Study Guide: 2024 Kentucky Derby
Apr 29, 2024
Sierra Leone passes Track Phantom in deep stretch to win the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Credit to Lou Hodges Jr.)
The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) is taking place this Saturday at Churchill Downs. A total of 22 talented three-year-old Thoroughbreds entered the historic 1 1/4-mile race, with two on the also-eligible list.
Let's take a horse-by-horse look at the field for the sesquicentennial Kentucky Derby:
Dornoch
Dornoch wins the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez
Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $552,275
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay
A full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Dornoch won the Remsen (G2) and Fountain of Youth (G2) with pacesetting tactics. But making the lead from post 1 will require a sharp break and an intense early sprint.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone wins the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to mary Ellet)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $918,000
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Heavenly Love
Color: Dark bay/brown
With a hot pace expected in the Kentucky Derby, stretch-running Blue Grass (G1) and Risen Star (G2) winner Sierra Leone is among the most likely horses to take advantage. He's already defeated nine of the other 21 horses entered in the Derby.
Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan wins the Southwest S. (G3) (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to Kurtis Coady)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4 G Racing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $641,360
Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma'am
Color: Bay
Mystik Dan took advantage of an inside-favoring track to dominate the Southwest (G3), then finished a distant third in the Arkansas Derby (G1). His pedigree hints distances shorter than 1 1/4 miles might be his true wheelhouse.
Catching Freedom
Catching Freedom wins the 2024 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $877,350
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Catch My Drift
Color: Bay
Catching Freedom unleashed a powerful finish from off the pace to win the Louisiana Derby (G2) over Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner Honor Marie. He's steadily improving for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Brad Cox and is another runner who stands to benefit from a hot pace at Churchill Downs.
Catalytic
Catalytic (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Tami Bobo, Julie Davies, and George G. Isaacs
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $216,825
Sire: Catalina Cruiser
Dam: One Show Only
Color: Bay
Catalytic finished second by 13 1/2 lengths in the Florida Derby (G1) after tracking eventual winner Fierceness. With a career-best 90 Brisnet Speed rating, he'll need improvement to challenge on the first Saturday in May.
Just Steel
Just Steel (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Susie Raisher)
Start(s): 11
Wins: 2
Place: 4
Show: 1
Owner: BC Stables and Henry Schmueckle
Breeder: Summerhill Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Keith Asmussen
Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $724,545
Sire: Justify
Dam: Irish Lights
Color: Bay
A veteran of 11 starts, Just Steel exits a runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1), in which he finished nicely on the clock while matching his career-best 97 Brisnet Speed rating. Don't count this son of Triple Crown winner Justify out of the mix for a top-five finish.
Honor Marie
Honor Marie gallops out after his victory in the 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Ribble Farms, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. Fishbein, and David Fishbein
Breeder: Royce Pulliam
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Ben Curtis
Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $526,175
Sire: Honor Code
Dam: Dame Marie
Color: Bay
Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Down last fall, Honor Marie prepped for the Kentucky Derby with a strong runner-up finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2), beaten only one length by Catching Freedom. A top-five finish while returning to Churchill is surely within reach for this deep-closing colt.
Just a Touch
Just a Touch (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing second in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $281,700
Sire: Justify
Dam: Touching Beauty
Color: Bay
Just a Touch has early speed, but after finishing second in the Blue Grass (G1) and Gotham (G3), it's fair to wonder if he can carry his speed over 1 1/4 miles at this point in time. His lone victory from three starts came in a six-furlong sprint.
Encino
Encino wins the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Axel Concepcion
Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $378,315
Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Glittering Jewel
Color: Dark bay/brown
Encino enjoyed early success over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park, where he rallied to win the John Battaglia Memorial S. But then he switched tactics and led all the way to win Keeneland's Lexington (G3) on dirt. Encino is versatile in terms of running style and has improved with every start, so he's an intriguing Kentucky Derby longshot for Brad Cox.
T O Password
T O Password wins the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on the Japan Road to Kentucky Derby (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Tomoya Ozasa
Breeder: Yanagawa Bokujo
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $163,339
Sire: Copano Rickey
Dam: T O Rachel
Color: Bay
The first of two Japanese-bred colts in the Kentucky Derby field is T O Password, who led all the way to win the Fukuryu S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. But T O Password escaped with a modest pace that day and will have to deal with a lot more speed in the Kentucky Derby.
Forever Young
Japan's Forever Young will try to emulate his Kentucky Derby-winning ancestors (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 5
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Susumu Fujita
Breeder: Northern Racing
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $2,049,451
Sire: Real Steel
Dam: Forever Darling
Color: Bay
The second Japanese raider is undefeated in five starts and exits a two-length victory in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai. He isn't the quickest horse out of the starting gate, but a fast pace at Churchill Downs should give him a fair chance to catch up down the homestretch.
