Kentucky Derby Horses 2023: Post Position Draw, Overview of Field, Forte Scratched

The $3 million Kentucky Derby is one of the world’s most famous horse races and represents the first leg of the prestigious three-race series known as the Triple Crown. Past winners of the 1 1/4-mile classic race include such horse racing legends as Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, and American Pharaoh.

The 2023 Kentucky Derby horses will race on May 6 at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. As of Saturday morning, a field of 18 was set to start in the 149th edition of the Run for the Roses. The complexion of the Kentucky Derby field has drastically shifted since Monday’s post-position draw.

Most significantly, Forte, the morning-line favorite, was scratched from the race at 9 a.m. by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission state veterinarian. Co-owner Mike Repole stated that the state veterinarians had concerns about a bruised right front foot.

Forte is the fifth horse to scratch from Saturday’s race, joining Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continaur (JPN), and Skinner. The last time five horses were scratched from the Kentucky Derby was 1936 when 19 horses entered the race and 14 ran. Following the scratch, it was announced that Irad Ortiz Jr., who was scheduled to ride Forte, will now accept the mount aboard Cyclone Mischief.

Program numbers for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, which has a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET, remain unchanged but post positions are moved without changing of the order of the starters. The 18-horse lineup will break from posts 1-18 in the 20-stall Kentucky Derby starting gate. Posts 19 and 20 will be empty. The Kentucky Derby field is down to 18 starters.

The last time a morning-line favorite scratched the morning of the Kentucky Derby was in 2009 when I Want Revenge was withdrawn due to an ankle injury. Check out our Kentucky Derby betting guide, where we offer an overview of the top contenders and entire field.

2023 Kentucky Derby Field: Post Positions, Odds, Jockeys, Trainers

Here is the list of the 18 Kentucky Derby contenders set to start, including their post positions, jockeys, trainers, and morning-line odds.

NOTE: Morning-line favorite Forte was scratched by the state vets the morning of Kentucky Derby 149.

On Thursday of Derby week, it was announced on May 4 that Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move will be scratched from Kentucky Derby 149 due to an elevated temperature, according to trainer Tim Yakteen, and that Continuar (JPN) would also be withdrawn from the Run for the Roses after trainer Yoshito Yahagi said the colt “had not been able to reach the peak fitness required to take on a race as tough as the Kentucky Derby.”

Thursday also saw the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Board of Stewards both released the statements saying all horses trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. – including Kentucky Derby entrant Lord Miles, were being scratched effectively immediately until further notice. Shortly after, Churchill Downs Inc. announced the indefinite suspension of Joseph until further notice.

The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks. CDI’s decision follows the sudden deaths of two horses trained by Joseph at Churchill Downs Racetrack: Parents Pride on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday.

On Friday, it was announced that Skinner had been scratched due to an elevated temperature. The horse was scratched by trainer John Shirreffs, according to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards.

Who is the Kentucky Derby Favorite?

Champion colt Forte was made the morning-line favorite at 3-to-1 odds for the 2023 Kentucky Derby during the post-position draw at Churchill Downs on May 1. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Forte comes into this year’s Kentucky Derby with only one loss in seven career starts.

The son of Violence most recently won the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 1 and capped off his championship campaign last year with a victory in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. Update: With Saturday morning’s scratch of Forte, Tapit Trice and Angel of Empire are likely to be the entries with the shortest prices.

How Can I Bet On The Kentucky Derby?

FanDuel, an official sports wagering partner of the Kentucky Derby, is the only sportsbook where fans can place a bet on the 2023 Kentucky Derby. FanDuel is the first and only sportsbook to offer wagering on horse racing alongside traditional online sports betting with a single account and single wallet, allowing customers to wager on the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, and all the races from Churchill Downs on Oaks and Derby Days.

Racing fans will be able to find bet options for the Kentucky Derby in just a few taps when they open the FanDuel app and then click the horse racing icon. To celebrate the first year of the partnership with Churchill Downs, FanDuel is offering a “$20 No Sweat Derby Bet” on the Kentucky Derby to all new and existing sportsbook and DFS customers.

