Alumni Report: 45 Kentucky Derby runners still active
The latest crop of Kentucky Derby runners has spread out across the country, with all but a few Run for the Roses starters having made their return race.
Keepmeinmind, who finished seventh in the Derby, will run Saturday in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
Here is the latest on 45 Kentucky Derby runners that are still active.
Who is the oldest Kentucky Derby runner still active? You'll have to scroll down, but chances are you saw him sprinting on Kentucky Derby day.
2021 Kentucky Derby - 19 active
| 2021 Derby | Horse | Status / Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Medina Spirit | 3rd in Preakness (G1) | Probable for Haskell (G1), worked 6/14 at SA |
| 2nd | Mandaloun | Won Pegasus Stakes | Probable for Haskell (G1) |
| 3rd | Hot Rod Charlie | 2nd in Belmont (G1) | Worked 5f at SA on Saturday |
| 4th | Essential Quality | Won Belmont (G1) | Possible for Jim Dandy (G2) |
| 5th | O Besos | 2nd in Matt Winn (G2) | Worked 4f Monday at CD |
| 6th | Midnight Bourbon | 2nd in Preakness (G1) | Possible for Haskell (G1), worked Sat at CD |
| 7th | Keepmeinmind | 4th in Preakness (G1) | Entered in Ohio Derby (G3) Saturday |
| 8th | Helium | 3rd in Matt Winn (G3) | Worked 4f Saturday at CD |
| 9th | Known Agenda | 4th in Belmont (G1) | Raced 6/5. No next race determined |
| 10th | Highly Motivated | 10th in Ky Derby (G1) | Pointed to Dwyer (G3) July 5. Last worked June 6. |
| 11th | Sainthood | Won Pennine Ridge (G3) | Pointed to Belmont Derby (G1) on July 10 |
| 12th | Like the King | 5th in Audubon Stakes | Worked 5f on CD turf on Sunday |
| 13th | Bourbonic | 5th in Belmont (G1) | No works since last race (6/5) |
| 14th | Hidden Stash | No races since Derby | Worked 4f at Keeneland on May 16 |
| 15th | Brooklyn Strong | 4th Pegasus Stakes | Raced 6/13 |
| 16th | Super Stock | 4th in Texas Derby | Worked 5f Sunday at CD |
| 17th | Rock Your World | 6th in Belmont (G1) | Raced 6/5 |
| 18th | Dynamic One | 18th in Ky Derby (G1) | Possible for Curlin S. Worked 4f Friday at BEL |
| 19th | Soup and Sandwich | 19th in Ky Derby (G1) | Could race at Saratoga. No works since Ky Derby |
2020 Kentucky Derby - 11 active
A few of the top runners in the 2020 Derby have retired, but one, Major Fed, will start Friday at Churchill Downs.
| 2020 Derby | Horse | Status / Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Authentic | Retired | Stands at Spendthrift ($75,000) |
| 2nd | Tiz the Law | Retired | Stands at Ashford Stud ($40,000) |
| 3rd | Mr. Big News | 7th in 2020 Preakness Stakes | Last worked 3f Saturday at CD |
| 4th | Honor A. P. | Retired | Stands at Lane's End ($15,000) |
| 5th | Max Player | 6th in 2021 Pimlico Special (G3) | Last worked 5f Sunday at BEL |
| 6th | Storm The Court | 5th in 2021 San Carlos (G2) | No works since last race (3/6) |
| 7th | Enforceable | 9th in CD allowance on Friday | Raced 6/18 |
| 8th | Ny Traffic | 2nd in Salvator Mile (G3) | Raced 6/12 |
| 9th | Necker Island | Won CD allowance on June 6 | Raced 6/6 |
| 10th | Major Fed | 2nd in CD allowance on 9/27/20 | Entered in CD allowance Friday |
| 11th | Sole Volante | 4th in GP allowance on Saturday | Raced 6/20 |
| 12th | Winning Impressing | Deceased | |
| 13th | Money Moves | Won BEL allowance 10/23/20 | Last worked Nov. 2020 |
| 14th | Attachment Rate | 3rd in CD allowance race on 6/4 | Worked 4f Saturday at CD |
| 15th | South Bend | 5th in Blame Stakes on 5/29 | Worked 5f Sunday at CD |
The 2019 Derby runners are now five, with 10 entrants who remain active. By My Standards recently ran second in the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont day.
