The field for the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) is just about settled, with 20 3-year-olds set to enter the starting gate for the 152nd Run for the Roses on May 2.
Who’s your winner? Still a few weeks to sort out the who’s hot, who’s not, and who are potential sleepers as the countdown to the most exciting two minutes in sports at Churchill Downs is in the final stages.
After a thrilling trio of Kentucky Derby preps, each awarded 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers on Saturday (April 4), the latest US Racing underwent quite an overhaul.
While Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Renegade remained 1-2 in the Top 10, Further Ado, with an eye-opening, 11-length victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday rockets in at No. 3 and surprise Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner So Happy makes his first appearance at No. 5.
The Puma, runner-up to Commandment in the Florida Derby, holds the No. 4 slot.
Silent Tactic, runner-up in the Arkansas Derby, is No. 6, followed by Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt (trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott’s son, Riley), Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market, Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Class President, and Potente (Santa Anita Derby runner-up trained by Bob Baffert).
Dropping out of the Top 10 this week, but still possible for the Derby, are Iron Honor (seventh in the Wood Memorial and 21st on the Derby points leaderboard at 50) and Chief Wallabee (22nd with 50 points).
On the Top 10 bubble, with one more prep to go – the Lexington Stakes (G3) on Saturday with points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the top five finishers – are Wood winner Albus (100 points), also trained by Riley Mott, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort (110 points), trained by Cox, and Golden Tempo (60 points) for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Cox has a stellar trio of Derby contenders with Commandment, Further Ado, and Fulleffort. He was certainly impressed with Further Ado’s romp on a track where he had won a maiden race by 20 lengths.
“He moved forward in the Blue Grass, and if he can just maintain that, he can be competitive,” Cox said. “And if he moves forward again, he can get it done.”
There could be a jockey change with Further Ado as Irad Ortiz, Jr., also rides Renegade for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Ortiz has also ridden Cox’s other two Derby contenders, so the trainer may need new riders for all three of his Derby starters.
There will be little, if any, changes in the top 20 Derby point qualifiers based on the Lexington Stakes results, but expect some changes through defections that would allow several horses outside the top 20 to get into the field.
Still the one despite brilliant race by stablemate Further Ado in Blue Grass ... Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby winner bids to become first Kentucky Derby winner to finish atop qualifying points leaderboard ... Trainer Brad Cox has super strong Derby hand with Commandment, Further Ado and Jeff Ruby winner Fulleffort ... Brings four-race win streak to Churchill Downs ... Owner: Wathnan Racing ... Purchased for $500,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Breeding: Into Mischief-Sippican Harbor, by Orb ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 1 on Derby points leaderboard (150) ... Derby future wager odds (pool 6): 7-1
Let’s not forget blazing stretch run to beat a tough field in the Arkansas Derby ... Also has win in Sam F. Davis ... Could be your Derby favorite as he’s now 4-1 top choice in final Derby future wager ... 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: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 3 on Derby points leaderboard (125) ... Derby future wager odds: 4-1
A brilliant Blue Grass – an 11-length romp at Keeneland – confirms Further Ado is the real deal ... Gives Cox another top Derby contender ... Also won maiden race by an amazing 20 lengths at Keeneland, and has a win in Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs ... Owner: Spendthrift Farm ...Pedigree: Gun Runner-Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa ... Purchased for $550,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training 2025 ... Next race: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 2 on Derby points leaderboard (135) ... Derby future wager odds: 17-1.
This colt is no fluke – he took the lead in the Florida Derby and was edged a nose by Commandment. Superb effort gets him back into the Top 10 with a serious chance to win... His Tampa Bay Derby win on March 7 gave him first -- and only -- career victory in four starts ... Delgado, trainer/co-owner, Castellano and fellow co-owner Ramiro Restrepo won 2023 Derby with Mage ... Owners: OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing ... Pedigree: Essential Quality-Eve of War, by Declaration of War ... Purchased for $150,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale for 2-Year-Olds in Training ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (106) ... Derby future wager odds: 23-1
One of the most emotional storylines coming into Derby – trainer's wife suddenly dies of cardiac arrest less than two months ago, Glatt wins first Santa Anita Derby with So Happy, and Mike Smith rides in Derby at age 60 ... So Happy outdueled Potente and won by 2 ¾ lengths to finish second on Derby points leaderboard (135) ... 10 horses have completed Santa Anita Derby-Kentucky Derby double ... Owners: Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners ... Purchased for $150,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale for 2-Year-Olds in Training ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (115) ... Derby future wager: 93-1.
Arkansas Derby runner-up has been a model of consistency in Derby preps -- a win in the Southwest and three seconds, in the Smarty Jones, Rebel, and Arkansas Derby – makes him a Derby threat as a deep closer ... His 100 points put him in the field, giving Casse a chance to win his first Run for the Roses ... 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 ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, May 2 ... No. 7 on Derby points leaderboard (100). Derby future wager odds: 32-1
Won 2-of-3 Derby preps, most recently Virginia Derby back on March 14 and comes into Churchill Downs off a seven-week layoff ... He brings 3-for-5 record into the race, has a cool name, and will be joined by stablemate Albus, recent winner of the Wood Memorial ... Riley Mott, son of Bill Mott, the Hall of Fame trainer of 2025 Derby winner and Horse of the Year Sovereignty, will have his first Derby starters ... Owner: Pin Oak Stud ... Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro- Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again ... Purchased for $75,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 13 on Derby points leaderboard (60) ... Derby future wager odds: 22-1
Top trainer seeks first Derby win with lightly race Louisiana Derby victor (on March 21) who comes into Louisville with just two career starts – a maiden win came in his debut in February ... Another contender coming into the Derby off a seven-week layoff ... Owner: Klaravich Stables ... Pedigree: Candy Ride-Wild Empress, by Empire Maker ... Purchased for $185,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Next race: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 8 on Derby points leaderboard (100) ... Derby future wager odds: 15-1
A late scratch from Blue Grass due to a less than 100% morning gallop a few days before the race, this Uncle Mo colt is still 2-for-3 with a hard-fought win over Silent Tactic in a strong Rebel field ...Derby status iffy, but he’ll be in the hunt if healthy ... Owners: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing., CHC (China Horse Club) ... Pedigree: Uncle Mo-Top Quality, by Quality Road ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 16 on Derby points leaderboard (50) ... Derby future wager odds: 53-1
A difficult choice, but we’re taking Baffert’s Santa Anita Derby runner-up to round out the Top 10 ... While distance may be a major issue, a San Felipe win and runner-up to So Happy this past Saturday still gives Hall of Fame trainer a shot (a longshot) at a record-setting seventh Derby win ... ... Owner: Speedway Stables ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Sweet Sting, by Awesome Again ... Purchased for $2.4 million at 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 10 on Derby points leaderboard (100). Derby future wager odds: 16-1
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.
