Meet the Contenders: 2024 Kentucky Derby
Sierra Leone wins the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media)
April 23rd, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Sierra Leone wins the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media/Mary Ellet)
#1 Sierra Leone *****
Pro: Handles dry/wet and passed eye tests in key Risen Star (G2) and Blue Grass (G1).
Con: Speed ratings are still a bit light, historically, for Derby winners, but not for the nature of this field.
Next stop: Kentucky Derby for SIERRA LEONE! ๐น
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) April 6, 2024
SIERRA LEONE takes the G1 Blue Grass S. at Keeneland! ๐ @tyler_gaff pic.twitter.com/ai6eaHtBNM
Fierceness wins the Floridia Derby at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#2 Fierceness *****
Pro: No one in this field is faster on his best day; one to beat on Breedersโ Cup/Fla. Derby form.
Con: Tends to need things his own way, has yet to overcome adversity.
2-year-old Champion and Florida Derby winner FIERCENESS made his 1st appearance on the track this morning at #ChurchillDowns. pic.twitter.com/pMKuiT38nZ
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) April 23, 2024
Catching Freedom winning the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Catching Freedom ****
Pro: Talented closer hasnโt run a bad one yet and price will be fair.
Con: Has a bit of form to find on Sierra Leone; perhaps needs fast going to ensure best.
Catching Freedom went from last to first in his win in the Louisiana Derby @fairgroundsnola.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 25, 2024
Click the link below to add him to your Stable Alerts on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150!#NeverMissAWinner โคต๏ธ https://t.co/Ej59kOlf6U pic.twitter.com/PDAE4KZRLR
Stronghold (Photo by HorsePhotos)
#4 Stronghold **
Pro: First or second in all six outings and bravely clung to victory in Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Con: West Coast segment of division has lacked depth.
The @KentuckyDerby looms on the horizon for Stronghold, but does he have the pedigree to shine racing 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May?
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) February 21, 2024
Thatโs a tricky question that requires a nuanced answer.
Here is his KY Derby Pedigree profile โคต๏ธ https://t.co/T44IbAKwaD
Resilience wins the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct (Photo by Adam Coglianese/Adam Coglianese Photography
#5 Resilience ***
Pro: Flattered Risen Star form with comfortable win in Wood Memorial (G2).
Con: Has a bit of form and speed to find against same Risen Star foes.
A pace-tracking trip carried Resilience to a 2 1/4-length win in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, stamping the bay colt as a viable Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.#KyDerby150 #PedigreeProfile โฌ๏ธ https://t.co/EkFzVPpMFg
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) April 8, 2024
Forever Young is Japan's best Kentucky Derby hope, but he must defy trends against the UAE Derby (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
#6 Forever Young ****
Pro: Exciting Japanese entrant is undefeated in five starts and will thrive stretching out.
Con: Gets first true class test here and might be hard to avoid kickback in congested field.
The Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต do it again in the UAE Derby!
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 30, 2024
FOREVER YOUNG overcomes a wide trip to earn 100 @KentuckyDerby points. ๐น
#ใใฉใผใจใใผใคใณใฐ
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/F3KWuCAruD
Endlessly winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#7 Endlessly *
Pro: Well-handled so far with strong record on turf, synthetics.
Con: Appears to be struggling in main track workouts; not a guaranteed starter here.
Endlessly clinched his spot in Kentucky Derby 150 with a win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks @TurfwayPark.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 25, 2024
Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner โคต๏ธ https://t.co/iCRyoVec5E pic.twitter.com/st59XJt2sL
Dornoch breaking his maiden at Keeneland (Photo by Keeneland Photos)
#8 Dornoch **
Pro: Taken out of comfort zone in Blue Grass; more effective on the lead.
Con: Remsen (G2) win aided by bias; doesnโt appear to have progressed a lot since two.
Dornoch makes his 3yo debut on Saturday in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park after his stunning rebreak against Sierra Leone in the Remsen at Aqueduct.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) February 29, 2024
He is one of 5๏ธโฃ horses to follow in @James_Scully111's Expert Stable!#NeverMissAWinner โคต๏ธ https://t.co/Z4I1kr94aB pic.twitter.com/mhkdNgT1YD
Just a Touch winning his debut at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#9 Just a Touch ***
Pro: Talented colt has come a long way in a short time, placing in Gotham and Blue Grass.
Con: Hard to see him overturning Blue Grass form on the stretch out.
#4 Just a Touch wins easy in R2 at Fair Grounds under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing! ๐
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) January 27, 2024
๐ฅ #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/tIRkpfOfEs
Track Phantom wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#10 Track Phantom ***
Pro: Sharp breaker should be prominent much of the way and has some class.
Con: Distance concerns have always been an issue; fading fourth in shorter Louisiana Derby.
TRACK PHANTOM has been installed as the 3/1 ML favorite for this year's Grade 2 https://t.co/EynbFb3eBd Louisiana Derby. #FG152
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 18, 2024
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Post Position #12 pic.twitter.com/O8ZOG6eyxU
West Saratoga winning the 2023 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#11 West Saratoga *
Pro: First or second in all three Churchill tries, including Iroquois (G3) upset.
