Odds set with Secretariat favored in virtual Triple Crown Showdown
As expected, Secretariat is the early favorite in the Churchill Downs' Triple Crown Showdown set for Saturday.
The virtual race will use computer-generated imagery to feature the 13 Triple Crown winners in a virtual 1 1/4-mile race that will air on NBC on Saturday at about 5:45 p.m. ET.
Veteran odds maker Mike Battaglia set the early odds for the 1973 Triple Crown winner at 7-2. He drew the No. 3 post position in a random draw.
Calumet Farm’s champion Citation, who swept the 1948 Triple Crown, is the 4-1 second choice with Seattle Slew and Affirmed, the 1977-78 Triple Crown winners, respectively, each listed at 5-1.
There is no betting on the virtual race, but starting Thursday at 10 a.m. ET, fans will be able to visit www.KentuckyDerby.com to choose their favorite horse to win the virtual race and join Churchill Downs in making a charitable donation to COVID-19 emergency relief efforts. All participants who select the winning horse will be entered in a sweepstakes to win a Kentucky Derby 146 VIP Experience.
“I’ve got to give Secretariat the edge,” said Battaglia, who has made the morning line at Churchill Downs since 1974. “This was a really fun morning line to make and I’m looking forward to the race.”
Battaglia also quipped: “I didn’t have the heart to hang more than 20-1 odds on a Triple Crown winner!”
Here's the complete lineup:
| PP | Horse | Odds | Winning Year |
| 1 | Affirmed | 5-1 | 1978 |
| 2 | Assault | 20-1 | 1946 |
| 3 | Secretariat | 7-2 | 1973 |
| 4 | Sir Barton | 20-1 | 1919 |
| 5 | Seattle Slew | 5-1 | 1977 |
| 6 | American Pharoah | 6-1 | 2015 |
| 7 | Gallant Fox | 20-1 | 1930 |
| 8 | Citation | 4-1 | 1948 |
| 9 | War Admiral | 8-1 | 1937 |
| 10 | Whirlaway | 6-1 | 1941 |
| 11 | Count Fleet | 6-1 | 1943 |
| 12 | Justify | 15-1 | 2018 |
| 13 | Omaha | 20-1 | 1935 |