The Kentucky Derby field is finalized at the official post position draw, traditionally held the Saturday before Derby week, when up to 20 horses receive their starting gate assignments and morning-line odds are announced. Run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby brings together the leading contenders from the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Until the draw, follow the latest contenders and qualifying points standings below.
| 2027 Kentucky Derby Entries at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Race Date | Saturday, May 1st, 2027 |
| Track | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Field Size | Up to 20 starters |
| Also-Eligibles | Up to four |
| Post Position Draw | Saturday, April 24, 2027 (expected) |
| Official Entries | Announced at the draw |
| How Horses Qualify | Road to the Kentucky Derby points |
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Long before the gates are assigned, the betting market is already sorting out the class of this year's three-year-olds. Every major prep race moves these prices, and the official entries and post positions join them once the field is drawn. For the complete market, visit the Kentucky Derby odds page.
| 2027 Kentucky Derby Future Odds | ||
| PP | Horse / Jockey / Trainer | Fractional |
|---|---|---|
| -- | U.S.S. ValorTBA · C. McGaughey III | 13/2 |
| -- | HughesTBA · B. Baffert | 10/1 |
| -- | American HistoryTBA · T. Pletcher | 16/1 |
| -- | SalahudinTBA · B. Baffert | 20/1 |
| -- | PowerlineTBA · S. Asmussen | 25/1 |
| -- | Fools Rush InTBA · B. Cox | 25/1 |
| -- | NevadaTBA · C. Brown | 33/1 |
| -- | InshallahTBA · J. Sadler | 33/1 |
| -- | The Good LifeTBA · B. Cox | 33/1 |
| -- | Coach PopeTBA · K. McPeek | 33/1 |
| -- | Lord MischiefTBA · B. Cox | 33/1 |
| -- | EndrushTBA · E. Kenneally | 33/1 |
| -- | Hullabaloo Ray RayTBA · B. Cox | 50/1 |
| -- | StaunchTBA · B. Walsh | 50/1 |
| -- | JasTBA · S. Asmussen | 50/1 |
| -- | Twinkle TownTBA · K. McPeek | 50/1 |
| -- | GaudreauTBA · C. Brown | 50/1 |
| -- | Q B RocketTBA · B. Cox | 50/1 |
Last Updated on 11/09/2026
There is only one way into the Kentucky Derby starting gate: points. The Road to the Kentucky Derby awards qualifying points to the top finishers in a series of prep races, and the biggest spring preps carry the most weight. The top point-earners claim their places in the field, while the also-eligibles wait next in line. Here are the current standings on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard:
| # | Horse | Trainer | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hughes | Bob Baffert | 40 |
| 2 | American History | Todd A. Pletcher | 25 |
| 3 | Salahudin | Bob Baffert | 19 |
| 4 | Coach Pope | Kenneth G. McPeek | 11 |
| 5 | U.S.S. Valor | Claude R. McGaughey III | 10 |
| 6 | Jas | Steven M. Asmussen | 10 |
| 7 | He Is No Lie | Doug F. O'Neill | 5 |
| 8 | Gaudreau | Chad C. Brown | 5 |
| 9 | Net Par | Antonio C. Garcia | 5 |
| 10 | Staunch | Brendan P. Walsh | 5 |
| 11 | Q B Rocket | Brad H. Cox | 3 |
| 12 | Damavand | Todd A. Pletcher | 3 |
| 13 | Club Reign | D. Whitworth Beckman | 3 |
| 14 | Imperial Honor | Bob Baffert | 3 |
| 15 | Caribbean Life | William Walden | 3 |
| 16 | Mystik Bayou | Kenneth G. McPeek | 3 |
| 17 | Real Goodbar | Kenneth G. McPeek | 2 |
| 18 | Blessed Flyer | Michael A. Tomlinson | 2 |
| 19 | Domus | Bob Baffert | 2 |
| 20 | Title Worthy | Dallas Stewart | 2 |
Last Updated on 11/10/2026
| From Points Race to Starting Gate | |
|---|---|
| Stage | What Happens |
| Prep SeasonFall to early April | Three-year-olds earn qualifying points in the Kentucky Derby prep races, with the richest point totals on offer in the major spring preps. |
| EntriesAt the draw | The top point-earners are entered for a field capped at 20 starters. |
| Post Position DrawSaturday before Derby week | Every starter learns its gate, and the morning-line odds are announced. |
| Also-EligiblesUp to four | The next horses on the points list. An also-eligible draws into the race if a starter is scratched before the scratch deadline. |
| Derby DayFirst Saturday in May | The betting action sets the final odds right up until the gates open. |
You never have to wait for the draw to get a bet down on the Kentucky Derby. Four steps get you in:
The official entries are announced at the post position draw on the Saturday before Derby week, along with each horse's starting gate and the morning-line odds.
The Kentucky Derby field is capped at 20 starters, with up to four also-eligibles entered in case of scratches.
By earning points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The top point-earners across the prep races make the field. Follow the race for a spot on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
An also-eligible is a horse next in line on the points list. If a starter is scratched before the scratch deadline, the first also-eligible draws into the race.
Yes. Kentucky Derby futures let you back a horse months before the race and lock in a price before the prep races move the market.
The 153rd Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday, May 1st, 2027 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Get ahead of the draw. Open your BUSR account, claim your Sign Up Cash Bonus, earn a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers and bet the 153rd Run for the Roses.
| Kentucky Derby Guides and Tools | |
|---|---|
| Page | What You'll Find |
| Kentucky Derby Contenders | The leading contenders and their form. |
| Kentucky Derby Odds | The full betting market and how the prep season moves it. |
| Road to the Derby Leaderboard | Which three-year-olds lead the points race. |
| Kentucky Derby Prep Races | The full prep race schedule with dates, tracks and points. |
| Kentucky Derby Futures | Lock in a price on the Derby months before the race. |
| Kentucky Derby Betting Guide | How to bet, every bet type, strategy and race day. |
| Kentucky Derby Schedule | Derby Day post times and the schedule for Derby week. |
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