The $1 million, Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Saturday will be missing Maximum Security, who was originally the morning-line favorite at 9/5 odds. That role has been inherited by Improbable, first listed as the 3/1 second choice but now the 8/5 favorite in a short field of six. (Max will [sit this one out](https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thoroughbred-racing/maximum-security-ruled-out-of-pennsylvania-derby-after-nephrosplenic-entrapment/) due to colon problems, but thankfully the colt won't require surgery and is now resting comfortably at his barn.) With such a short field, wagering value might be lacking for most horse enthusiasts, but this should still be an interesting race. The 1 ⅛ mile signature race at Parx takes place with the three-year-old male division somewhat in disarray. The Pennsylvania Derby will be run as race 11 of 13 and will be televised nationally on NBC, with coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT. Post time is 5:48 p.m. ET/4:48 p.m. CT ## Pennsylvania Derby field, odds, jockeys, trainers 1) MATH WIZARD Morning-line odds: 6/1 Jockey: Edgard Zayas Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. This colt comes into this contest after posting a sixth-place finish on Aug. 3 at Mountaineer in the West Virginia Derby, some 11 lengths behind the winner, Mr. Money, a rival he faces again here. His last win occurred six races ago in January, and while he hit the board in three of those six, he seems overmatched Saturday, even in a six-horse field. 2) IMPROBABLE Morning-line odds: 8/5 Jockey: Mike Smith Trainer: Bob Baffert His last outing resulted in a 2 ¾-length score in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 25. That was his first race back since running sixth in the Preakness Stakes in May. He was fractious in the gate that day and still finished only 3 ¾ lengths behind the winner in a 13-horse field. Baffert has given this fellow some time off to mature, and hopefully, he's ironed out his gate issues. The only question for Improbable might be the distance, as he's yet to win a race longer than 1 1/16 miles. This looks like a great spot for him to put in a good effort. Top contender. 3) SHANGHAI SUPERFLY Morning-line odds: 30/1 Jockey: Frankie Pennington Trainer: Marcos Zulueta This son of champion Shanghai Bobby has shown no signs of greatness like his sire, having never crossed the wire first in eight attempts at five different racetracks. He was last seen running second in a maiden claiming event at Monmouth for a $50,000 price tag, and I can't see his first win occurring in a Grade 1, $1 million race. An easy toss. 4) WAR OF WILL Morning-line odds: 4/1 Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Trainer: Mark Casse The Preakness [winner](https://www.nbcsports.com/video/war-will-wins-2019-preakness-stakes-bodexpress-throws-john-velazquez) enters this race from a fifth-place finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 27. In that race, he finished five lengths behind Tax and beat only one horse. His three previous starts consist of the three Triple Crown events, and although he won the Preakness, he didn't fire in the Kentucky Derby or the Belmont Stakes. He's been working smartly, and this looks like a great spot for him to get back into form, but he’s tough to trust on the winning end. Contender. 5) SPUN TO RUN Morning-line odds: 8/1 Jockey: Paco Lopez Trainer: Juan Guerrero Comes in off a determined effort in the Smarty Jones over this course on Sept. 2., making him three-for-three at Parx in 2019. Two races back, he finished a distant third to Maximum Security in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth. Although I'm looking elsewhere for the winner, this horse for the course must be respected and can certainly hit the board for a minor award. 6) MR. MONEY Morning-line odds: 2/1 Jockey: Gabriel Saez Trainer: Bret Calhoun Brings a four-race win streak into this contest, all of Grade 3 caliber. Jockey Saez was aboard for all those victories, as well as nine out of the colt’s 10 career starts. Mr. Money has been firing nothing but bullet workouts in the mornings, and there is little doubt he'll be tough to down in his current form cycle. Top contender. ## Pennsylvania Derby picks No. 6 MR. MONEY, 2/1 odds. In winning form No. 2 IMPROBABLE, 8/5. Big effort expected No. 4 WAR OF WILL, 4/1. Should be in the hunt No. 5 SPUN TO RUN, 8/1. Loves this course (3-for-3 this year at Parx) __Bookmark us__: [For coverage of major horse races](https://www.betchicago.com/horse-racing-odds)