Derby alumni: See what's up with 17 starters dating to 2019

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.

2023 Kentucky Derby

For his second start of the year, Raise Cain faced Grade 1 company in the Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. In range of the pace from the outset in the seven-furlong race, he proved no match for the top three but chased on to hold fourth in the field of 10, 4 3/4 lengths behind winner Gun Pilot.

Two runners from the 2023 Kentucky Derby raced at the allowance level recently. King Russell, sent off the 2-1 favorite in a 1 1/8-mile race April 28 at Oaklawn, got shuffled back into the far turn and ended up fifth, 4 1/2 lengths behind wire-to-wire winner Nyquick. Cyclone Mischief raced in an allowance-optional claiming dirt mile at Churchill Downs on Friday, tracking in range through much of the race but fading to finish fifth, 14 1/4 lengths behind winner Injunction.

Tapit Trice had been entered to make his 4-year-old debut in the Alysheba (G2) but was scratched by trainer Todd Pletcher. According to a report on X from David Grening of Daily Racing Form, the scratch was because of the wet track.

2022 Kentucky Derby

Two runners from the 2022 Kentucky Derby returned to action in the Westchester (G3) on Friday at Aqueduct. Messier disputed the pace with long shot Adero early, cleared off through mid-stretch and had enough to hold off favored Post Time by 3/4 length in the end. It was Messier's first win since the 2022 Robert B. Lewis (G3). Charge It raced in close range of the pace through the early stages but could not keep up with Messier into the lane and ultimately settled for third, four lengths behind the winner.

Happy Jack also earned another stakes placing recently. In the Kona Gold on April 27, his first race since July 2023, he stalked the early pace, made a bid on The Chosen Vron but was kept at bay. He finished second, 3/4 length behind The Chosen Vron but five lengths clear of third-place Express Train.

Three others from the 2022 Kentucky Derby field recently ran in stakes company. Smile Happy chased mid-pack in the Ben Ali (G3) but faded in the lane, crossing the wire a well-beaten seventh behind Kingsbarns. Classic Causeway, making his second start of the year in the Isaac Murphy Marathon last Wednesday, set the early pace but was caught by eventual winner Next and then weakened through the final quarter, finishing fifth in the end. Crown Pride, who returned for his first race since the Saudi Cup (G1) in February, finished 12th behind Shamal in the Kashiwa Kinen at Funabashi last Wednesday.

Tiz the Bomb, unraced since finishing sixth in the Prairie Bayou last December at Turfway, was sold at the Keeneland April horses of racing age sale. Agent Fergus Galvin signed the $50,000 ticket, and according to a report from Joe Nevills at Paulick Report, Galvin will put together a partnership to campaign the horse.

2021 Kentucky Derby

O Besos stepped back into stakes company Thursday at Churchill Downs in the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes, his first start since November. Trainer Greg Foley had him ready to go. Toward the rear of the five-horse field early, he made a good outside bid in the lane and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Bourbon Bash. The race was his first win since an allowance-optional claiming race in October 2022 at Churchill Downs, though he did finish second in two of his four starts in 2023.

Dynamic One finished fifth behind Kingsbarns in the Ben Ali (G3) on April 20 at Keeneland, his fourth off-the-board finish in as many starts after returning from a layoff of over a year. After the race he went through the ring at Keeneland's horses of racing age sale, where a top bid of $95,000 did not meet his reserve. According to a report from Joe Nevills of Paulick Report, Phipps Stable bought out partners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable in order to retire him. He will be gelded and sent to New Vocations for retraining.

Two others from the 2021 Kentucky Derby were in action recently. Hidden Stash ran seventh behind Utah Beach in an allowance going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Keeneland on April 14. Like the King finished seventh in a turf-mile allowance-optional claimer April 27 at Gulfstream Park, though he chased on with interest and crossed the wire only 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Stat.

2020 Kentucky Derby

Necker Island was in action during Kentucky Derby week, making his 7-year-old debut in the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs on Thursday. Toward the rear of a compact field early in the six-furlong race, he did not rally and finished fifth and last, 11 1/2 lengths behind O Besos.

2019 Kentucky Derby

It was a quiet time for the Kentucky Derby horses of 2019, with Gray Magician's race on March 18 at Turf Paradise the last time any of them were in action. He and Long Range Toddy have both been active in 2024.