Kentucky Derby: Jockeys are confirmed for Catalytic, Honor Marie

HRN staff
Photo: Carson Blevins / Eclipse Sportswire

Jose Ortiz will ride Catalytic for the first time in Kentucky Derby 2024, the Churchill Downs media team reported Monday.

He'll be the fourth rider in as many starts for the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee. Julien Leparoux was aboard last out when Catalytic was best of the rest in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which Fierceness won by 13 1/2 lengths.

This will be the ninth Kentucky Derby appearance for Ortiz. His best finish was a second with Good Magic in 2018. Last year, he was 14th with Kingsbarns.

Whit Beckman, trainer of Honor Marie, confirmed that Ben Curtis will retain his mount for the Kentucky Derby. Curtis, who never has raced at Churchill Downs, was in the saddle for Honor Marie's runner-up effort in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Rafael Bejarano rode the colt in his previous four starts.

Encino and Society Man are the only contenders in the main field whose Kentucky Derby riders have not yet been named.

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