Kentucky Derby 2019 Live

The 2019 Kentucky Derby takes on an entirely different feel following Omaha Beach's late scratch.

Kentucky Derby 2019 Live

Omaha Beach, the early betting favorite to win this year's Run for the Roses, was scratched from the race due to a respiratory issue.

That leaves three Bob Baffert-trained horses—Game Winner, Improbable and Roadster—as the favorites to be the victor.

With Omaha Beach out of the field, perhaps that could lead to a longshot notching an upset victory in this year's Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Information

Post Time: Saturday at 6:50 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live

Preview

It's not often that a Kentucky Derby favorite is scratched from the lineup only days before the race, but Omaha Beach suffered an entrapped epiglottis. That means longtime trainer Richard Mandella won't notch his first career Kentucky Derby win, and jockey Mike Smith, who rode Justify to last year's Triple Crown, won't be in this year's Run for the Roses.

But more importantly, Omaha Beach will be OK.

"I'm a little bummed out, but the horse is OK and we're going to be all right," Smith told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "The good news is it wasn't anything that is life-threatening.''

Baffert has five career Kentucky Derby wins, including with Justify last year and fellow Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah in 2015. He has a good chance to secure another victory this year.

Game Winner is now the favorite to win with 9-2 odds (as of Thursday at 3 a.m. ET, per SportsLine). Improbable and Roadster each have 5-1 odds.

It will be interesting to see how Game Winner and Roadster come out of their posts, as they'll be starting alongside each other in the Nos. 15 and 16 spots—the horses in posts Nos. 13-20 have all moved up one following Omaha Beach's withdrawal.

Improbable could be the Baffert horse that finishes the best, perhaps even winning, after its favorable post draw of No. 5.

Improbable nearly won the Arkansas Derby on April 13, making a strong push down the final stretch but coming up short against Omaha Beach.