Get to Know the Field for the 2023 Kentucky Derby

Last year’s Kentucky Derby featured an upset for the ages when 80-to-1 longshot Rich Strike rallied up the inside from near the back of the 20-horse field to score an improbable victory. That stunning result further proved why every horse who enters the Kentucky Derby starting gate has a chance.

Below, we analyze why each Kentucky Derby entrant can win and why each has questions that need to be answered if they hope to wear the roses at Churchill Downs on May 6.

PP. 1 Hit Show (Gray colt)

• Sire: Candy Ride (ARG)
• Dam: Actress, by Tapit
• Trainer: Brad Cox
• Owners: Gary and Mary West
• Jockey: Manny Franco
• Record and earnings: 5-3-1-0, $404,375
• Morning Line Odds: 30-1
• Last Race: Second in Grade 2 Wood Memorial.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Was favored in the Wood Memorial off his victory during his seasonal bow in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes. Got just nipped at the wire in the Wood Memorial by long shot Lord Miles after a wide trip throughout.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: The quality of who he has beaten – and been beaten by – is suspect.
• What They’re Saying: “This colt’s really doing well. I think he’s going to like the mile and a quarter. He’s a horse who has moved around a lot and he always handles it, always settles in. I think that will be beneficial to him with a big crowd on Derby day.”– Trainer Brad Cox

PP. 2 Verifying (Bay colt)

• Sire: Justify
• Dam: Diva Delight, by Repent
• Trainer: Brad Cox
• Owners: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier et al.
• Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
• Record and earnings: 6-2-2-0, $489,900
• Morning Line Odds: 15-1
• Last Race: Second in Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Has a regal pedigree as a son of Triple Crown winner Justify and half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou and has shown good progression in each of his 3-year-old starts. His fourth-place run in the Rebel Stakes was better than it looked given his troubled trip and he was a neck away from taking the Blue Grass Stakes in his first try against Grade 1 company.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Still needs to prove he can actually beat the most talented members of his class, not just run with them.
• What They’re Saying: “Verifying…going back in his career, I don’t think he was quite ready when we ran him in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He started to mature over the winter and I’m still a little confused on his effort in the Rebel. He was in contention, then dropped back and then rallied in the stretch. He put things together in the Blue Grass and has a lot of tactical speed that should play to his advantage in the Derby.” — Trainer Brad Cox

PP. 3 Two Phil’s (Chestnut colt)

• Sire: Hard Spun
• Dam: Mia Torri, by General Quarters
• Trainer: Larry Rivelli
• Owners: Patricia’s Hope LLC and Phillip Sagan
• Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
• Record and earnings: 8-4-1-1, $683,450
• Morning Line Odds: 12-1
• Last Race: Won Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks by 5 1/4 lengths.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Earned a very solid speed figure during his handy win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks and was a solid third behind Angel of Empire in Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18. While his Jeff Ruby win came over a synthetic surface, he did win the Street Sense Stakes last October over a sloppy Churchill Downs surface and the Churchill main track historically plays favorably to horses with turf or synthetic form.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Still seems a cut below the best of his class on dirt. Was no threat to Forte when finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last October and couldn’t thwart Angel of Empire in the Risen Star.
• What They’re Saying: “I just want to have him focused in on what he likes to do which is sit behind a horse and idle off until you ask him, and then make his move when it’s time. And he’s done that in both works. It’s all systems go and I couldn’t be happier with how he’s going into the race.” — Trainer Larry Rivelli

PP. 4 Confidence Game (Dark bay colt)

• Sire: Candy Ride (ARG)
• Dam: Eblouissante, by Bernardini
• Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
• Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables
• Jockey: James Graham
• Record and earnings: 7-3-1-2, $785,525
• Morning Line Odds: 20-1
• Last Race: Won Grade 2 Rebel Stakes by one length.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Rated midpack and beat a thoroughly solid group in the Rebel Stakes, an effort that has been flattered by Verifying — the fourth-place finisher that day — coming back to just be beaten a neck by Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass Stakes.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Confidence Game will enter the Derby off a 10-week layoff from the Rebel and no horse has won a modern Derby contested in the spring after more than 42 days off.
• What They’re Saying: “We’re in points wise and the horse has got a great foundation – seven starts, five route races. I’m just not convinced he needs another race and I think I have a legit not just Derby contender but Triple Crown contender. I want to keep him fresh for all three races.” — Trainer Keith Desormeaux

