Kentucky Derby Contender: Grande

Updated profiles, with post positions and track odds for the 20 3-year-olds entered for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at  Churchill Downs is Saturday (May 3).

Kentucky Derby Contender: Grande

Grande has so much Kentucky Derby (G1) history working against him, it’s hard to believe he’s even running. Then again, his trainer is Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher (two-time winner), and his jockey is Hall of Famer John Velazquez (three-time winner).

As for history, only three horses who didn’t run as a 2-year-old have won the Derby in 150 years, although two have done it in the last seven years – Justify (2018) and Mage in 2023.

From 1900, only four horses that came into the Kentucky Derby with three career starts have won – Mage, Justify, Big Brown (2008), and Regret (1915).

That brings us back to Grande. No races at 2. Just three starts, including a runner-up finish to Burnham Square in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 5, qualified him for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

But with Pletcher and Velazquez teaming up – they've won nearly 1,900 races together, including the 2017 Derby with Always Dreaming – there's always a chance even at long odds.

Grande was ridden for the first time by Dylan Davis in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2). He was bumped at the start, forced to race outside most of the way, made a slight run into the stretch, and finished a clear second behind Rodriguez. Grande won his first two starts at Gulfstream Park with Velazquez aboard.

“I thought he ran super,’’ Pletcher said after the Wood. “He didn’t break real well. He got shuffled around a little bit going into the first turn. Dylan said he kind of had to check off heels, which forced him to go really wide.  I think compared to the ground saved that the winner had, it was a very creditable effort.”

Kentucky Derby Betting Advice

Can he overcome history? He ran well in the Wood after being bumped around, but the trainer-jockey is a tough combo to overlook. A superfecta contender.

Contender Information Card 

• Post position: 9
• Odds: 20-1
• Jockey: John Velazquez
• Trainer: Todd Pletcher 
• Owner: Mike Repole’s Repole Stable
• Career record: 3-2-1-0 
• Career earnings: $228,200
• Last race: Wood Memorial (G2), April 5, 2nd
• Derby points: 50 (17th) 
• Top Equibase speed figure: 
• Pedigree: Curlin-Journey Home, by War Front  
• Color: Dark bay
• Running style: Mid-pack  
• Notes: Pletcher is planning one more work for Grande before the 2025 Kentucky Derby, likely at Keeneland on April 26 and then moving over to Churchill Downs ... Velazquez is set for his 27th Derby, which moves him one ahead of Bill Shoemaker and into second all-time behind Mike Smith (28 but moving to 29 as he’s set to be aboard Rodriguez) ... Pletcher will send out a record-extending 66th Derby starter in his 25th Derby ... Repole is seeking his first Derby win; he’s 0-for-4 as a single owner and 0-for-4 as a co-owner. None of his horses have finished in the top 4. Last year did not go well for the Repole-Pletcher-Velazquez team when favorite Fierceness finished 15th. 

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.