The last time the Kentucky Derby was won by a favorite -- 1979 -- the Pittsburgh Pirates were rallying around Willie "Pop" Stargell and Sister Sledge; MVP Moses Malone ruled the NBA, and Vince Ferragamo soon would begin a Super Bowl-bound season with the Los Angeles Rams.
Borg owed Wimbledon ... Bear Bryant owed college football ... Fuzzy Zoeller won the Masters. Now that was a long time ago.
Well, the streak could be snapped Saturday when once-beaten Pulpit goes to the post for the 123rd running of the Kentucky Derby. It's expected to be the smallest field since '79 when Spectacular Bid beat out nine other entries. The logic here: smaller fielder, less traffic. Less traffic, less it will be a race of chance.
However, while Pulpit has been made a 5-2 favorite, a case can be made for almost every horse in the field to win this race.
The streak is at 17. The odds say 18 is right around the turn.
| Year | Favorite | Finish | Winner |
| 1980 | Rockhill Native | 5th | Genuine Risk |
| 1981 | Proud Appeal | 18th | Pleasant Colony |
| 1982 | Air Forbes Won | 7th | Gato Del Sol |
| 1983 | Marfa | 5th | Sunny Halo |
| 1984 | Life's Magic | 8th | Swale |
| 1985 | Chief's Crown | 3rd | Spend a Buck |
| 1986 | Snow Chief | 11th | Ferdinand |
| 1987 | Demons Begone | DNF-1 | Alysheba |
| 1988 | Private Terms-2 | 9th | Winning Colors |
| 1989 | Easy Goer | 2nd | Sunday Silence |
| 1990 | Mister Frisky | 8th | Unbridled |
| 1991 | Hansel | 10th | Strike the Gold |
| 1992 | Arazi | 8th | Lil E. Tee |
| 1993 | Prairie Bayou | 2nd | Sea Hero |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | 12th | Go for Gin |
| 1995 | Serena's Song-3 | 16th | Thunder Gulch |
| 1996 | Unbridled's Song | 5th | Grindstone |
1-Demons Begone did not finish.
2-Private Terms considered favorite over Winning Colors based strictly on amount of money wagered on each.
3-Most recent favorite to go off as part of an entry. Serena's Song was coupled with Timber Country (3rd). Before that, Proud Appeal, Marfa, Life's Magic and Easy Goer were all betting favorites that were part of an entry.
Compiled by CBS SportsLine national columnist Ray Buck.