PP. 5 Tapit Trice (Gray colt)

• Sire: Tapit
• Dam: Danzatrice, by Dunkirk
• Trainer: Todd Pletcher
• Owners: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable
• Jockey: Luis Saez
• Record and earnings: 5-4-0-1, $883,650
• Morning Line Odds: 5-1
• Last Race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes by a neck.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Everything about Tapit Trice physically is impressive, from his presence on the track to the fluidity of his movement. The gray colt has shown the incremental improvements one wants to see from a Kentucky Derby contender in his three victories this season, and his four wins over as many different tracks show he doesn’t need to take his track with him. In the Blue Grass Stakes, Tapit Trace overcame breaking from the No. 1 post position, moved up on the outside down the backstretch, then looked Verifying in the eye during the stretch run and outfought him to the wire.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Tapit Trice’s tendency to break from the gate slowly is a habit he would do well to break on May 6. He has all the talent in the world, but if he walks out of his post position in the Kentucky Derby, he could cost himself all chance at victory.
• What They’re Saying: “His Blue Grass Stakes was kind of his coming out party, he got engaged a little more and settled and he came home strong. Early on, he’s one who always did everything right. He always had this huge stride, and he has just thrived under Todd’s program. He’ll be scary on Saturday.” — Todd Quast, racing manager for Whisper Hill Farm

PP. 6 Kingsbarns (Bay colt)

• Sire: Uncle Mo
• Dam: Lady Tapit, by Tapit
• Trainer: Todd Pletcher
• Owner: Spendthrift Farm
• Jockey: Jose Ortiz
• Record and earnings: 3-3-0-0, $657,300
• Morning Line Odds: 12-1
• Last Race: Won Grade 2 Louisiana Derby by 3 1/2 lengths.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Ideally, you want a Kentucky Derby contender that is peaking at the right time and Kingsbarns has been on an upward trajectory since winning his first start at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 14. The lightly-race son of Uncle Mo showed he could take command of the pace if no one else prompts the issue, leading every point of call in the Louisiana Derby in his first try against graded stakes company.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Kingsbarns had everything his own way in the Louisiana Derby and it’s hard to imagine that scenario playing out for him again in the Kentucky Derby. His pedigree says he’ll have no issue with 1 1/4-miles but he is trying to buck history by joining the filly Regret (1915), Big Brown (2008) and Triple Crown winner Justify (2018) as the only horses since 1900 to win the Kentucky Derby with just three prior lifetime starts.
• What They’re Saying: “I think the real key is, is he going to handle the track? And, I think, based on his first breeze over the track, it gave me added confidence. In an ideal world, you’d have a little more seasoning into him, another start or two, but this is kind of the way it’s unfolded.” — Trainer Todd Pletcher

PP. 7 Reincarnate (Gray colt)

• Sire: Good Magic
• Dam: Allanah, by Scat Daddy
• Trainer: Tim Yakteen
• Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al.
• Jockey: John Velazquez
• Record and earnings: 7-2-3-2, $345,650
• Morning Line Odds: 50-1
• Last Race: Third in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.
• Why You Should Bet Him: While he hasn’t beaten the top of his class yet, Reincarnate has been a model of consistency, hitting the board in each of his seven starts including a win in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Holding his own against top company is admirable enough but he still looked a cut below when running third in both the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.
• What They’re Saying: “I think both (the Rebel and Arkansas Derby) efforts were great learning experiences for my team…to get an understanding of what this horse. This horse, he doesn’t have a bottom right now that he can keep giving it to you. And it’s just a matter of picking and having the opportunity to have the ideal spot for him.” – Trainer Tim Yakteen

PP. 8 Mage (Chestnut colt)