| 2019 Derby | Horse | Status / Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Country House | Retired | Stands at Darby Dan Farm ($7,500) |
| 2nd | Code of Honor | 5th in 2021 Pegasus World Cup (G1) | Worked 3f Friday at Niall Brennan Stables |
| 3rd | Tacitus | 7th in 2021 Saudi World Cup (G1) | No works since last race (2/6) |
| 4th | Improbable | Retired | Stands at WinStar ($40,000) |
| 5th | Game Winner | Retired | Stands at Lane's End ($30,000) |
| 6th | Master Fencer | 11th in 2021 Heian (G3) at Chukyo | |
| 7th | War of Will | Retired | Stands at Claiborne ($25,000) |
| 8th | Plus Que Parfait | 5th in 2021 Isaac Murphy Marathon | No works since last race (4/27) |
| 9th | Win Win Win | Retired | Stands at Ocala Stud ($5,000) |
| 10th | Cutting Humor | Retired | Will stand at McDowell Farm (Arkansas) |
| 11th | By My Standards | 2nd in 2021 Met Mile (G1) | Raced 6/5 |
| 12th | Vekoma | Retired | Stands at Spendthrift ($20,000) |
| 13th | Bodexpress | Retired | Stands at Barton Thoroughbreds ($5,000) |
| 14th | Tax | 10th in 2021 Pegasus World Cup | Last worked 5/1 at KEE |
| 15th | Roadster | 4th in 2021 Alysheba | No works since last race (4/30) |
| 16th | Long Range Toddy | 2nd in 2021 Aristides | Last worked 4f Saturday at CD |
| 17th | Maximum Security | Retired | Standing at Ashford Stud ($20,000) |
| 18th | Spinoff | 4th in 2020 Woodward (G1) | Last worked 4f June 6 at BEL |
| 19th | Gray Magician | 2nd in allowance at SA on June 12 | No works since last race |
2018 Kentucky Derby - 4 active
Looking at prior years, only a few Derby runners are still going, but four of the 20 runners from Justify's 2018 Derby are still active at age 6.
5th, My Boy Jack. He finished eighth in the Colonel Bradley on Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds; hasn't raced or worked since.
11th, Firenze Fire. He won the True North (G2) on June 4 at Belmont, the day before the Belmont Stakes.
17th, Noble Indy. He finished sixth in a Gulfstream handicap on May 31 and most recently worked on June 19 at Palm Meadows.
18th, Combatant. He finished fifth in an allowance race at Oaklawn on Feb. 7 and resumed working this month at Santa Anita.
2017 Kentucky Derby - 0 active
None of the 20 runners from Always Dreaming's Derby have raced or worked this year. The last horse to race was Lookin At Lee, who finished ninth in a Remington Park allowance race on Oct. 17 of last year and was retired after that. Sonneteer was the only other runner to race in 2020, finishing ninth in the New Orleans Handicap at the Fair Grounds on March 21.
2016 Kentucky Derby - Whitmore
Nyquist won in a full field of 20 runners in 2016, but the only active runner today is the 8-year-old gelding Whitmore, who was 19th in the 2016 Derby, beating only Shagaf that day.
Whitmore most recently ran third in the Churchill Downs (G1) on Derby day this year, and worked on June 17 at Churchill Downs.
2015 Kentucky Derby - 0 runners
None of the 18 starters from American Pharoah's Derby have raced or worked this year, but three of them did race last year.
Frammento, 11th. He ran 8th in a Churchill Downs claiming race on Nov. 15, 2020.
Bolo, 12th. He ran 9th in the Wickerr on July 11 of last year.
War Story, 16th. He ran 8th in Charles Town Classic (G2) on Aug. 28 of last year.
No horses that ran in any of the prior years have worked or raced in 2020 or 2021.
We'll keep updating this list and keep our eyes out for more retirements, but hopefully not too many.