American Pharoah is the 5-2 favourite for the Kentucky Derby despite drawing barrier 18.

His Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Dortmund is the second elect at 3-1 and will start from barrier eight in the 2000m race at Churchill Downs on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

Only one horse has won from the 18 gate - Gato Del Sol in 1982.

American Pharoah comes into the Derby having won the Arkansas Derby by eight lengths.

American Pharoah, Dortmund and the Todd Pletcher-trained Carpe Diem (8-1) were the only horses listed at single digits by Churchill Downs odds maker Mike Battaglia after the draw.

Pletcher's other runners are long shots with Materiality at 12-1, and Itsaknockout and Stanford, both 30-1.