Champions Tour pros pick Kentucky Derby winners

text size

Lyons/Getty Images

A horse walks off of the track during the training for the 135th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

If anyone knows horses, it's Gary Player. The legendary South African owns Gary Player Stud Farm, which breeds thoroughbred race horses and has received worldwide acclaim. One of their horses, Broadway Flyer, was entered in the 1994 English Derby.

Player, along with three other Champions Tour members, gave their predictions for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby to Media Official Phil Stambaugh.

That's not the only way that the Tour is involved with the annual race. Kentucky native, Ryder Cup hero and 13-time PGA TOUR winner Kenny Perry and his father, Ken, will serve as the grand marshals of the Kentucky Derby Festival's Republic Bank Pegasus Parade on Saturday, May 2.

Gary Player -- "I'm going with Desert Party. I like his breeding. I think the Godolphin Stable would be really tickled to finally win the Kentucky Derby. They've invested lots of money in horse racing so it would be appropriate."

Jim Thorpe -- "I've watched them all and I think I Want Revenge is the horse to beat. They have a wonderful young jockey in Joe Talemo. He knows the horse very well. If I lose, I'll be losing on I Want Revenge."

John Jacobs -- "I like either General Quarters or Pioneer of the Nile. Pioneer of the Nile can run both on and off the pace. If the pace is fast, General Quarters will annihilate these other horses."

Jim Colbert -- "I guess I'll go with the chalk and that's I Want Revenge. I watched him in the Wood Memorial and that told me he's probably the best."