Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and others, has been named the 3-1 morning line favorite for the 151st $5 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI). The 1¼-mile race, featuring 20 starters plus one also-eligible, is the 12th of 14 races Saturday at Churchill Downs, with a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET. The winner will earn $3.1 million.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism rides a four-race win streak, highlighted by victories in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), San Felipe (GII), and Los Alamitos Futurity (GII). Umberto Rispoli retains the mount from post 8.

“I’m very pleased. What’s not to like,” McCarthy said of the mid-field post postion.

Godolphin’s Sovereignty, runner-up in the Florida Derby, is the second choice at 5-1. Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, he starts from post 18.

Arkansas Derby winner Sandman is third choice at 6-1 for trainer Mark Casse and rider Jose Ortiz, breaking from post 17.

Three contenders are listed at 12-1:

• Burnham Square, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GI), trained by Ian Wilkes with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard (post 9).
• Rodriguez, who wired the Wood Memorial (GII), trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith (post 4).
• Baeza, currently also-eligible, runner-up to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby. Trained by John Shirreffs with Flavien Prat named to ride.

Baffert also saddles Citizen Bull (20-1), last year’s 2-year-old champion, with Martin Garcia from post 1.

Several past Derby-winning trainers return:

• D. Wayne Lukas sends out Virginia Derby winner American Promise (30-1) from post 5 (rider: Nik Juarez).
• Todd Pletcher trains Grande (20-1), ridden by John Velazquez from post 10.
• Brad Cox saddles Final Gambit (30-1) with Luan Machado (post 3).
• Kenny McPeek, who won last year with Mystik Dan, runs Render Judgment (30-1) from post 15.

Joel Rosario, winner aboard Orb in 2013, rides Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic (20-1) for trainer Steve Asmussen from post 14. Asmussen also sends out Publisher (20-1), runner-up in the Arkansas Derby, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 13.

Finally, 2023 Derby-winning jockey Javier Castellano rides Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (30-1) from post 20 for trainer Brian Lynch.