By Josh Cook
The son of Smarty Jones may be a long shot, but Backtalk (21-1) has two wins in two starts on the wet dirt at Churchill Downs.
The horse, that is owned by Gold Mark Farm, LLC and trained by Thomas Amoss, won his first three career starts last year (including the Grade II Sanford Stakes) and has finished in the money in five of seven career starts. The two times he wasn't in the money he was without regular rider Miguel Mena, who will be aboard the horse in the Derby.
Backtalk, who was third in April 3's Illinois Derby, has $294,556 in career earnings and will start from the No. 18 post position.
