Horse racing news and analysis from Saratoga, Santa Anita and the 2023 Breeders' Cup.

Kentucky Derby 2024 Horses

Here is the field for Kentucky Derby 2024 from the rail out in post position order.

Visit the Trainers and Sires pages for the official Kentucky Derby 2024 horses and past performances.

1 Dornoch (20-1)

Owner: West Paces Racing LLC, et al

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Points: 75

Earnings: $472,375

Draws the 1 post position that has a 8.5% win percentage over the last 94 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. The last winner was Ferdinand who won the 1986 Run for the Roses from the rail position. The last in the money finisher was Lookin At Lee who was 2nd in the 2017 Derby. And more recently, Hit Show was 5th from the fence in 2023. All of that is to say that history hasn’t been kind to horse breaking from the inside post but he has some early foot and he will have to use every bit of it from the start if he is to get to the first turn before getting squeezed back into the second flight. From there it will probably be downhill for him as the distance will prove to be too much to overcome.

2 Sierra Leone (3-1)

Owner: Magnier, Tabor, et al

Trainer: Chad Brown

Points: 155

Earnings: $871,250

Since Kentucky Derby horses first broke from a starting gate in 1930 only seven horses have crossed the finish line first from post position 2. The last time was in 1978 when Affirmed took home the Roses on his way to a Triple Crown victory. But the in-the-money (ITM) percentage for horses from the two-hole is 26.6%. Only post position 10 has a higher ITM% at 28.7%. Lukewarm second choice on the morning line has won his last two since adding blinkers in the G2 Risen Star. Unlike sire Gun Runner, he’s a deep closer so his post position will allow him to drop back without having to drop over to save ground.

3 Mystik Dan (20-1)

Owner: Lance Gasaway

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Points: 46

Earnings: $550,050

Only five times (5.3%) since 1930 has the horse breaking from post position 3 won the Kentucky Derby. Real Quiet was the last to do it in 1998. This guy broke his maiden at Churchill and it’s always a good thing to have a win over the track. Relished the muddy track at Oaklawn two back to win the G3 Southwest over Just Steel who looked like a winner at the top of the stretch. 3rd last time out in the Arkansas Derby behind the Baffert trainee Muth and Just Steel. His recent running style has changed for the better but he’ll have a tough time crossing the wire first but an off-track will increase his chances.

4 Catching Freedom (8-1)

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC

Trainer: Brad Cox

Points: 125

Earnings: $802,000

Post position 4 has the same win percentage as the post to his inside. The Todd Pletcher trainee Super Saver was the last horse to win the 2010 Kentucky Derby from post position 4. ITM% is 16%. His past performances form show a win in every other race he runs. So after his last out Louisiana Derby (G2) victory he’s due for a less than the best outcome in the Kentucky Derby. But that’s not something to bet your house on. He’ll be somewhere in the second or third flight down the backside. Broke his maiden at Churchill and came storming home to run past Honor Marie in the Crescent City.

5 Catalytic (30-1)

Owner: Tami Bobo et al

Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Points: 50

Earnings: $186,000

Ten times the horse breaking from PP 5 has won the Kentucky Derby over the past 94 runnings. That’s the most ever. And the 10.6% winning percentage is the second highest behind the percentage of winners that have broken from post position 20 (18-2-0-1 or 11.1%. Big Brown in 2008 and Rich Strike in 2020). Making only the third start of his career at 30-1 this horse was second in the Florida Derby behind Fierceness who ran everyone off their feet except this guy. It would be a stretch to see him reversing the results on the favorite but if he takes a step forward he could prove himself worthy of the board at long odds.

6 Just Steel (20-1)

Owner: BC Stables, LLC

Trainer: D Wayne Lukas

Points: 65

Earnings: $628,295

Other than posts 17 and 19, post 6 is tied for the fewest number of Kentucky Derby winners (only two horses have done it since 1930) to race from this position. The win percentage of 2.1% is the lowest in terms of percentage (94-2-8-3). Sea Hero in 1993 and Iron Liege in 1957 both won their Derby race breaking from the number six starting gate. Every year D. Wayne Lukas finds a horse to run in the Derby whether he wants to or not. And this year is no exception. Son of Justify has put in some solid performances in the lead up to this year’s Kentucky Derby. In his most recent effort behind Muth in the Arkansas Derby he earned the runner-up’s share of the points to give himself and Coach Lukas another shot at racing glory. Looks like the longer he goes the better he’ll run. Would Muth be able to win this?

