NBC Sports will provide coverage of 15 races starting Friday and taking you all the way up to the Derby. Live coverage time: Begins at 2:30 p.m. ET

Journalism, a Kentucky-bred contender trained by Michael McCarthy, has won four of his five career starts and has never missed the board. He checks into the Derby on a four-race winning streak and just lit up the Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Barring anything crazy happening, Journalism will go off as the favorite Saturday.

The Kentucky Derby offers one of the most unique betting opportunities in the sport. One reason: The race is 1¼ miles long and has up to 20 horses in the field. Because all of the horses are 3 years old,