If you want to know about all the leading Kentucky Derby horses today for this year’s first leg of the Triple Crown, then this is the very page for you. We list the standings based on qualifying points for the big race at Churchill Downs and then mini profiles of those runners who got into the final field.

List of Kentucky Derby Horses Based on Qualifying Points

A series of qualifying races take place across America and around the world on The Road to the Kentucky Derby. The better the runners do in those, then the more points and shorter odds on Kentucky Derby horses get. As promised, these are the current standings in order of qualifying point picked up en route to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May:

1. Sierra Leone (155)
2. Fierceness (136)
3. Catching Freedom (125)
4. Stronghold (125)
5. Resilience (110)
6. Forever Young (100)
7. Endlessly (100)
8. Dornoch (75)
9. Just A Touch (75)
10. Track Phantom (70)
11. West Saratoga (67)
12. Just Steel (65)
13. Honor Marie (65)
14. Domestic Product (60)
15. Catalytic (50)
16. Society Man (50)
17. Mystik Dan (46)
18. Encino (40) – Scratched from final field
19. Grand Mo The First (40)
20. T O Password (40)
21. Epic Ride (35)

 

Qualifying Points from the Road to Kentucky Derby Series correct as of Monday, April 8.

All Kentucky Derby Runners

While we didn’t know the final Kentucky Derby field until a week out from the big race, bettors and horse racing fans could still learn plenty about hopefuls. That is why we asked our expert handicappers to write profiles of the main contenders and later all the runers. Some will inevitably fall by the wayside through injury or switch targets, but here is more info on the thoroughbreds that could potentially be talked about as Triple Crown picks before the race.

1. Dornoch

Dual Grade II winner including the Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream Park on reappearance after winter break. Just beat Sierra Leone at Aqueduct on final start as a juvenile, but form reversed when not making the show in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Sire has already produced Kentucky Derby horses like last year’s winner Mage and Reincarnate after chasing home Justify in 2018. As a full brother to the former and with a damsire who won at Churchill Downs back in 2008, pedigree experts understandably fancy him. Low draw is a negative.

2. Sierra Leone

Grade II winner after a winter break. Just bested by Dornoch before that at Aqueduct, but turnabout on that form when victorious in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland en route to Churchill Downs latest. Owned by the powerful Coolmore partners, who have such a strong influence as owner-breeders around the world.

By the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 2016 Kentucky Derby third. Damsire produced Orb, who landed this in 2013. Picked up most points on The Road to the Kentucky Derby, but low draw means the Morning Line favorite has a major task on his hands.

3. Mystik Dan

Impressive Grade III winner at Oaklawn Park in February, but saw form reversed when third in the Arkansas Derby latest. Now has something to find with Just Steel on that basis. Shares a damsire with Society Man. Sire won the Santa Anita Derby, but failed to stay in both this and the Preakness in 2013. Could be more interesting in strongly run mile races down the line. Other Kentucky Derby horses appeal more.

4. Catching Freedom

Churchill Downs winner on track debut in the fall. Started this year off with Listed victory at Oaklawn Park before making the show in the Risen Star. Came from off the pace and around the whole field to land the Louisiana Derby cosily as bumped by a rival when challenging widest of all at Fair Grounds. Colt by the 2014 Florida Derby hero and out of dam by same sire as American Pharoah. Drawn low and has to overcome that.

5. Catalytic

Lightly-raced colt by four-time Grade II winner at distances from six furlongs up to an extended mile. Damsire produced Funny Cide, who won this and the Preakness in 2003, plus the 2010 Belmont Stakes hero. Raced in clear second for much of the Florida Derby when best of the rest and placing behind Fierceness latest. Drawn better that that one, but still has a lot of ground to make up with the winner on Gulfstream Park run. Always Dreaming won from this gate in 2017.

6. Just Steel

Churchill Downs black type sprint winner last November. Arkansas Derby second and represents best of that form for his Hall of Fame trainer, as the winner hails from the Bob Baffert barn. That handler can’t have Kentucky Derby runners due to a track ban. Experienced but lacks graded stakes win in career to date. By an up-and-coming sire who swept the 2018 Triple Crown.