• Sire: Good Magic
• Dam: Puca, by Big Brown
• Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
• Owners: OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, et al.
• Jockey: Javier Castellano
• Record and earnings: 3-1-1-0, $247,200
• Morning Line Odds: 15-1
• Last Race: Second in Grade 1 Florida Derby.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Took a big step forward in the Florida Derby when he advanced from last early on, rolled past Forte to get the jump on that one around the final turn. He looked a winner in the final sixteenth of a mile before the reigning juvenile champion ran him down.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: He didn’t break great in the Florida Derby and he’s another one where his lack of experience could be his undoing when surrounded by 19 of his closest friends.
• What They’re Saying: “Mage is lightly raced but he’s been progressing, improving each race. Another thing is his three races have been three different styles. The first one he was in front, the second one he ran pretty much in the middle of the pack and the last race he came from behind. He’s still figuring it out, but he’s going to get better. If you’re looking for a price, I think this is the right horse.” – Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr.

(SCRATCHED) PP. 9 Skinner (Bay colt)

(SCRATCHED) PP. 10 Practical Move (Bay colt)

PP. 11 Disarm (Chestnut colt)

• Sire: Gun Runner
• Dam: Easy Tap, by Tapit
• Trainer: Steve Asmussen
• Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
• Jockey: Joel Rosario
• Record and earnings: 5-1-2-2, $372,850
• Morning Line Odds: 30-1
• Last Race: Third in Grade 3 Lexington Stakes
• Why You Should Bet Him: This protege of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen hasn’t been worse than third in each of his five starts and did well to rally to finish second to Kingsbarns in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Put in a strong five-furlong workout in 1:00.00 on April 24, less than ten days after running third in the Lexington Stakes, so he seems to still have more in the tank.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Has yet to get over the hump against his classmates and was well beaten when bested by First Mission in the 1 1/16-miles Lexington.
• What They’re Saying: “He’s a very durable horse and I think the best is yet to come from him. He’s a horse we missed a little time with over the winter and we’re behind schedule. The one opportunity for a points race was the Louisiana Derby. He’s a horse we definitely didn’t want to miss this opportunity with. I think he’s not given us everything to this point and there’s more in the tank.” – Trainer Steve Asmussen

PP. 12 Jace’s Road (Bay colt)

• Sire: Quality Road
• Dam: Out Post, Silver Deputy
• Trainer: Brad Cox
• Owners: West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables
• Jockey: Florent Geroux
• Record and earnings: 6-2-0-2, $238,050
• Morning Line Odds: 50-1
• Last Race: Third in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
• Why You Should Bet Him: When Jace’s Road won the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds last December, he did so in frontrunning fashion. He also pressed Kingsbarns through a soft pace in the Louisiana Derby so he has the ability to be forwardly placed if the opportunity presents itself on Kentucky Derby day.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Despite chasing easy fractions in the Louisiana Derby, he still tired and faded to third. He is also winless in two tries at Churchill Downs.
• What They’re Saying: “He ran great actually (in the Louisiana Derby) I wished we could have pressed the winner more but he never really took me. I thought I could maybe make the lead, but if I sent him really hard, I don’t know that he would have had any finish. He ran great down the lane. It doesn’t look like distance is going to be a problem.” – Jockey Florent Geroux

PP. 13 Sun Thunder (Bay colt)

• Sire: Into Mischief
• Dam: Greenfield d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro
• Trainer: Ken McPeek
• Owners: R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine
• Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
• Record and earnings: 6-1-1-1, $247,500
• Morning Line Odds: 50-1
• Last Race: Fourth in Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.
• Why You Should Bet Him: While trainer Ken McPeek is still searching for his first win in the Kentucky Derby, his has a history of pulling off upsets in major races – including taking the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes this year with 20-1 shot Defining Purpose and the 2002 Belmont Stakes with Sarava.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: It will indeed be a shocker if Sun Thunder emulates Rich Strike’s long shot score from last year. The son of Into Mischief has only a maiden win to his credit and his best finish in four graded stakes races has been a second-place finish to Angel of Empire in the Risen Star Stakes.
• What They’re Saying: “He’s still a lightly raced horse, and he’s going to get better and better with each race. That’s the nice thing about riding for Kenny: These guys do such a good job here at the barns, and give us live horses. I’m fortunate that Kenny trusts me, so I can go out and just ride my race.” — Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr.

