BOCA RATON, Fla., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Norton Herrick, Chairman and CEO of The Herrick Company, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investment firms, and partner in Danza with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, is heading to Churchill Downs with Herrick looking for his second Kentucky Derby crown in the past four years, as the partnership’s prized thoroughbred racehorse, Danza, has been named one of the top three favorites to win this year’s race, which will be held Saturday, May 3. Post time is 6:24 p.m. EDT

The current odds from Las Vegas have Danza entering at 9-1, third behind Wicked Strong, which is listed at 13-2, and the favorite, California Chrome, which enters the race with 5-2 odds.

Danza, trained by leading trainer Todd Pletcher, is coming off an impressive four-and-three-quarter lengths victory at the Arkansas Derby on April 12, where he went off at 41-1 odds. Jockey Joe Bravo, who rode Danza in that race, will again take the reins on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“We are excited to once again have a thoroughbred racing in this year’s Kentucky Derby, where we won in 2011 with Animal Kingdom,” said Norton Herrick, Chairman of The Herrick Company. “We are confident that Danza can repeat the success he’s had in past races.”

Danza, the son of thoroughbred sprinter Street Boss, has four races under his belt, two of which were victories, including his maiden race at Belmont Park last year. Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm, leading commercial breeding operations, bred the horse in Kentucky.

About The Herrick Company, Inc. Founded more than 40 years ago, The Herrick Company, Inc. is a diversified investment company that includes real estate holdings, entertainment and art-related businesses, thoroughbreds, and green energy-related projects.

Since 2008, The Herrick Company has invested in several thoroughbreds, highlighted by Animal Kingdom, winner of both the 2011 Kentucky Derby and the 2013 Dubai World Cup, and Went The Day Well, which finished fourth in the 2012 Kentucky Derby.