Sun Thunder Kentucky Derby Horse Odds, History and Predictions (Lack of Speed and Performance to Challenge)

Kentucky Derby Week is finally here. In just a few short days, 20 of the world's best 3-year-old horses will participate in the 149th Run for the Roses and aim for eternal glory.

One horse to watch if the pace turns fast is Sun Thunder. Here's everything you need to know about this colt before he vies for the 2023 Kentucky Derby crown.

Sun Thunder Kentucky Derby Odds and Post Position

The 2023 Kentucky Derby odds and post positions were revealed Monday, May 1. FanDuel Racing has you covered for Derby updates throughout the week.

As far as Sun Thunder's post position goes, he'll be racing out of the No. 13 spot. Over the Kentucky Derby's existence since the starting gate was introduced in 1930, there have been five horses to win from post 13. Nyquist is the most recent competitor to have accomplished the feat, doing so in 2016.

Sun Thunder Horse Trainer and Jockey

Sun Thunder is trained by Kenny McPeek. His horses have 27 wins in 197 starts in 2023, and his win rate is below average at 14% and 38% for top-3 in-the-money finishers. McPeek graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1984 and worked under top trainer Shug McGaughey before opening his own barn shortly after. McPeek trained 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava, and the filly Swiss Skydiver to her 2020 Preakness victory.

Sun Thunders' jockey for the 2023 Kentucky Derby is Brian Hernandez, Jr. The accomplished 37-year-old rider is in his 20th year racing, making his 3rd Derby start. Hernandez has ridden in more than 1,500 races at Churchill Downs since 2017. In 2023, he's ridden horses to 37 victories for a 19% win rate and added 29 second-place finishes and another 20 third-place showings for a 45% in-the-money rate on nearly 200 mounts.

Check out more Kentucky Derby coverage from The Duel:

Sun Thunder Race History

Sun Thunder has a career record of six starts with one win. He's 0-for-4 in stakes races with a best finish of 2nd in the Risen Star behind Kentucky Derby contender Angel of Empire. He enters the Derby following a distant 4th place showing at Keeneland on April 8 behind winner Tapit Trice and runner-up Verifying.

Sun Thunder Kentucky Derby Prediction and Pick

Sun Thunder is a son of Into Mischief, who claimed his fourth straight North American sire title in 2022. He produced 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and 2021 Derby winner Mandaloun (by DQ). Still, there are too many things working against Sun Thunder to consider him a worthwhile Kentucky Derby pick. The pace is not expected to be fast like the 2022 Derby. Sun Thunder is a closer from further back who has finished out of the money by a distance in his last two preps against Kentucky Derby runners, and those races lacked a faster pace as well. Also, Sun Thunder's best Equibase Speed Figure (ESF) in a race is 94, which is too slow to be considered a major win contender. More than half the 2023 Derby entries have posted at least a 100 ESF.

Sun Thunder will come running late to pass a few horses, but he is hard to endorse off of his recent races and not enough improvement or speed to match other horses in the race. Upsets have happened in Louisville in the past, but I don't see Sun Thunder being the catalyst for one in 2023 or cashing in for exotic bettors.

Naturally, you can bet on which horse will win the Kentucky Derby with FanDuel Racing.

Discover exciting 2023 Kentucky Derby promos to wager on FDR and FanDuel Sportsbook and get up to $20 back on your Bet!

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.