Famed trainer Bob Baffert's American Pharoah, last year's champion two-year-old, has been installed as the 5-2 favorite in a strong field for the $2 million classic at Churchill Downs.

Mexican jockey Espinoza is bidding to steer the horse to victory 12 months after guiding California Chrome to a memorable win in the one and one quarter mile gallop, the opening leg of racing's Triple Crown.

Espinoza believes he has been given a stellar ride as he aims to join the select band of jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby three times.

"I have had all the confidence in him since the first time I rode him at Del Mar," Espinoza said of American Pharoah, referring to the horse's emphatic win in last September's Del Mar Futurity Group 1 race in California.