LOUISVILLE — The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday at Churchill Downs. The field for the race was set last Saturday, with an earlier draw than usual held on opening day at the track.
The 1 ¼ mile race is scheduled to go off at 6:57 p.m. Eastern on Saturday and will be aired on NBC. Before that, here’s what to know about each of the horses in the field.
1. Dornoch
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez
Morning line odds: 20-1
The first of two entries for Gargan, Dornoch is a classic front-runner. That’s going to be difficult coming from the inside post, a tough draw for the Good Magic 3-year-old.
2. Sierra Leone
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Odds: 3-1
Brown has won nearly everything in horse racing, except for the Kentucky Derby. The last-out winner of the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland could give him his best chance in years and appears to be one of the top contenders.
3. Mystik Dan
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Odds: 20-1
McPeek-trained horses can be a bit inconsistent. That’s the case with Mystik Dan, who won the Southwest Stakes (G2) two races ago after finishing out of the money twice, but dropped to third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) last time out.
4. Catching Freedom
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Odds: 8-1
The shortest odds out of Brad Cox’s three Derby horses. Catching Freedom is a closer who could benefit from a fast pace if he can get through the traffic.
5. Catalytic
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Odds: 30-1
Joseph’s return to the Derby after he was suspended last year following a run of mysterious horse deaths. The Catalina Cruiser colt finished second in the Florida Derby (G1) and hasn’t won since breaking his maiden in October.
6. Just Steel
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Keith Asmussen
Odds: 20-1
The Justify colt represents the 50th year in which Lukas, age 88, has had a Derby horse. He ran second last time out.
7. Honor Marie
Trainer: Whit Beckman
Jockey: Ben Curtis
Odds: 20-1
The first Derby horse for both trainer and rider. Honor Marie is a popular pick to finish in the money at a nice price, though he has not won as a 3-year-old.
8. Just a Touch
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Odds: 10-1
Another Cox entry, the Justify colt finished second behind Sierra Leone in the Blue Grass. He has never won going more than six furlongs.
9. T O Password
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Odds: 30-1
A horse shipping from Japan has never won the Kentucky Derby. T O Password is not expected to become the first.
10. Forever Young
Trainer: Yosh*to Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusai Sakai
Odds: 10-1
Qualified via the UAE Derby. That race has never generated a Kentucky Derby winner, and while Forever Young’s figures are better than most previous entries, it would still be a surprise if he reigned victorious.
11. Track Phantom
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Odds: 20-1
Asmussen has won more races than any trainer in North American history. However, it would take an upset for him to get his first Kentucky Derby win with the Quality Road colt.
12. West Saratoga
Trainer: Larry Demeritte
Jockey: Jesus Castanon
Odds: 50-1
The 71-year-old Demeritte will saddle his first Derby runner on Saturday. However, the cinderella ending seems unlikely, as West Saratoga hasn’t won since September.
13. Endlessly
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Odds: 30-1
Based on pedigree and past performances, Endlessly seems better-suited for races on turf or synthetic tracks. However, after winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park to qualify (on Tapeta), he’ll take his first crack at the dirt.
14. Domestic Product
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Odds: 30-1
Another entry for Brown, this one with one of the top jockeys in the game. He enters as a longshot after winning the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
15. Grand Mo the First
Trainer: Victor Barbosa Jr.
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Odds: 50-1
Has not won since a September allowance race. Finished third in his last four races and will likely be a huge longshot.
16. Fierceness
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Odds: 5-2
Likely to be a top contender in the Derby, and could head straight to the front from his outside post. Velasquez recently finished first in the 2020 and 2021 Derbies with just such a trip, aboard Authentic and the later-disqualified Medina Spirit.
17. Stronghold
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Odds: 20-1
The winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last time out. With Bob Baffert still suspended from running horses at Churchill Downs, the Ghostzapper colt is the lone California-based entry.
18. Resilience
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Odds: 20-1
The Into Mischief colt enters from the New York circuit, winning the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct to qualify. He’ll have a jockey change for Saturday, with Alvarado taking over the mount from John Velasquez, who will be aboard Fierceness.
19. Society Man
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Odds: 50-1
Gargan’s second entry in the race will be piloted by legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, who spent most of his career based in England but would like to win a Kentucky Derby before retirement.
20. Epic Ride
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Adam Beschizza
Odds: 50-1
Finished third in the Blue Grass last time out, and has never won on dirt. Replaces Encino, who scratched from the race on Tuesday.
Also eligible are:
21. Mugatu
Trainer: Jeff Engler
Jockey: Joe Talamo
Odds: 50-1
Another who will need to draw in. Has not won since November in a race held on a synthetic track.
