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

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,

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.