April 27, 2019 (Churchill Downs) — For the third time in history, Japan will be represented by a runner in the Kentucky Derby as Katsumi Yoshizawa’s homebred Master Fencer made the more than 6,000-mile journey to Louisville to make the gate at Churchill Downs. The colt qualified after finishing fourth in Japan’s Road to the Kentucky Derby points with 19 because the three who finished ahead of him are not Triple Crown nominated and declined the invitation.
The chestnut colt enters the Kentucky Derby off of a second-place finish in the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse and was also fourth in the Hyacinth Stakes. He is trained by former jockey Koichi Tsunoda and will be ridden by Hiroyuki Uchida.
Master Fencer is currently the longest shot of the runners who will make the gate for the Kentucky Derby at 66-1. Holding steady as favorite is Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster, who stands at 13-2, followed by Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach, who had a workout postponed a day due to poor weather, and champion Game Winner, who both stick at 7-1.
Two Japanese-based horses have run in the Kentucky Derby – Ski Captain, who was 14th in 1995; and Lani, who was ninth in 2016.
The post position draw is set for Tuesday, April 30 at 11 a.m. ET at Churchill Downs.
For a full listing of all the Kentucky Derby odds, go to www.usracing.com/kentucky-derby/odds.
2019 Kentucky Derby Odds
| Name | Fractional | Line |
| Omaha Beach | 5/1 | +500 |
| Roadster | 5/1 | +500 |
| Game Winner | 13/2 | +650 |
| Tacitus | 7/1 | +700 |
| Improbable | 9/1 | +900 |
| Maximum Security | 10/1 | +1000 |
| Code Of Honor | 18/1 | +1800 |
| War Of Will | 18/1 | +1800 |
| Vekoma | 24/1 | +2400 |
| By My Standards | 25/1 | +2500 |
| Tax | 25/1 | +2500 |
| Win Win Win | 26/1 | +2600 |
| Haikal | 30/1 | +3000 |
| Spinoff | 35/1 | +3500 |
| Long Range Toddy | 40/1 | +4000 |
| Cutting Humor | 45/1 | +4500 |
| Country House | 50/1 | +5000 |
| Master Fencer (jpn) | 65/1 | +6500 |
| Plus Que Parfait | 75/1 | +7500 |
| Anothertwistafate | 100/1 | +10000 |
| Signalman | 100/1 | +10000 |
Note: All odds are fixed. Last updated on April, 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. ET.