Kentucky Derby 2023: Odds, picks, free PPs, preview, more
The first Saturday in May is upon us. Eighteen 3-year-olds will run late Saturday afternoon in racing’s signature event under the iconic Twin Spires for the 149th time.
And with five horses having scratched from the field, including morning-line favorite Forte on Saturday morning, the Kentucky Derby 2023 field looks wide open.
Tapit Trice at 5-1 is the shortest price left on the morning line for the Grade 1, $3 million Derby. Post time from Churchill Downs is 6:57 p.m., with NBC showing the 1 1/4-mile race for sophomore runners.
The 2023 Derby marks 50 years since Hall of Famer Secretariat started his Triple Crown trail by winning in a stakes-record 1:59.4. It also comes one year after late-running 80-1 shot Rich Strike flew up on the rail to deny favorite Epicenter in a classic Derby stretch run.
Attrition has been the story leading up to this year’s Kentucky Derby. Forte’s scratch Saturday after a dramatic meeting between owner Mike Repole, trainer Todd Pletcher and state veterinarian Nick Smith followed earlier scratches of Continuar, Lord Miles, Practical Move and Skinner.
Forte was tabbed the morning-line favorite on the strength of his five straight wins, including last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Gulfstream Park’s Florida Derby (G1) on April 1. With his scratch, his stablemate Tapit Trice assumed favored status.
In Tapit Trice’s last start, he beat fellow Derby contender Verifying (15-1) by a neck April 8 at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1). The Tapit colt enters on a four-race winning streak that also includes a Tampa Bay Derby (G3) score in March.
Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice before, with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). Jockey Luis Saez, who was aboard disqualified first-place finisher Maximum Security in 2019, seeks his first official Derby score, as do owners Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable.
Angel of Empire (8-1) also enters off back-to-back Derby trail victories for trainer Brad Cox. He closed from ninth to take Fair Grounds’s Risen Star Stakes (G2) in February, then moved from seventh to first to win the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 1 at Oaklawn.
Derma Sotogake (10-1) comes into the Kentucky Derby off a convincing front-running win March 25 at Meydan Racecourse in the UAE Derby (G2). The Hidetaka Otonashi trainee looks to build on Japan's recent run of success after the nation's wins in races such as the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Dubai World Cup (G1) and Saudi Cup (G1).
Two Phil’s (12-1) won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), the Turfway Park prep that served as Rich Strike’s final race before the 2022 Kentucky Derby. After that March 25 win over an all-weather surface, he goes back to dirt for the Derby.
Kingsbarns (12-1) won the Louisiana Derby (G2) in gate-to-wire fashion March 25 at Fair Grounds in only his third career start. The second of Pletcher’s two remaining entries will try to join 2018 Triple Crown hero Justify as the only horses since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby after not racing as a 2-year-old.
Verifying is 15-1 on the morning line for Cox after his close runner-up effort in the Blue Grass. The other 15-1 shot is Mage, whose Florida Derby second-place finish behind Forte came in only his third career start for trainer Gustavo Delgado.
Here is a look at the field for the 2023 Kentucky Derby (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds. Follow updated Kentucky Derby odds throughout the day.
1. Hit Show (Brad Cox, Manny Franco), 30-1
2. Verifying (Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione), 15-1
3. Two Phil’s (Larry Rivelli, Jareth Loveberry), 12-1
4. Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux, James Graham), 20-1
5. Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez), 5-1
6. Kingsbarns (Todd Pletcher, Jose Ortiz), 12-1
7. Reincarnate (Tim Yakteen, John Velazquez), 50-1
8. Mage (Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano), 15-1
9. Skinner, SCR
10. Practical Move, SCR
11. Disarm (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario), 30-1
12. Jace’s Road (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux), 50-1
13. Sun Thunder (Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr.), 50-1
14. Angel of Empire (Brad Cox, Flavien Prat), 8-1
15. Forte, SCR
16. Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook, Gerardo Corrales), 50-1
17. Derma Sotogake (Hidetaka Otonashi, Christophe Lemaire), 10-1
18. Rocket Can (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado), 30-1
19. Lord Miles, SCR
20. Continuar, SCR
21. Cyclone Mischief (Dale Romans, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 30-1
22. Mandarin Hero (Terunobu Fujita, Kazushi Kimura), 20-1
23. King Russell (Ron Moquett, Rafael Bejarano), 50-1
TimeformUS pace projections, updated after Forte's scratch, show Derma Sotogake going out to the lead under jockey Christophe Lemaire.
Visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for more information on the Kentucky Derby’s 19 runners.
Kentucky Derby links
Reinier Macatangay says he will use the best stalker and the best closer on top of his Kentucky Derby tickets. Macatangay also highlights three strong workouts by Kentucky Derby 2023 contenders, including by 30-1 shot Disarm, and makes the case for runners who did not win their final Derby preps.
Ed DeRosa says that Tapit Trice is the play, especially after Forte's Saturday morning scratch. See his Kentucky Derby fair odds for the full field.
After favorite Forte was scratched from Kentucky Derby 2023 on the recommendation of a state veterinarian, Forte's lead owner Mike Repole explained to reporters Saturday morning at Churchill Downs why the horse was scratched.
Four-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr., who is now aboard Cyclone Mischief, seeks his first victory after six Derby losses. Others trying to break personal maidens in America’s biggest race include Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who is 0-for-15, and Ortiz’s brother José, who is 0-for-7.
Kingsbarns and Tapit Trice trainer Todd Pletcher won his eighth Eclipse Award last season as North America's top trainer. The Hall of Famer continues to elevate his high standards while letting his runners' performance do the talking.