Track Phantom
Track Phantom is by Quality Road and out of the Into Mischief mare Miss Sunset (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy
Breeder: Breeze Easy
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $405,000
Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Miss Sunset
Color: Bay
Pure speedster Track Phantom led all the way to win the Lecomte (G3) and most recently finished fourth after setting the pace in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He's adding blinkers for the Kentucky Derby and looms as a potential pacesetter, but it remains to be seen whether he can carry his speed over 1 1/4 miles.
West Saratoga
Start(s): 10
Wins: 2
Place: 5
Show: 1
Owner: Harry L. Veruchi
Breeder: Two Hearts Farm II
Trainer: Larry Demeritte
Jockey: Jesus Castanon
Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $460,140
Sire: Exaggerator
Dam: Mo Wicked
Color: Gray/roan
West Saratoga won the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs last year and has recorded top-three finishes in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and Sam F. Davis (G3) this season, but his career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.
Endlessly
Endlessly wins the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography/Turfway Park)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 5
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Amerman Racing Stables
Breeder: Mrs. Jerry Amerman
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Total Earnings: $707,200
Sire: Oscar Performance
Dam: Dream Fuhrever
Color: Bay
Powerful stretch runner Endlessly has won four stakes on turf and synthetic, including the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), but he's yet to race on dirt. Switching surfaces is a question mark, though he has the right running style to benefit from a fast pace.
Domestic Product
Domestic Product winning at Belmont Big A (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $314,200
Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Goods and Services
Color: Dark bay/brown
Domestic Product has been compromised by slow paces in his last two starts, but he nevertheless rallied to finish second in the Holy Bull (G3) and first in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). A fast pace in the Kentucky Derby could set up Domestic Product for a career-best performance.
Grand Mo the First
Grand Mo the First (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 4
Owner: Granpollo Stables
Breeder: John D. Gunther
Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr.
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing third in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $214,650
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Lilies So Fair
Color: Dark bay/brown
Grand Mo the First has shown talent finishing third in both the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Florida Derby (G1), but he was beaten 16 lengths in the latter race while earning an 88 Brisnet Speed rating that looks a little light against the Kentucky Derby field.
Fierceness
Fierceness wins the Florida Derby (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Top Speed Rating: (112) when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,703,850
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Nonna Bella
Color: Bay
The Kentucky Derby favorite has struggled with consistency, but when he brings his A-game, he's fantastic. Fierceness dominated a deep edition of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) by 6 1/4 lengths and prepped for the Kentucky Derby with a 13 1/2-length romp in the Florida Derby (G1). Those efforts yielded powerful Brisnet Speed ratings of 112 and 106, stamping Fierceness as the horse to beat at Churchill Downs.
Stronghold
Stronghold wins the Santa Anita Derby under a jubilant Antonio Fresu (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 0
Owner: Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller
Breeder: Eric Waller and Sharon Waller
Trainer: Philip D'Amato
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $827,200
Sire: Ghostzapper
Dam: Spectator
Color: Bay
Never out of the top two in six starts, Stronghold exits a determined neck triumph in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), which has ranked among the most productive Kentucky Derby qualifiers of the last dozen years. It's possible 1 1/4 miles is farther than Stronghold wants to run, but it's hard to knock his accomplishments and consistency.
Resilience
Resilience wins the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman
Breeder: Pam and Martin Wygod
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $494,630
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Meadowsweet
Color: Bay
Resilience couldn't keep up with Sierra Leone, Track Phantom, and Catching Freedom when finishing fourth in the Risen Star (G2), but he improved to a career-best 104 Brisnet Speed rating when taking the Wood Memorial (G2) by 2 1/4 lengths. Resilience is progressing in the right direction and shouldn't be underestimated.
Society Man
Society Man (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, West Paces Racing, GMP Stables, Carl F. Pascarella and Yurie Pascarella
Breeder: SF Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $196,705
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: You Cheated
Color: Chestnut
Society Man closed nicely from midfield to finish second in the Wood Memorial, earning a 102 Brisnet Speed rating. That effort marked a big jump forward from Society Man's previous form, but as a son of Good Magic (the sire of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage), Society Man has the pedigree to handle 1 1/4 miles and shine on the first Saturday in May.
(AE) Epic Ride
Epic Ride wins at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: Welch Racing
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Adam Beschizza
Top Speed Rating: (96) when breaking his maiden at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $253,166
Sire: Blame
Dam: Pick a Time
Color: Bay
The first of two also-eligible entrants is Epic Ride, runner-up in the John Battaglia Memorial and third in the Blue Grass. He'll need improvement to turn the tables on rivals like Encino, Sierra Leone, and Just a Touch, especially since he'll break from a far outside post position if allowed to start.
(AE) Mugatu
Mugatu (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 12
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 3
Owner: Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells
Breeder: JSM Equine
Trainer: Jeff Engler
Jockey: Joe Talamo
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing fifth in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $80,570
Sire: Blofeld
Dam: Union Way
Color: Chestnut
Fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial and fifth in the Blue Grass, Mugatu is the second also-eligible entrant in the Kentucky Derby. Like Epic Ride, he'll need a step forward to turn the tables on Kentucky Derby rivals who have conquered him in recent starts.
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