Kentucky Derby Winners Bought and Bred

Kentucky Derby Winners Bought and Bred

By US Racing Team

Once again this year the Kentucky Derby will be run for a purse of $3 million, which means the winner will take home a minimum of $1.8 million. But before the group of 20 makes it to the starting gate, a significant financial investment has been made. Many have been purchased at the young horse auctions, or privately after beginning their racing careers, while others are bred by their owners, who paid stud fees – sometimes top dollar – to possess what they hope is the perfect Derby runner.

The last yearling sales purchase to win the  Kentucky Derby was Authentic in 2020. Before that, Triple Crown winner Justify brought $500,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. And the last 2-year-old in training sales purchase to win the  Kentucky Derby was 2016 winner Nyquist, who was sold for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton March sale.

The last private purchase to win the  Kentucky Derby was 2009 winner Mine That Bird and the last homebred to win the Kentucky Derby was Mandaloun in 2021. Last year’s winner, Rich Strike, was claimed from his breeder, Calumet Farm, for $30,000 out of his second career start.

This year, 15 members of the Kentucky Derby field, not including also-eligibles, were sold at public auction, four are homebreds and another appears to have been purchased privately with no auction history available.

The most expensive runner in the list of likely starters this year is Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Tapit Trice, who was a $1.3 million Keeneland September yearling in 2021.

Fusaichi Pegasus remains the most expensive purchase in Kentucky Derby history, having brought $4 million as a Keeneland July yearling in 1998 before winning the Kentucky Derby almost two years later. By comparison, Venezuelan-raced Cannonero II was just $1,200 Keeneland September yearling in 1969, even with inflation making him the best bargain.

Kentucky Derby 2023 Odds

PPHorseJockeyTrainerOwnerOdds
1Hit Show FrancoBrad H. CoxWest, Gary and Mary30-1
2Verifying GaffalioneBrad H. CoxPoulin, Jonathan, Westerberg, Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B.15-1
3Two Phil's LoveberryLarry RivelliPatricia's Hope LLC and Sagan, Phillip12-1
4Conficence Game GrahamJ. Keith DesormeauxDon't Tell My Wife Stables20-1
5Tapit Trice SaezTodd A. PletcherWhisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck)5-1
6Kinkngbarns J. OrtizTodd A. PletcherSpendthrift Farm LLC12-1
7Reincartnate VelazquezTim YakteenSF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine50-1
8Mage CastellanoGustavo DelgadoOGMA Investments, LLC, Restrepo, Ramiro, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH15-1
SCRSkinner HernandezJohn A. ShirreffsC R K Stable20-1
SCRPractical Move VazquezTim YakteenAmestoy, Jr., Pierre Jean, Amestoy, Leslie A. and Beasley, Roger K.SCR
9Disarm RosarioSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds LLC30/1
10Jace's Road GerouxBrad H. CoxWest Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC15-1
11Sun Thunder Hernandez JrKenneth G. McPeekR.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine30-1
12Angel Of Empire PratBrad H. CoxAlbaugh Family Stables LLC8-1
13Forte I. Ortiz JR.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable and St. Elias Stable3-1
14Raise Can CorralesBen ColebrookWarren, Andrew and Warren, Rania15-1
15Derma Sotogake LemaireHidetaka OtonashiHiroyuki Asanuma10-1
16Rocket Can AlvaradoWilliam I. MottFrank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.15-1
SCRLord Miles LopezTodd A. PletcherVegso Racing Stable30-1
17Continuar SakaiYoshito YahagiLion Race Horse Co. Ltd.50-1
18Cyclone MischiefJ. RosarioD. RomansAlbaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons.30-1
19Mandarin HeroKazushi KimuraTerunobu FujitaHiroaki Arai.20-1
20King RussellRafael BejaranoRon MoquettHiroaki Arai.50-1
Proudly featured on:
up