7. Honor Marie

Two wins and a place from three starts at Churchill Downs as a juvenile culminating in Grade II success. Only fifth in the Risen Star on return from winter break, but took a step forward when second in the Louisiana Derby latest. By the 2015 Breeders’ Cup third who won the Whitney Stakes. Damsire produced Curlin, so a well bred colt and two of the last six winning Kentucky Derby horses came out of lucky gate 7.

8. Just A Touch

Fair Grounds maiden winner with two placed efforts in Kentucky Derby prep races at Aqueduct and Keeneland since. Lightly-raced colt by the 2018 Triple Crown hero Justify and open to plenty of further improvement. Has found one too good in both the Gotham Stakes and Blue Grass, so will need to progress if he wants to get his head in front at the wire. Mage won from this gate last year.

9. Encino – Scratched

Raced exclusively within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Built on length victory over Epic Ride in Listed contest at Turfway Park with Grade III wildcard success at Keeneland latest. Represents powerful owner-breeders and by the 2016 winner of this race. Damsire landed the 2006 Preakness and Travers Stakes. One of the under the radar Kentucky Derby horses to note, but scratched the Tuesday before the race.

10. T O Password

Qualified for Churchill Downs via the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with Listed success when last in action. Form doesn’t match the same level achieved by the race’s other Far East representative. Drawn in the middle of the field with Japanese seeking their first-ever winner of this world-famous contest.

11. Forever Young

Other Japanese runner with two Derby wins in the Middle East this winter. Needed every yard of a mile to get up and land the Saudi Derby in Riyadh. Followed-up in UAE Derby, which punched his ticket to Churchill Downs, on Dubai World Cup Night at Meydan latest. Out of the 2016 Dubai Turf winner, but clearly showed aptitude for the dirt in the Arabian Desert. Pick of the two Far East runners.

12. Track Phantom

Another Churchill Downs winner that landed black type races either side of Christmas. Risen Star second and missed the show in the Louisiana Derby when a disappointing beaten favorite latest. By the 2009 Florida Derby winner, but other side of pedigree is speedy. Stamina question mark beyond a mile, so other Kentucky Derby horses have stronger claims.

13. West Saratoga

Grade III juvenile winner at Churchill Downs in the fall. Couldn’t build on that around Keeneland, but made the show in Sam F Davis at Tampa Bay Downs in February. Placed behind Endlessly in the Jeff Ruby latest. Four lengths to find on that run. Son of 2016 Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness Stakes winner. Damsire produced Nyquist, who won this from the same gate in 2016, so stoutly bred for the job.

14. Endlessly

Experienced colt who won two Grade III turf events in California as a juvenile in the fall. Made a successful switch to dirt with Listed victory in El Camino Real Derby after midwinter break. Built on that with four-length victory in the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park latest. Relying on dam side of pedigree for handling this surface, but done nothing wrong on it so far. One of the in-form Kentucky Derby horses this year.

15. Domestic Product

Grade III winner in Florida after Holy Bull Stakes second on return from midwinter break. Colt by 2017 Kentucky Derby fifth. Damsire produced Knicks Go and won 2012 Haskell Invitational. Further progress possible for ambitious trainer still seeking breakthrough win in the big one at Churchill Downs. Winners came out of this gate in 2015 and 2020 three-quarters down the draw.

16. Grand Mo The First

Dual Gulfstream Park winner as a juvenile and four thirds since. Only beaten by half-a-length in the Tampa Bay Derby, but no match for Fierceness in Florida Derby latest. Sire produced Nyquist. Significant improvement needed to close the gap.

17. Fierceness

Impressive dual Grade I winner. Has thrown in disappointing displays before Breeders’ Cup Juvenile romp and en route to the Florida Derby latest. On the pick of his form, however, a leading contender among Kentucky Derby horses this year. Pedigree does raise stamina doubts, but he wasn’t stopping at Gulfstream Park when last in action and scorching the earth with 13 1/2 lengths victory. This gate notably unlucky despite being high.

18. Stronghold

Churchill Downs maiden winner who left his juvenile form well behind when landing the Sunland Park Derby on return from midwinter break. Took things up a notch when just following-up in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby by a neck in California latest. By the same sire as 2021 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide. One of the Kentucky Derby horses that has clearly improved this year.