Jareth Loveberry and Larry Rivelli were the tandem to beat at Arlington Park in its final years. The Chicagoland duo is in the Kentucky Derby thanks to Two Phil’s.
For Raise Cain to win the Derby, everything will need to break exactly right. Trainer Ben Colebrook acknowledged such, noting his colt will need a blazing fast pace to have any chance.
One year ago, the last horse to get into the Kentucky Derby field won the race. Can lightning strike twice with King Russell, the Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up and last also-eligible to draw into the field?
The sixth annual hard-core handicappers roundtable to preview Kentucky Derby 2023 has been convened for a pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hear Horse Racing Nation’s Mark Midland and Ed DeRosa and the return of DraftKings Sportsbook’s Johnny Avello.
A second episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod includes interviews with Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher and other horsepeople and horseplayers.
This week on HorseCenter, hosts Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman offer their final preview of Kentucky Derby 2023 with draw analysis, top picks, top long shots and favorite wagers.
Kentucky Derby card
Here is a look at the other stakes taking place under the Twin Spires on Saturday. All post times are EDT and races can be seen on NBC.
12:04 p.m. – $750,000 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1), 4-and-up fillies and mares, seven furlongs
Goodnight Olive (4-5) has won each of her last seven starts, including November’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and the Madison Stakes (G1) on April 8, both at Keeneland. Trainer Chad Brown and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. team up with the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare, who was 2022’s champion female sprinter. Steve Asmussen trains Wicked Halo (3-1), a Grade 2 victor who took the Matron Stakes on March 31 at Oaklawn. Matareya (7-2), the 2022 Acorn Stakes (G1) winner for trainer Brad Cox, was second to Wicked Halo in the Matron.
12:36 p.m. – $500,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2), 4-and-up fillies and mares, one mile (turf)
Spendarella (7-5), who is 4-for-5 overall and 4-for-4 on U.S. soil, returns from a layoff dating to a Del Mar Oaks (G1) victory Aug. 20. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides the 4-year-old Karakontie filly for trainer Graham Motion. Brown trains reigning Churchill Distaff Turf Mile winner Speak of the Devil (7-2), fifth-place finisher March 4 at Gulfstream Park in the Honey Fox Stakes (G3). Haughty (4-1), another Brown entry, last raced Aug. 20 at Saratoga, where she won the Lake Placid Stakes (G2).
1:14 p.m. – $175,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes, 4-and-up which have not won a graded stakes in 2022-2023, one mile
Zozos (5-2) ran 10th last year in the Kentucky Derby after running second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) for Cox. Jockey Florent Geroux will be up on the 4-year-old Munnings colt, who enters off an allowance win March 2 at Fair Grounds. Bill Mott trains Baby Yoda (3-1), a multiple allowance victor whose last start was a second-place finish in the Kelso Handicap (G2) on Oct. 29 at Aqueduct. Stakes winner Caddo River (4-1) crossed second April 1 in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
1:56 p.m. – $500,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2), 3-and-up, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf)
Big Invasion (7-2) has won seven of his nine lifetime starts, including the Silks Run Stakes on March 18 at Gulfstream. Trainer Christophe Clement has tabbed jockey Joel Rosario to ride the 4-year-old Declaration of War colt, a Grade 3 winner. Wesley Ward trains 2022 Twin Spires Turf Sprint victor Arrest Me Red (4-1), who was third April 8 at Keeneland in the Shakertown Stakes (G2). Motorious (8-1) ships east for trainer Phil D'Amato after winning the San Simeon Stakes (G3) on March 5 at Santa Anita.
2:46 p.m. – $500,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2), 3-year-olds, one mile
Echo Again (7-2), a former Kentucky Derby trail runner, won at this one-mile distance March 30 at Oaklawn in an allowance race for Asmussen. Geroux has the mount on the Gun Runner colt. Shug McGaughey trains General Jim (4-1), winner of the Swale Stakes (G3) on Feb. 4 at Gulfstream. Gun Pilot (5-1), a second Asmussen-trained entry, was runner-up April 1 at Oaklawn in the Hot Springs Stakes.
3:40 p.m. – $500,000 American Turf Stakes (G2), 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
Major Dude (5-2) returns to turf for trainer Todd Pletcher after a runner-up effort over Turfway Park’s all-weather surface March 25 in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). Ortiz will get a leg up on the Bolt d’Oro colt, a Grade 2 winner. Brown trains Carl Spackler (3-1), who climbs the class ladder off a second-out maiden win Feb. 25 at Gulfstream. The Pletcher-trained Far Bridge (7-2) is 2-for-2, including a March 11 allowance score at Gulfstream.
4:31 p.m. – $750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), 4-and-up, seven furlongs
Cody’s Wish (4-5) makes his first start since following up a Forego Stakes (G1) score by earning trainer Bill Mott a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile win Nov. 5 at Keeneland. The 5-year-old son of Curlin will have jockey Junior Alvarado up. Mike Maker trains Endorsed (5-1), whose back-to-back wins include a Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) victory March 4. Tejano Twist (6-1), winner of the Oaklawn’s Whitmore Stakes (G3) in March for trainer Chris Hartman, was third back at Oaklawn on April 15 in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3).
5:27 p.m. – $1 million Turf Classic Stakes (G1), 4-and-up, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
Hong Kong Harry (7-2), twice a Grade 2 winner, aims for his first top-level score as he ships east from California for trainer Phil D’Amato. Jockey Flavien Prat will pilot the 6-year-old Es Que Love gelding, fourth-place runner March 4 at Santa Anita in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1). Pletcher trains Up to the Mark (4-1), third-place finisher April 14 at Keeneland in the Maker’s Mile Stakes (G1). 2022 Turf Classic hero Santin (9-2) was fourth March 25 at Turfway in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes.