Derby alumni: Check in with 27 from recent runs for the roses

The Derby Alumni tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the Kentucky Derby, both this year and in previous years, keeping up with what they have done since they ran for the roses.

2024 Kentucky Derby

Catching Freedom made his first start since the Preakness on June 22 in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown. He was sent off the odds-on favorite, but after tracking the pace he finished only evenly. Catching Freedom crossed the wire fourth, three lengths behind winner Batten Down.

Three others from the 2024 Kentucky Derby field are entered to return later this week. In Saturday's Iowa Derby, Just a Touch drew post no. 9 and Mugatu will break from the rail. Catalytic shortens up for the Carry Back at Gulfstream Park on Friday, and will break from post no. 5.

2023 Kentucky Derby

Kingsbarns won at the top level for the first time in his career on Saturday, holding steadfastly to win the Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths over Pyrenees. The victory earns Kingsbarns an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Among the horses chasing him home was fellow 2023 Kentucky Derby runner Disarm, who finished sixth.

Raise Cain also was in action closing weekend at Churchill. He contested the Hanshin at the one-turn main-track mile. Raise Cain finished third, chasing 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Cagliostro.

Three others from the field also have been in action. Sun Thunder finished second in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on the Churchill dirt Thursday, finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind front-running winner Mo Fight. Cyclone Mischief was fourth in an allowance-optional claiming race Sunday at Churchill, beaten by only two lengths for the win and part of a seven-way scramble for place behind winner Gulfport. Continuar raced Sunday in the Satsuma Stakes at Kokura. He never looked comfortable in the mud, backed out in the lane and did not finish.

Two are entered for upcoming races during Iowa Derby weekend at Prairie Meadows. Confidence Game drew post no. 3 in the Iowa Sprint on Friday. Hit Show is entered to run in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) on Saturday, and he drew post no. 6.

Jace's Road, who had not published a drill since finishing 17th in the Kentucky Derby, finally returned to the work tab on Sunday. The son of Quality Road went three furlongs at Ellis in 37.8 seconds.

2022 Kentucky Derby

Six runners from the 2022 Kentucky Derby have been back in action recently. The best finish was a third-place outing by Tawny Port in the Monmouth Stakes (G3) on June 15. He tracked the pace in the 1 1/8-mile turf race and ran on well through the finish, but missed by a neck to winner Fort Washington in a blanket finish.

White Abarrio, third in the Met Mile (G1) in 2023, mustered only fifth behind National Treasure in the 2024 edition on June 8, crossing the wire 10 1/4 lengths behind National Treasure.

Three more from this Kentucky Derby class were in action closing weekend at Churchill Downs. Classic Causeway finished seventh behind Kingsbarns in the Stephen Foster on Saturday, and Charge It and Zozos were fifth and ninth, respectively, behind Cagliostro in the Hanshin on Sunday.

Tiz the Bomb was in action June 23 at Gulfstream in an allowance at one mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta. He chased midfield and never fired, crossing the wire seventh beaten by 8 1/4 lengths by Champions Dream.

Though Rich Strike is still unraced since finishing fifth in the 2023 Alysheba (G2), he is slowly working toward a possible return to the races. The Kentucky Derby winner reportedly moved to the Saratoga shedrow of Bill Mott in late June, though he will need to do more galloping before he is ready for a published workout.

2021 Kentucky Derby

In the second start of his 6-year-old year, Like the King bounced back into his winning form in an allowance-optional claiming turf mile at Woodbine. He, like every horse in the field, was entered under the condition. Settled midfield through the early stages, he made a smart late rally to get up by 1/2 length over Ironstone.

Hidden Stash raced twice in June, both times at the allowance-optional claiming level at Churchill: he was fifth beaten 4 1/2 lengths behind Johny's Fireball in a 1 1/16-mile turf race June 6, and then fifth beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Tut's Revenge in a turf mile on Friday.

Brooklyn Strong finished fifth in a $25,000 starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, beaten by 3 3/4 lengths by Thistle. He gets another chance to prove himself at the level on Wednesday, when he is entered to contest a one mile and 70 yard race at Parx. He drew the rail in a field of seven.

2020 Kentucky Derby

South Bend, who returned from a layoff of almost a year and a half in May, made his second start back on June 23 in an allowance-optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta at Woodbine. The 9-2 favorite in the field of 12, South Bend settled near the rear and closed hard down the lane. He had to settle for second, missing by 3/4 length to Lac Macaza.

2019 champion juvenile Storm the Court returned to action June 7 in an allowance-optional claiming race at Laurel. Settling inside toward the rear in the early stages of the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, he made some mild improvement in the lane but crossed the wire third in the end, 2 3/4 lengths behind Whenigettoheaven.

Storm the Court will get a chance to move forward on Friday when he returns to the same level but stretches out to a mile on the Laurel lawn. He drew post no. 5 in the field of 10.

One other from this Kentucky Derby field is also entered for a race. Necker Island drew post no. 2 in a six-horse field for the Iowa Sprint on Friday.

2019 Kentucky Derby

Gray Magician returned to action June 18 in an allowance-optional claiming race at Mountaineer. Bet down to 7-5 favoritism, he battled on the pace through the middle stages and made a final run on High Rolling Dude, but missed by a head. He was claimed for $12,500 out of the race and went to owner-trainer Melinda K. Sanders.