And we’re off on the road to the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
Yes, more than a dozen Derby point qualifiers are in the books, with more than a dozen to go before moving on to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
The results of the early prep races have given bettors and casual racing fans a bit of a Derby feel for their favorite 3-year-old -- or two, three or more if you’ll be betting exotics.
Following Derby prep races over the weekend in Arkansas, New York, Florida, and California, US Racing presents its first installment of Kentucky Derby Top 10 contenders.
(Jockey changes will be noted as they take place in the weeks before the Derby. The Top 10 will be updated each week through the Derby prep season)
The top spot goes to Nearly, impressive winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The win by the Not This Time colt came days after Pletcher’s Ted Noffey – the undefeated 2-year-old champion and early Derby favorite – was sidelined for the Triple Crown season with an injury.
Nearly is the slight choice over Further Ado, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29 for trainer Brad Cox.
The past weekend’s results produced several Derby prospects in No. 8 Plutarch, who won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita for six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Lewis runner-up Intrepido (No. 10) for trainer Jeff Mullins, Sam F. Davis (G3) winner Renegade (No. 9) for Pletcher, and Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Silent Tactic (No. 5) for trainer Mark Casse.
Baffert was most impressed with Plutarch: “This horse reminds me of Authentic. He keeps getting better every week. I don’t think distance will be a problem with him. This is very exciting. He’s legit (Baffert-trained Authentic won the 2020 Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic and was voted Horse of the Year).
Florent Geroux was aboard Plutarch.
“When I came here, that was what I was expecting, to be honest, to find a Derby horse,’’ said Geroux, who recently moved his tack to California. “Bob is an amazing trainer, and he has won the Derby six times, so the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is just a big honor.”
Checked a few boxes with Holy Bull win Jan. 31 -- won at two turns and in stakes debut by 5 ¾ lengths ... Winner of three in a row since running fifth in career debut Oct. 26 ... Gives Pletcher top Derby contender after his early favorite Ted Noffey was sidelined with injury ... Owner: Donald Little’s Centennial Farm ... Purchased for $350,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28 ... No. 5 on Derby points leaderboard (20). Derby future wager odds (pool 3): 20-1.
Followed amazing 20-length maiden win third time out with 1 ¾-length victory in 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28 ... Worked 4 furlongs in 49.00 at Payson Park on Feb. 7 (fastest of 56 at the distance) ... Has won 2-of-4 with two preps still possible ... Owner: Spendthrift Farm ... Pedigree: Gun Runner-Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa ... Purchased for $510,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training ... Next start: Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, April 4 ... No. 14 on Derby points leaderboard (10). Derby future wagers odds: 26-1.
Won 1 1/8-mile Remsen by two lengths at Aqueduct on Dec. 6 over several other Derby contenders ... Set for 3-year-old debut in Risen Star at the Fair Grounds ... Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, Summer Wind Equine ... Pedigree: Gun Runner-Secret Sigh, by Tapit ... Purchased for $1.9 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale 2024 .. Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 14 ... No. 18 on Derby points leaderboard (10). Derby future wager odds: 14-1.
Love to see trainer saddle her first Derby starter with this unbeaten (2-0) colt ... Won Lecomte at the Fair Grounds in 3-year-old debut with a thrilling closing run ... Owners: Phipps Stable, St. Elias Stable ... Pedigree: Curlin-Carrumba, by Bernadini ... Bred by owners so no public purchase price/auction price ... Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 14 ... No. 6 on Derby points leaderboard (20). Derby future wager odds: 7-2, all other 3-year-olds.
Thrilling closing run to win Southwest by 3 ¼ lengths and soar into Derby contention ... Started out on turf, ran second in Smarty Jones to stablemate Strategic Risk before huge win at Oaklawn ... Owner: John Oxley ... Pedigree: Tacitus-Magical Sign, by Gun Runner ... Purchased for $500,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training 2025 ... Next start: Rebel Stales, Oaklawn Park, March 1 ... No. 1 on Derby points leaderboard (25). Derby future wager odds: 7-2, all other 3-year-olds.
Scratched out of Southwest but worked 4 furlongs in 48.40 at Santa Anita on Feb. 7. Los Alamitos Futurity winner with two wins in five starts ... Well-seasoned in Grade 1 events, including fourth in the BC Juvenile ... Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan ... Pedigree: Nyquist-Study Hard, by Malibu Moon ... Purchased for $875,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next race: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 7 ... No. 8 on Derby points leaderboard (19). Derby future wager odds: 35-1.
Uneaten and Champagne winner on Oct. 4 preparing for 3-year-old debut after working 4 furlongs in 48.00 at Palm Meadows on Feb. 5, the fastest of 19 at the distance ... Owner: Gold Square (Al Gold) ... Pedigree: Liam’s Map-Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy ... Purchased for $40,000 at Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next race: Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park, Feb. 28 ... No. 10 on Derby points leaderboard (10). Derby future wager odds: 30-1.
Gives Baffert another “legit’’ Derby contender after impressive win in Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7 ... Needed five races for first career win, but previously ran second in Del Mar Juvenile Turf and third in the in the American Pharoah ... Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Stellar Wind, by Curlin ... Purchase price unavailable ... Next race: TBD ... No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (23). Derby future wager odds: 7-2, all other 3-year-olds).
Sam F. Davis winner, edging a 48-1 longshot by three-quarters of a length at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 ... First win, but was DQ’d after finishing first in a maiden race (Paladin was declared the winner) at Aqueduct on Oct. 17, then ran second in the Remsen ... Owners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, Repole Stable ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Spice is Nice, by Curlin ... Purchased for $975,000 at Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next race: Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 3 ... No. 2 on Derby points leaderboard (25). Derby future wage odds: 7-2, all other 2-year-olds.
Beaten three-quarters of a length in Robert B. Lewis but owns a victory over Lewis winner Plutarch in American Pharoah ... Ridgling has won two of five starts and Mullins was happy after first start since fifth in the BC Juvenile on Oct. 31 ... Owner: Dutch Girl Holdings, Irving Ventures ... Pedigree: Maximus Mischief-Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect ... Purchased for $385,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training 2025 ... Next race: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 7... No. 3 on Derby points leaderboard (23). Derby future wager odds: 87-1.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