7 Honor Marie (20-1)

Owner: Ribble Farms LLC

Trainer: Whit Beckman

Points: 65

Earnings: $448,455

Eight horses have won the Derby from post position 7 including Mandaloun who was the eventual winner in 2021 when the now deceased Medina Spirit was disqualified for suspected medication violations by trainer Bob Baffert. Other winners from starting gate 7 include Justify (2018); Street Sense (2007); Pleasant Colony (1981); Proud Clarion (1967); Northern Dancer (1964); Determine (1954); Gallant Fox (1930). He won the Kentucky Jockey Club going last to first to end his two-year-old campaign. A deep closer who has proven affinity for the local surface and a chance to come storming home if the pace collapses in front of him.

8 Just A Touch (10-1)

Owner: Qatar Racing et al

Points: 75

Earnings: $247,500

Post position 8 has produced 9 Kentucky Derby winners from 93 starters (9.7%) since 1930 when the horses first broke from a starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Some notable winners from the 8 hole include Swaps (1955); Majestic Prince (1969); Unbridled (1994); Barbaro (2006); and most recently last year’s winner Mage. Short priced participant is a lightly raced son of the 2018 Kentucky Derby winner and eventual Triple Crown winner Justify who led through the stretch of the G1 Blue Grass Stakes before being passed late by the winner Sierra Leone. The final quarter fractions in the Blue Grass were slow and he’ll have to get another furlong.

9 Encino (20-1)

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Points: 40

Earnings: $323,136

Only 4 horses have left the starting gate from post position 9 and crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby. The last winner was Riva Ridge in 1972 and that was a long time ago. More recently, Hot Rod Charlie was second from the four hole in 2021 and Disarm was 4th in 2023. By virtue of his gate to wire victory in the last stop Lexington, he’s a graded stakes winner who has been thrust into the spotlight as one of three that will be saddled by trainer Brad Cox in search of his first outright winner of the Kentucky Derby. His sire Nyquist won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the 2016 Florida Derby on his way to winning the Kentucky Derby. Respect him as the upset special.

10 T O Password (30-1)

Owner: Tomoya Ozasa

Trainer: Takayanagi Daisuke

Points: 40

Earnings: $161,743

Giacomo (2005) was the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby from post position 10. At 10.3% it’s a high percentage post to break from and has the highest ITM% of 28.7% of all Derby starters from the gate since 1930. Several big name Derby winners from post 10 include Sunday Silence (1989); and the filly Genuine Risk (1980). But perhaps the most well known name in all of horse racing is the legendary Secretariat who won the 1973 Kentucky Derby on his way to a stunning performance in the Belmont to complete the Triple Crown that year. This horse will be making his third career start seeking his third consecutive victory from the third best post position in the history of the Kentucky Derby. Hard to make a case for this prep race winner from Japan.

11 Forever Young

Owner: Susumu Fujita

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Points: 100

Earnings: $1,769,919

Other than posts 17 and 19, which have 0 and 1 wins respectively, post 11 is a low percentage place to start the race for the Kentucky Derby trophy. The two Kentucky Derby winners from post position 11 were Brokers Tip in 1933 and Winning Colors, the first of two fillies to win the race in 1988. Like his Japanese counterpart this horse is undefeated in five career starts in Japan and the UAE. As a prep race winner he earned the right to Run for the Roses. But US racing is quite different for horse and jockey and it would be a surprise for him to find his way into the winner’s circle on the first Saturday in May.

       

12 Track Phantom (20-1)

Owner: L and N Racing, LLC et al

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Points: 70

Earnings: $300,000

Only three times has the horse breaking from post position 12 won the Kentucky Derby. The last time was in 1971 when Venezuelan champion Canonero II won the Kentucky Derby on his way to winning the Preakness before falling short in the Belmont. Since then the closest a horse has come to winning from the 12 hole was in last year when Angel of Empire finished 3rd behind Mage and Two Phil’s. Unlike in more recent years when trainer Steve Asmussen had more than one shot at winning his first Derby, Track Phantom will be his only chance in 2024. Asmussen will add blinkers to an already heady horse from the gate with hopes that he can carry his speed an additional 1/16 miles while being contested throughout by favorite Fierceness. Dam was a strict sprinter. Distance is a concern.

         

13 West Saratoga (50-1)

Owner: Harry L Veruchi

Trainer: Larry Demeritte

Points: 67

Earnings: $363,640

Nyquist was the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby from post position 13 when he coincidentally beat this horse’s sire Exaggerator in 2016. Five times the toteboard lit up the number of the horse breaking from post position 13. Trained by Larry Demeritte, this horse has a totally different style than his sire and has struggled to improve upon his only graded stakes victory in the G3 Iroquois here last year. One of three horses who will open at 50-1 or longer and wonder if removing the blinkers would give him a deep closers chance to upset the Derby like his sire almost did when second from far back. ITM finish isn’t out of the realm of possibilities.