19. Resilience

Made the show in two Churchill Down maidens in the fall before winning at Gulfstream Park on New Year’s Day. Only fourth to Sierra Leone in the Risen Star, but a comfortable victor in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct latest after leading off the final turn into the home stretch. Bred for the Kentucky Derby as sire produced 2020 and 2021 winners, as well as recent Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River. Further progress can’t be ruled out, that’s for sure.

20. Society Man

Aqueduct maiden winner on third run at NY track and fourth career start. Built on that with fine second in the Grade II Wood Memorial at the same venue latest. World-famous jockey booked for the ride, but other Kentucky Derby horses have more going for them. By the same sire as Dornoch. Damsire won Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes in 2008. Drawn widest of all until Encino scratched.

21. Epic Ride

Black type winner at Turfway Park in February. Chased home Encino in a Listed race and made the show in Blue Grass Stakes latest. Something to find with Sierra Leone and Just A Touch on Keeneland form. Promoted from also eligible first reserve into the final field following scratching of Encino.

22. Mugatu – Reserve

Gulfstream Park maiden winner who has finished no better than fourth in three Black Type races this year. Outran odds when one-pace fifth behind Sierra Leone in Blue Grass Stakes latest. Also eligible and now first reserve as a result of Encino scratching. Hard to see him landing a blow even if he gets in to the final field.

Kentucky Derby Horses And Jockeys To Follow

It’s not just about the horses in the Kentucky Derby field, but their riders as well. If a jockey has a particularly good recent record or has won the big one at Churchill Downs before, then that will attract interest from bettors.

John Velazquez may be a rider to follow as he has partnered three Kentucky Derby winners to victory since 2011. His mount in this year’s race, Fierceness, is naturally one bettors will wager on.

Flavien Prat, meanwhile, has had his mounts at least make the show in four of the last five years. The Kentucky Derby horses and odds available will reflect such trends. Prat will once again be a popular jockey this time around. He rides Catching Freedom.

It is worth bettors knowing who, if anyone, is the stable jockey for Hall of Fame trainers and major barns from around America. Should they more than one entry representing them in a race, then the rider may have had a choice of mounts.

This can also influence the market on Kentucky Derby betting sites as the jockey should in theory pick the horse with the best chance. It doesn’t always work like that in practice, of course.

FAQs

How old are Kentucky Derby horses?

All runners in the race must be three-year-old thoroughbreds who have accrued enough qualifying points from the Road to the Kentucky Derby. They can be colts, ridglings, geldings or fillies. There are no restrictions on gender or the type horse, just their age.

Are Kentucky Derby horses male or female?

The majority of horses entered and running in the Kentucky Derby are male. Females have the fillies only Kentucky Oaks to run in at Churchill Downs the day before, but the race remains open to them.

How fast do Kentucky Derby horses run?

The speed of Kentucky Derby runners is about 60kmph on average. This is not quite so fast as sprinter horses, but they race over much shorter distances. Speed figures are a key consideration before making Kentucky Derby picks as handicappers want to know the pace of horses. Those who go too far and don’t have enough stamina in their breeding can blow their chances.

Are all Kentucky Derby horses male?

Not all, but most. This is for the reasons explained above. The Kentucky Oaks for three-year-old fillies is held at Churchill Downs the day before The Derby.

How much do Kentucky Derby horses cost?

The cost of most thoroughbred racehorses is determined by auction at public Sales. While they can be purchased privately, the average Kentucky Derby contender is estimated at between $200,000 and $300,000, but owners may pay considerably more than that.

Who are some of the most famous Kentucky Derby horses in history?

The Triple Crown winners are the first who spring to mind. The names of modern era Kentucky Derby horses who became real famous and transcend the sport include Secretariat, Seattle Slew, American Pharoah and Justify.

How much are Kentucky Derby horses worth?

The value of any horse who wins The Derby skyrockets. This isn’t just because of the first prize making up the bulk of the prize purse at Churchill Downs, but due to the stud fees they can command when their racing career is over. With such diverse revenues steams, it is hard to estimate what such horses are worth to their owners.