PP. 14 Angel of Empire (Bay colt)

• Sire: Classic Empire
• Dam: Armony’s Angel, by To Honor and Serve
• Trainer: Brad Cox
• Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
• Jockey: Flavien Prat
• Record and earnings: 6-4-1-0, $1,069,375
• Morning Line Odds: 8-1
• Last Race: Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by 4 1/4 lengths.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Was arguably the most visually impressive winner of the final Kentucky Derby prep races, rating off the pace and handily sweeping by his foes before drawing clear as he pleased in the stretch. That effort showed how much Angel of Empire had moved forward off his victory on Feb. 18 in the Risen Star Stakes and he has earned his four victories over three different tracks.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: If he ends up too far back in the Kentucky Derby, he could be at the mercy of the pace and have his kick stymied if they go too slow up front. Those he has beaten haven’t lit the world on fire either. Sun Thunder, second in the Risen Star, was outside the top three in both the Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. King Russell, second in the Arkansas Derby, was a 58-to-1 longshot coming off a maiden win.
• What They’re Saying: “The one (contender) I would say surprised us a little bit would be, maybe the way Angel of Empire’s really taken off. If you had asked me back in November or December if I thought he was Derby horse, I would say, probably needs to do more. But guess what? He did do more. And he got better the further he went. Bet you he’d like the 1 1/4-miles for sure.” — Trainer Brad Cox

(SCRATCHED) PP. 15 Forte (Dark bay colt)

PP. 16 Raise Cain (Bay colt)

• Sire: Violence
• Dam: Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid
• Trainer: Ben Colebrook
• Owners: Andrew Warren and Rania Warren
• Jockey: Gerardo Corrales
• Record and earnings: 7-2-1-1, $296,328
• Morning Line Odds: 50-1
• Last Race: Fifth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Broke from post 11 in a 14-horse field in the one-mile Gotham but was still able to work out a ground-saving trip en route to a 7 1/2-length triumph.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Raise Cain couldn’t build off that Gotham effort, finishing a non-threatening fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes. Going backward in form only a handful of weeks out from the Kentucky Derby is not what you want to see.
• What They’re Saying: “He ran a decent race (in the Blue Grass), but I think it’s a race he can improve on in the Derby. Pace and a wet track wouldn’t bother me a bit.” — Trainer Ben Colebrook

PP. 17 Derma Sotogake (JPN) (Chestnut colt)

• Sire: Mind Your Biscuits
• Dam: Amour Poésie (JPN), by Neo Universe (JPN)
• Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
• Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma
• Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
• Record and earnings: 8-4-0-2, $1,162,164
• Morning Line Odds: 10-1
• Last Race: Won Grade 2 UAE Derby by 5 1/2 lengths.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Derma Sotogake dominated every step of the UAE Derby, leading all the way and drawing off with ease down the lane. Showed he could step up in distance from his third-place finish in the Saudi Derby over a mile when he finished third and, quite frankly, Japanese-based runners have been racking up victories in the world’s most important races the last few years – a tribute to their commitment to their breeding program.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: The record of UAE Derby winners in the Kentucky Derby is dismal, with none hitting the board in 18 tries.
• What They’re Saying: “I think the Churchill surface…is a much firmer, dirt surface. You’ve got Dubai, which was kind of a firmer surface, but not quite as firm as Churchill. But when it comes to Derma Sotogake, he seems to prefer a little firmer ground. So, hopefully, that will spell out something quite good for him on Saturday.” — Kate Hunter, the Japan Racing Association representative for the Kentucky Derby.

PP. 18 Rocket Can (Gray colt)

• Sire: Into Mischief
• Dam: Tension, by Tapit
• Trainer: Bill Mott
• Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations
• Jockey: Junior Alvarado
• Record and earnings: 7-2-2-0, $383,413
• Morning Line Odds: 30-1
• Last Race: Fourth in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.
• Why You Should Bet Him: Showed good potential when he handled 1 1/16 miles in winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 4. Is expected to run with blinkers on in the Kentucky Derby.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Rocket Can has not moved forward since that Holy Bull victory, finishing a well-beaten second to Forte in the Fountain of Youth Stakes followed by a fourth-place run to Angel of Empire in the Arkansas Derby with no obvious excuses.
• What They’re Saying: “I guess the best thing I could say about the Arkansas Derby is he gave me the impression there was a little more left in the tank. With a little better effort he could have been second. Maybe he’s either not learned how to give it all or he’s not giving it quite everything just yet.” — Trainer Bill Mott

