Grimes, McConnell pick horses in Kentucky Derby

(CNN) – The political horse race between Sen. Mitch McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes takes on a different meaning Saturday, as the Senate candidates picked different favorites for the Kentucky Derby.

McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and Senate Minority Leader, picked "Ride on Curlin," according to his campaign.

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The horse is getting 15-1 betting odds, and is considered North America's all time richest thoroughbred with $10.5 million in earnings.

Grimes, a Democrat and Kentucky's secretary of state, is rooting for more of a long shot: "Medal Count" of Spendthrift Farm, who’s getting 20-0 betting odds. Her campaign says the farm is near where she lives in Lexington.

Grimes is considered the likely Democratic nominee to take on McConnell, a longtime incumbent, in this year's midterm elections. But first, McConnell has to get past the GOP primary on May 20, where he faces a tea party-backed challenger, Matt Bevin.

Bevin's campaign said that he would also be rooting for “Ride on Curlin.”

A spokesman for another Kentucky politician, GOP Sen. Rand Paul, said the potential presidential candidate is simply rooting for the winning horse at the longstanding Bluegrass State tradition, whoever that may be.

Saturday's event is the 140th running of the derby, which is expected to draw 120,000 spectators and horseplayers at the historic Twin Spires at Churchill Downs in Louisville.