2024 Kentucky Derby Horses - Learn About the 2024 Field (2024)

Excitement is building for the 150th Run for the Roses, which is scheduled for this evening on Saturday, May 4. The final field of Kentucky Derby horses has been selected, and early money suggests this year's Derby could be a match race between Sierra Leone and Fierceness, but anything can happen once those gates are sprung at Churchill Downs.

With just four days to go, Robert Criscola ranks all 21 horses following the Encino scratch while providing analysis on which runners have the best Kentucky Derby odds.

Up-to-date Kentucky Derby horses

A maximum of 20 horses can participate in the first jewel of the 2024 Triple Crown for three-year-old thoroughbreds. The final field and Kentucky Derby post positions were determined on Saturday, April 27, with 22 horses entering. Epic Ride was officially added to the lineup on Tuesday after Encino was scratched due to concerns over a soft tissue strain. The horse, which is trained by John Ennis, opened as a 30-1 longshot.

Who is running in the 2024 Kentucky Derby?

We've listed all the horses, including Kentucky Derby favorites and Kentucky Derby long shots.

No. 17 Fierceness (5-2)

Fierceness has arguably the single-most impressive performance of any horse, regardless of age, this year when he romped in the Florida Derby last time out. However, his puzzlingly dull effort in his only other start of 2024 has some questioning his ability to deliver on the first Saturday in May.

No. 2 Sierra Leone (3-1)

Sierra Leone stamped himself as the Kentucky Derby favorite with two dramatic rallies to win the Risen Star Stakes and the Blue Grass Stakes, the latter of which contained many top-class prospects for the 2024 "Run for the Roses." Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown seeks his first Derby score.

No. 4 Catching Freedom (8-1)

Catching Freedom has two wins (Louisiana Derby and Smarty Jones Stakes) and a third (Risen Star) in three starts this season. He also broke his maiden at first asking at Churchill Downs last year.

No. 11 Forever Young (10-1)

Forever Young is a perfect 5-for-5 lifetime with wins in the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby this year. However, the latter race has yet to see a runner even hit the board in the Kentucky Derby since it was elevated to a 100-point prep race.

No. 8 Just A Touch (10-1)

Just a Touch has just one win from three career starts, but his runner-up placings in the Gotham Stakes and Blue Grass were well-received. Like Catching Freedom, he's trained by Brad Cox, who won the Derby via DQ in 2021 (Mandaloun).

No. 1 Dornoch (20-1)

Dornoch was toward the top of many Kentucky Derby boards at the start of 2024, but he hasn't gone on as well as many thought he would after a bias-aided win in the Remsen Stakes. He took a poor renewal of the Fountain of Youth Stakes before settling for fourth in the Blue Grass.

No. 3 Mystik Dan (20-1)

Mystik Dan was unable to replicate his freakishly good Southwest win earned in the slop in the Arkansas Derby, settling for third. He might just be a mud-runner based on his overall lacking form.

No. 6 Just Steel (20-1)

Just Steel disappointed in the Rebel Stakes but placed second in each of his other three starts in 2024 (Smarty Jones, Southwest Stakes, Arkansas Derby). He's trained by four-time Derby-winning conditioner D. Wayne Lukas.

No. 7 Honor Marie (20-1)

Honor Marie wasn't all that far behind Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom when last seen. Prior to his fifth-place misfire in the Risen Star, he won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill.

No. 12 Track Phantom (20-1)

Track Phantom will likely be on or near the lead on the first Saturday in May. Though the talent is there (Lecomte Stakes winner, Top-4 placed in two other stakes), the apparent distance limitations are a concern.

No. 18 Stronghold (20-1)

Stronghold has never been worse than second in six-lifetime races, but both of his wins in the Sunland Derby and Santa Anita Derby came up slow.

No. 19 Resilience (20-1)

Resilience took the Wood Memorial to put himself on the Derby map, but the race hasn't produced a "Run for the Roses" winner since 2000. He took four starts to break his maiden and was fourth in the Risen Star, his only other stakes try.

No. 5 Catalytic (30-1)

Catalytic held his own in his first route attempt, placing a distant second in the Florida Derby. His credentials are light outside of that effort.

No. 10 T O Password (30-1)

T O Password punched his ticket to the Derby via the carve-out for Japan-based runners. He set soft fractions in his most recent victory yet prevailed by just a head.

No. 14 Endlessly (30-1)

Despite trainer Michael McCarthy being less than optimistic about his ability to race on dirt, Endlessly could make his debut on the surface in the Derby. He's only lost once across six starts on turf and synthetic and won the Jeff Ruby Steaks with authority.

No. 15 Domestic Product (30-1)

Domestic Product ran second in the Holy Bull and first in the Tampa Bay Derby to prep for this, but neither effort was incredibly well-rated.