Con: Tends to lose ground late in longer races; probably more of a one-turn type.
#TwinSpiresTop5 performances from the weekend.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) September 18, 2023
1๏ธโฃ Bango
2๏ธโฃ Master of the Seas (IRE)
3๏ธโฃ Eternal Hope (IRE)
4๏ธโฃ V V's Dream
5๏ธโฃ West Saratoga pic.twitter.com/DJHc2rj6j1
Just Steel wins the Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
#12 Just Steel **
Pro: A durable sort with 11 starts already and barn has won Derby four times.
Con: Has yet to win a two-turn stakes, something Lukasโ winners had going for them.
#7 Just Steel upsets at 12/1 in the Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs for trainer D. Wayne Lukas with @jrosariojockey in the saddle! ๐ฐ
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) November 25, 2023
๐ฅ #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/hFX2u8wuZa
Honor Marie winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#13 Honor Marie ****
Pro: Loves the Churchill strip and will easily last 10 furlongs more than most.
Con: Perhaps a cut below higher quality closers Sierra Leone and Catching Freedom.
Honor Marie returns in the Louisiana Derby @fairgroundsnola this weekend. @TrustYourLuck includes him in his 5 horses to watch in the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 20, 2024
Click the link below to add his Expert Stable! #NeverMissAWinner โคต๏ธ https://t.co/A3e0ZlfTUG pic.twitter.com/VAXLxDgYlT
Domestic Product (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#14 Domestic Product **
Pro: Much improved with second in Holy Bull (G3) and gutsy Tampa Bay Derby (G3) win.
Con: Tampa race a pretty slow affair and eight-week layoff a concern.
Domestic Product picked up 50 #KentuckyDerby points in yesterday's Tampa Bay Derby! ๐น @GallantFox1930 has a recap of the race. โคต๏ธ @KentuckyDerby https://t.co/RMUBOxN1rS
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 10, 2024
Catalytic wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
#15 Catalytic **
Pro: Runner-up in Florida Derby in stakes debut, albeit 13 lengths behind Fierceness.
Con: One of several in the field that spots top players 5-10 lengths of form on paper.
Society Man breaking his maiden March 9 at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
#16 Society Man *
Pro: Enters off easily his best performance with a rallying second in Wood Memorial.
Con: Was 106-1 at Aqueduct for a reason and this spot loads tougher.
#KyDerby150 contenders and stables mates DORNOCH and SOCIETY MAN were on the track today to put in a 4 Furlong workout.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) April 20, 2024
โฑ๏ธ 48:20
๐๏ธ @JoeyDaKRacing & @TrustYourLuck pic.twitter.com/7vNcJgXwhX
Mystik Dan winning the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography/Kurtis Coady)
#17 Mystik Dan ***
Pro: One to seriously consider if track comes up wet, based on Southwest (G3) romp.
Con: Would need to find a bit more over a dry surface.
Mystik Dan pulled off the upset in dominating fashion in the Southwest on Saturday @OaklawnRacing.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) February 5, 2024
The @KennyMcPeek trainee gained 20 points on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150!
Click the link below to add him to your Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner โคต๏ธ https://t.co/eI3sLEXcMA pic.twitter.com/e0nZxCS1MC
Encino wins the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#18 Encino ***
Pro: Beautifully bred colt peaking at the right time following Lexington (G3) win.
Con: Not battle tested against divisionโs best and arguably barnโs third string chance.
#8 ENCINO at 3/1 with @flothejock take advantage from the start and wins the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at #Keeneland for trainer @bradcoxracing.
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) April 13, 2024
Encino grabs the last 20 points on the Road to the @KentuckyDerby. ๐น
๐บ #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MBOTuqtj47
T O Password winning the Fukuryu S. at Nakayama Racecourse (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)
#19 T O Password **
Pro: Distance no concern for this undefeated and unexposed Japanese entrant.
Con: Donโt have a good gauge on his relative talent level.
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: T O Password. ๐ฏ๐ต #TwinSpiresEdgehttps://t.co/7kLCSeOJiJ
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) April 8, 2024
Grand Mo the First (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#20 Grand Mo the First *
Pro: Has garnered a small piece of the purse in all four stakes appearances.
Con: One of the slower entrants on paper from a speed rating perspective.
Epic Ride (Photo by Coady Media)
#21 Epic Ride **
Pro: Has never run a bad race and seemed to handle dirt fine in Blue Grass.
Con: Best form has been on synthetic surfaces and well handled by Sierra Leone last time.
Epic Ride returns on Saturday @TurfwayPark in the Battaglia after winning the Leonatus last month. @ScottShap34 includes him in his 5๏ธโฃ horses to follow on the Road to Kentucky Derby 150 Expert Stable!#NeverMissAWinner โคต๏ธ https://t.co/LmUXEQ6eIL pic.twitter.com/dJPJgokapT
— TwinSpires Racing ๐ (@TwinSpires) March 1, 2024
