2) and earn a spot in the Run for the Roses.

It was a major surprise as Lord Miles was sent off at 59-1 odds. He edged Hit Show by a nose and withstood an inquiry for the victory as the leaders were so close there was a bit of jostling going on.

All of which has trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., ready to saddle his third Derby starter.

A Wood win was worth 100 Derby qualifying points, giving the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin 105 points for sixth place on the leaderboard.

Coming off a sixth in the Holy Bull (G3) and a fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), the bay colt is likely to go off at long odds again in the 1 ¼-mile Derby.

A little history: The last Wood winner to go on and capture the Derby was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.

Lord Miles won his first career start easily, then closed fast for third in his next start, the Mucho Macho Man. Things did not go well in the Holy Bull and Tampa Bay Derby. In each of those races, he broke from the rail, could not find room to run, dropped back early, and failed to finish in the money.

In the Wood, with Paco Lopez in the irons as he was in the Tampa Bay Derby, Lord Miles was able to gain a favorable stalking position from post 7 and then hold on for the big win.

2023 Kentucky Derby Entries: Lord Miles

Post position: 19

Odds: 30-1

Trainer: Saffie A Joseph, Jr.

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Owners: Vegso Racing Stable (Peter and Anne Vegso)

Career record: 5-2-0-1

Career earnings: $451,100

Derby qualifying points: 105 (6th)

Best Equibase speed figure: 100

Pedigree: Curlin-Lady Esme, by Majestic Warrior

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Notes: This will be Ocala-based owner Peter Vegso’s first Derby starter … Vegso is an entrepreneur who was involved with publishing the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series … Joseph is from Barbados and began training in South Florida in 2011 … Lopez, a top rider at Monmouth Park, has more than 3,500 career wins. His mounts were unplaced in two previous Derby starts.