Kentucky Derby 2022: What to know about first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown

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The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown and it will take place Saturday evening at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The year’s derby will be one of the more interesting ones in recent memory since legendary trainer Bob Baffert will not be allowed at the track as he’s serving a 90-day suspension. The ban was given to him by Kentucky racing officials after last year’s winner Medina Spirit failed a post-race drug test.

Not only will Baffert miss this year’s and next year’s race, he will be out of the entire Triple Crown series.

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Horse trainer Bob Baffert leaves federal court, July 12, 2021, in Brooklyn. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Baffert trained 34 horses for the Derby since his first appearance in 1996. He’s put together six victories, three second-place and three third-place finishes. It’s only the sixth time he won’t have a horse in the field.

However, two of Baffert’s formerly owned horses are set to compete.

Tim Yakteen, a former assistant under Baffert who’s run his own stable for more than two decades, is overseeing Messier and Taiba. Yakteen has no immediate ties to Baffert and the other horse owners agreed to the transfer of Baffert’s horses to others. Baffert isn’t allowed to have contact with Yakteen.

Read below for the Kentucky Derby odds and field for the race a day before things get going.

KENTUCKY DERBY LEADS OFF TRIPLE CROWN WITHOUT BOB BAFFERT

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1). Mo Donegal (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 10-1

2). Happy Jack (Rafael Bejarano), 30-1

3). Epicenter (Joel Rosario), 7-2

4). Summer Is Tomorrow (Mickael Barzalona), 30-1

5). Smile Happy (Corey Lanerie), 20-1

6). Messier