(SCRATCHED) PP. 19 Lord Miles (Bay colt)

(SCRATCHED) PP. 20 Continuar (JPN) (Chestnut colt)

PP. 21 Cyclone Mischief (Bay colt)

• Sire: Into Mischief
• Dam: Areyoucominghere, by Bernardini
• Trainer: Dale Romans
• Owners: Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons
• Jockey: TBD
• Record and earnings: 7-2-0-3, $246,350
• Morning Line Odds: 30-1
• Last Race: Third in Grade 1 Florida Derby
• Why You Should Bet Him: If you like fate, Cyclone Mischief might be the horse for you. Just as Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby last year when he got into the field last minute due to another contender scratching out of the race, Cyclone Mischief made the body of this year’s Run for the Roses after it was announced on May 4 that Practical Move was out due to a temperature. Cyclone Mischief is trained by Louisville native Dale Romans, one of the all-time leaders in victories at Churchill Downs.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: While he possess early speed that could be key to the pace scenario on Saturday, Cyclone Mischief has yet to prove he can prevail over his more heralded class members. He was seventh in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes in his seasonal debut and was third behind champion Forte in both the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and Florida Derby.
• What They’re Saying: “You don’t want to wish anyone else to have a bad day, since most of these people are my friends. But you want to get in. We got beat three lengths to the best 3-year-old horse in the country (Forte). Hopefully he’ll be a little closer (in the Derby), a little better. He’s a durable horse and he’s got enough speed to put himself in position. He’ll keep grinding it out.” – Trainer Dale Romans

PP. 22 Mandarin Hero (JPN) (Dark Bay colt)

• Sire: Shanghai Bobby
• Dam: Namura Nadeshiko (JPN), by Fuji Kiseki (JPN)
• Trainer: Terunobu Fujita
• Owner: Hiroaki Arai
• Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
• Record and earnings: 6-4-2-0, $386,854
• Morning Line Odds: 20-1
• Last Race: Second in Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby
• Why You Should Bet Him: In his North American debut, Mandarin Hero nearly took down the best West Coast Kentucky Derby contenders when he rallied in the stretch of the Santa Anita Derby and fell just a nose short of race-winner Practical Move.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Most of Mandarin Hero’s races in Japan have come on what is considered the second-tier circuit of the National Association of Racing (NAR), so the quality of the horses he was beating there might not be the quality of competition that Derma Sotogake dispatched of.
• What They’re Saying: “The trainer even came over here, out of Churchill Downs to spend two days to check everything out before sending his horse. So they’re really hopeful that they’ll be able to get in, because you never know. I thought it was a fantastic race (in the Santa Anita Derby). He ran spectacularly.” – Kate Hunter, the Japan Racing Association representative for the Kentucky Derby.

PP. 23 King Russell (Gray colt)

• Sire: Creative Cause
• Dam: Believe You Will, by Proud Citizen
• Trainer: Ron Moquett
• Owner: Brereton Jones and Naber Racing
• Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
• Record and earnings: 6-1-3-0, $322,350
• Morning Line Odds: 50-1
• Last Race: Second in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby
• Why You Should Bet Him: Though he only has a maiden win to his credit, he hasn’t been worse than second in his last four starts including a runner-up effort behind Angel of Empire in the Arkansas Derby. Finished ahead of Kentucky Derby entrants Reincarnate and Rocket Can in that most recent outing.
• Why You Should Save Your Money: Took five tries to earn his first career win and would need a massive step forward form wise – from the far outside post no less – if he hopes to emulate Rich Strike’s improbable upset from a year ago.
• What They’re Saying: “We knew that when the distance stretched out, we were going to be better and better. He’s one of those horses that was very talented, but we knew it was going to take some races to mentally mature and he’s putting it together, step by step. Kind of come into his own at the right time. The last race, not everything went perfect for him in the Arkansas Derby, but he showed that he definitely prefers more ground and definitely has the class and ability to run with those type of horses.” – Trainer Ron Moquett