14 Endlessly (30-1)

Owner: Amerman Racing LLC

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Points: 100

Earnings: $658,000

In 1961 Carry Back won the Kentucky Derby from post position 14. Before that Middleground did it in 1950. That was a long time ago. The ITM% of 20.9% is on the higher end so a horse from here has a chance to hit the board. Five time winner either on grass or all-weather is indicative of his strong turf pedigree on both sides of the DNA strand. He’ll be making his first start on dirt at long odds against long odds. Anything is possible. Earned his way into the field through his victory last time out in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway.

15 Domestic Product (30-1)

Owner: Klaravich Stables Inc

Trainer: Chad Brown

Points: 60

Earnings: $260,500

Post position 15 has produced 6 winners from 62 starters for a 9.7% winning percentage. But the ITM% is at the lower end of 14.5%. So, in general, it’s an all or nothing gate to break from. Interestingly, some of the more recent winners of the 6 include Fusaichi Pegasus (2000); Orb (2013); American Pharoah (2015); and Authentic (2020). G3 Tampa Bay Derby winner in his last start but don’t think that this guy is in the same category as some of those previous winners from post position 15.

16 Grand Mo The First (50-1)

Owner: Granpollo Stables LLC

Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr.

Points: 40

Earnings: $164,250

Animal Kingdom (2011) was the last of the four horses to win the Kentucky Derby from post position 16. The other three; Monarchos in 2001; Charismatic in 1999; and Thunder Gulch in 1995, were all better contenders entering the starting gate on Derby Day. His two wins came on the Gulfstream all-weather in his first two career starts. Since then he’s been third in his last four starts including a good but overmatched effort in the Florida Derby to get into the field. No chance.

17 Fierceness (5-2)

Owner: Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Points: 136

Earnings: $1,646,100

In forty-four runnings of the Kentucky Derby there has never been a horse to win from post position 17. So as the morning line and likely post-time favorite, history is not on his side. He was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner in 2023. And his stellar performance in the Florida Derby was impressive. But the field he faced in Florida was simply lacking in so many ways. He’ll be sent from the start but if Track Phantom — with the addition of blinkers — gets the jump on him he’ll be tested more than he has been in any of his five career starts. ITM% of horses from post 17 is a skimpy 6.8% and the average finishing position from starting gate 17 is 11.34. Caution is advised.

18 Stronghold (20-1)

Owner: Waller and Waller

Trainer: Phil D’Amato

Points: 125

Earnings: $742,800

Post position 18 has a little better history of success than does the post to the inside but not by much. Only two horses have left the post to complete the Kentucky Derby distance in first place since 1930. Country House in 2019 and Gato del Sol in 1982 achieved success from the auxillary starting gate. But post 18 has a decent ITM% of 16.7% with an average finishing position of 9.53. He’s the Santa Anita Derby winner and the Sunland Derby winner who also has a pair of runner up finishes in two prior graded stakes tries. He beat Resilience and Track Phantom in a 1 mile maiden race at Churchill in his second career start. Would not be surprised to find him in contention turning for home.

19 Resilience (20-1)

Owner: Bushnell and Waldman

Trainer: Bill Mott

Points: 110

Earnings: $416,000

He’ll break from the only post that has 1 more winner than does post position 17 which has 0. That’s a 3.3% win rate and a 6.7% ITM percentage from 30 starters. I’ll Have Another won the 2012 Kentucky Derby from post 19. This guy is a long way from the favorable rail position that he benefitted from to produced a very impressive win in the G2 Wood Memorial in his final prep for the Derby. The Wood Memorial has produced few winners in recent years. Funny Cide was the last horse to win the Wood before winning the 2003 Derby. Historically some of the most famous names in Triple Crown glory have used the Wood Memorial as a prep race for fame. Wore blinkers for the first time in the Wood. Owns the second highest last race BRIS speed figure (104) behind the favorite and his sire produced back to back Kentucky Derby winners Authentic (2020) and Mandaloun (2021). Expect BIG Effort despite the lack of historical post position success.

20 Society Man (50-1)

Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing et al

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Points: 50

Earnings: $141,875

By the numbers, post 20 has the highest winning percentage (11.1%) of all starting positions. But it is also the post position with the fewest number of starters since 1930 (18-2-0-1). Rich Strike, at 80-1, won the 2022 Kentucky Derby and before him Big Brown in 2008. Interestingly, the first two finishers in the Wood Memorial have drawn posts 19 and 20. The morning line odds maker has given this son of Good Magic a slim to none chance but he was at least 50-1 when he ran second last time out in the Wood. He would be a shocker but he must be used in exotic wagers if Resilience is on your tickets.