Dialed In early Derby favorite

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dialed In was made the early 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby after drawing the favorable No. 8 post, with Uncle Mo as the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.

Trained by two-time Derby winner Nick Zito, Dialed In has won 3 of 4 career races. Owner Robert LaPenta let out a cheer when the post was drawn on Wednesday for Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs.

“It’s a big thing, and he deserves it,” Zito said, referring to his horse’s status as the favorite.

Three times in the last seven runnings the favorite has worn the garland of roses, most recently Big Brown in 2008.

“So far, so good,” Zito said. “If he has another couple of good days we’ll be happy. Things are doing all right.”

Things haven’t been going so well for Uncle Mo, who drew the No. 18 post, three slots from the outside. The colt is being treated for a gastrointestinal infection, which was blamed for his stunning first-ever defeat in last month’s Wood Memorial.

Owner Mike Repole has said if Uncle Mo isn’t sufficiently recovered, then he won’t run in the 1¼-mile Derby. However, trainer Todd Pletcher said Uncle Mo might be able to win even if he’s at less than his best.

“But we’re committed to bringing him over there at 100 percent, anything less than that, we won’t accept,” he said.

Uncle Mo, who was last year’s 2-year-old champion, jogged a mile around the dirt track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and later stood in the starting gate to familiarize himself with the surroundings. He is scheduled to gallop today.

“I’ve always said I think he’s the best horse of his generation,” Pletcher said. “We proved that last year and identified what we thought was the reason for the poor performance in the Wood. I think if he shows up and he’s the Uncle Mo from the Breeders’ Cup or the Champagne or even the Timely Writer, he’s the horse to beat.”

Uncle Mo would have to overcome a bit of history.

Only one horse since 1900 has come out of the No. 18 hole to win and that was Gato Del Sol in 1982.

Still, Pletcher and Repole were relieved to have avoided the rail.

“We had this overlying fear we were going to get the 1,” the trainer said. “Once it was anything besides that we were happy.”

Repole’s other colt, Stay Thirsty — also trained by Pletcher — landed in the No. 4 post and is 20-1 on the morning line set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

Pletcher ended an 0-for-24 skid in the Derby last year when Super Saver won from the No. 4 post.

Nehro was the third choice at 6-1. The other 17 horses were listed at double-digit odds.

The dreaded No. 1 post along the inside rail — the last position revealed during the draw — went to Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch. That spot did in last year’s Derby favorite, Lookin At Lucky, who was blocked behind horses and finished sixth for trainer Bob Baffert.

Like Uncle Mo’s connections, Baffert was happy that stalker Midnight Interlude escaped the inside post.

“My wife texted me. She’s at LAX and said, ‘If we draw the No. 1, let me know so I can get off the plane,’” he said.

“This is the toughest part of getting through the whole Derby. From now on it’s the luck. I wanted to be on the outside. When you have a lightly raced horse you want to keep him in the clear as much as possible.”

Archarcharch and Midnight Interlude were the co-fourth choices.

The other trainer with two starters is Mike Maker, who will saddle Twinspired and Derby Kitten.

A total of 22 horses were entered, two more than the maximum allowed field of 20, which is based on earnings in graded stakes races. Sway Away and Ruler On Ice were shut out because their earnings weren’t high enough to put them among the top 20.