No. 13 West Saratoga (50-1)

Yet to win in four starts since the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill last September, West Saratoga is a long shot, albeit one that just ran a lifetime best effort in the Jeff Ruby.

No. 16 Grand Mo The First (50-1)

Grand Mo the First has made a habit of finishing third, including his most recent start in the Florida Derby.

No. 20 Society Man (50-1)

Society Man was a non-factor in the Withers Stakes, dropped back in with maidens to earn his lone win to date, then placed second in the Wood at 99-1. Is he improving at the right time, or was it a fluke?

No. 21 Epic Ride (50-1)

Epic Ride was third in the Blue Grass at a big price in his debut on conventional dirt. His synthetic track form seems just a cut below the elite.

No. 22 Mugatu (50-1)

Mugatu will need two scratches before 9 a.m. ET on Friday to get into the Derby field, and it's hard to make a case for him based on his 0-for-5 record in 2024 with a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes last time out.

Odds for the 2024 Kentucky Derby horses

Post	Horse	*		**
17	Fierceness	+250	5-2	+300
2	Sierra Leone	+300	3-1	+275
4	Catching Freedom	+800	8-1	+800
8	Just A Touch	+1000	10-1	+1,000
11	Forever Young	+1000	10-1	+850
1	Dornoch	+2000	20-1	+2,800
3	Mystik Dan	+2000	20-1	+2,500
6	Just Steel	+2000	20-1	+2,800
7	Honor Marie	+2000	20-1	+2,000
9	Encino	OTB	SCR	OTB
12	Track Phantom	+2000	20-1	+3,300
18	Stronghold	+2000	20-1	+1,800
19	Resilience	+2000	20-1	+2,500
15	Domestic Product	+3000	30-1	+2,500
5	Catalytic	+3000	30-1	+5,000
10	T O Password	+3000	30-1	+4,000
14	Endlessly	+3000	30-1	+3,300
13	West Saratoga	+5000	50-1	+6,600
16	Grand Mo The First	+5000	50-1	+6,600
20	Society Man	+5000	50-1	+2,500
21	Epic Ride	+5000	50-1	+4,000
22	Mugatu	OTB	SCR	OTB

Odds as of 5-4-2024.

*FanDuel Racing odds available in AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY

**bet365 Kentucky Derby odds are not available in the United States

Printable Kentucky Derby horses

Track your favorite horses with our printable sheet of Kentucky Derby horses, complete with post positions and morning-line odds.

How horses qualify for the Kentucky Derby

A series of qualifying races for eligible three-year-old horses, also known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby, begins in September and runs until early April. These races are mostly held in the United States. However, there are qualifying races in Japan and the United Kingdom.

These races are part of a points system that will decide the starting field for the Kentucky Derby, with some races worth more points than others. Horses are awarded points based on their performances in these qualifying events. The top 18 horses in the points standings (if the top points horses from Japan and UK opt in) are awarded starting spots in the Kentucky Derby.

Road to the Kentucky Derby

*winner trained by Bob Baffert and is ineligible for the Kentucky Derby.

Types of Kentucky Derby horses

The Kentucky Derby isn’t open to just any horse. The “Run for the Roses” is limited to thoroughbred colts and fillies racing as three-year-olds.

Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred horses are predominantly used for racing, as they have a taller and slimmer build and are more athletic than standardbred horses, which are muscular and used in harness racing. Thoroughbred horses are able to sustain speeds over longer distances, with the Kentucky Derby raced at a 1 1/4 miles.

Age of horses

Three-year-old horses can be considered teenagers in terms of growth, nearly fully developed but not quite at the maturity or muscle build of the four-year-old horse. Limiting the field to three-year-old horses allows for only a handful of prep races and adds an aura of mystery to the Kentucky Derby field, serving as a coming-out party for the next generation of elite race horses.

Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby?

Several legal horse racing betting sites allow you to wager on the Kentucky Derby, but not every sportsbook is allowed to offer Derby odds. We have created a guide outlining the best Kentucky Derby betting sites available in your area.

Which states have legal betting on the Kentucky Derby?

While sports bettors can enjoy some form of online or retail wagering in 34 states (+ DC), horse racing enthusiasts have even more legal options. Refer to our list of legal states for betting on horse racing to see if horse race betting is legal in your state via the FanDuel Racing app.

Canada (excluding Ontario)

Almost all sports betting sites offer fixed-odds betting on horse racing. Check out the best sports betting sites in Canada or sign up now with one of our top partners, bet365, and earn up to $200 in bet credits!

Ontario

Following the changes to the iGaming regulations on April 4, 2022, horse racing betting is no longer available at sportsbooks. Those in Ontario who are looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby will need to sign up at one of Woodbine's two online offerings, HPIbet and Dark Horse Bets.

Kentucky Derby Horses FAQs

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