NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Saturday’s “Triplecast” Is Third of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 1, 2021 – With one month to the running of the 147th Kentucky Derby, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby this Saturday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. ET. This weekend’s “triplecast” continues NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Saturday’s live coverage begins from Aqueduct Racetrack with the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, New York’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race which has had 11 winners go on to win the Derby. The 5-2 morning line favorite is #4 Risk Taking, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Chad Brown.
In addition, the $800,000 Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, is expected to feature undefeated 3-5 morning line favorite Essential Quality, who was named 2020’s Champion two-year-old male.
Rounding out Saturday’s show is the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, the signature West Coast prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Headlining the field is Medina Spirit, trained by Hall-of-Famer Bob Baffert, who has won the Santa Anita Derby a record nine times.
Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s triplecast coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who won each Triple Crown race twice, Randy Moss, and insights analyst Steve Kornacki, who will be at his Big Board to analyze the Kentucky Derby points standings as qualifying for the Run for the Roses enters its final weeks. Reporters Laffit Pincay III and Britney Eurton will be on-site in Santa Anita, Matt Bernier will be in New York, and Kenny Rice will report from Keeneland.
NBCSN will also present highlights of Saturday’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” races from across the country.
Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.
Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:
| Race | Date | Time (ET) |
| Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby | Sat., April 3 | 5:30 p.m. |
| Arkansas Derby | Sat., April 10 | 7 p.m. |
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.
–NBC SPORTS–