Kentucky Derby alumni: Get updates on 26, led by Baeza

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

2025 Kentucky Derby

Baeza, third behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, broke through with his first Grade 1 win in the Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday. Settled toward the rear of the 10-horse field, Baeza made a smart outside bid approaching the turn for home and opened up to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Magnitude. The son of McKinzie, a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont winner Dornoch, was making his first start since finishing second to Sovereignty in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

Two others from the 2025 Kentucky Derby field also raced over the weekend. Chunk of Gold, coming off his West Virginia Derby (G3) win in August, returned in Saturday's Bourbon Flight Stakes. The race was scratched down to three horses, and Brotha Kenny made it to the lead over odds-on Chunk of Gold. The son of Preservationist chased the whole way but was ultimately held at bay by 1 1/2 lengths, settling for the place. Neoequos went for his graded-stakes breakthrough in the Gallant Bob (G2) but came up empty in the lane after tracking the pace, ultimately crossing the wire sixth, 7 1/2 lengths behind long-shot winner Mad House.

Two horses from the field are entered to return Sunday evening in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington. Coal Battle, who drew the outside post of eight, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Publisher, drawn in post 5, is the 7-2 second choice despite being a maiden.

2024 Kentucky Derby

Four horses among the 2024 Kentucky Derby entrants won recent races. Fierceness gets top billing, with a confident 3 1/4-length victory over Journalism in the Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 30. Despite ducking in at the start, he tracked the pace and took total command, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. Epic Ride earned his graded-stakes breakthrough and the first graded win for his trainer John Ennis with a gate-to-wire score in the Mint Millions Invitational (G3), a turf mile at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6. He held to win by two lengths over hot favorite Lagynos.

T O Password returned to the racetrack Aug. 30 for his first start since January, and that return went well. Sent off the favorite in the Nagoyajo Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile handicap on the dirt, he was well off the pace for most of it but finished full of run to win by three lengths. Encino, returning to a Tapeta surface for the first time since he was second in the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) at Turfway in March, made good account Friday in the Presque Isle Mile. He led much of the way, giving in late to finish second to Mercante, a length behind.

Seven other entrants from last year's run for the roses also saw recent action. Sierra Leone went for another Grade 1 win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but after being snarled up behind the incident caused by Phileas Fogg, he was too far back early. He uncoiled a rally anyway but settled for second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Antiquarian. Two others recently placed, Resilience in allowance company and Mugatu in a claiming race. Endlessly, Track Phantom and Catalytic were off the board in stakes company, and Society Man recently was fifth at the allowance level.

Three horses from the 2024 Kentucky Derby field are entered in upcoming days. Mystik Dan will return to Churchill Downs for the Lukas Classic (G2) on Saturday, where he breaks from post 5 in the seven-horse field. Honor Marie will try to bounce back from a seventh-place finish in the Suburban (G2) in his last start. He was gelded in the meantime and drew post 3 of eight in a 1 1/16-mile allowance Wednesday at Churchill Downs. He is 5-1 on the morning line. Catching Freedom, unraced since the winter meet at Fair  Grounds, makes his return Sunday in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Churchill Downs, where he will break from post 3 in the six-horse field.

2023 Kentucky Derby

A pair of horses from the 2023 Kentucky Derby field have been in action recently. Disarm's chances were thwarted virtually before they began in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he broke slowly and then was forced to check because of the incident where Phileas Fogg cut in and caused a chain reaction that led to Mindframe unseating Irad Ortiz. Disarm eventually crossed the wire sixth, though he was placed fifth after Phileas Fogg's disqualification.

Mandarin Hero raced Sept. 17 at Oi in the Tokyo Kinen but never proved a threat. Settled last of 14 through much of the race, he passed a few tiring foes in the lane but finished 11th behind Marukan Lani.

Disarm returns to action and turns back in distance Saturday at Churchill Downs in the 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic, where he drew post 6 of 7. He will be joined by fellow 2023 Kentucky Derby alumnus Hit Show, who breaks from post 2. King Russell also lines up in the starting gate soon. He drew the rail in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on Sunday at Churchill.

2022 Kentucky Derby

A pair of horses from the 2022 Kentucky Derby field have seen recent action. Tawny Port raced twice during the Kentucky Downs meet, showing good form both times. On Aug. 30 he stretched out to 2 1/16 miles for the Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational. Settling at or near the rear for much of the race, he could not overcome Flatten the Curve getting the jump on him, but he chased on with interest for the place, 5 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Trainer Miguel Clement returned him to action Sept. 6 there, shortening him up to 1 1/2 miles for the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2). He chased midpack for much of the race and made another honest run in the lane, crossing the wire second behind the more forwardly placed Ole Crazy Bone.

White Abarrio had a troubled run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Aug. 31. He was caught in the chaos going into the first turn when Phileas Fogg cut inward and caused a chain reaction. Edgard Zayas lost an iron but managed to stay on White Abarrio, who also had to carry Mindframe's jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. briefly after he was unseated. He crossed the wire fifth behind Antiquarian but was moved up to fourth after the disqualification of Phileas Fogg. White Abarrio will train up to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Rattle N Roll returns to action Saturday for the first time since finishing eighth in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in April. The Kenny McPeek trainee drew post 3 in the seven-horse field for the Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, where he will race against his Kentucky Derby-winning stablemate Mystik Dan.

2021 Kentucky Derby

It has been a quiet month for the field of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Like the King is the only horse with a recent work, and that came a month and a half ago at Colonial Downs. 

2020 Kentucky Derby

Enforceable, who broke through at the Group 1 level two back, returned to action in the Clásico Baldomero Aspillaga (G3) at Monterrico on Aug. 31. The race covered 1 1/4 miles on the turf, not his usual surface. He chased in fifth early, racing a bit keenly. He was asked for a rally between horses around the far turn but continued to run on only evenly, crossing the wire fifth behind Boudica.