Kentucky Derby tracker: Find out latest on 22 alumni

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.

2025 Kentucky Derby

Two horses from the 2025 Kentucky Derby have raced in the last two weeks, both in Japan and both in the same race. Luxor Cafe and Admire Daytona both returned to the track in the Musashino Stakes, a dirt mile at Tokyo on Saturday. Luxor Cafe, breaking from the far outside post in the field of 16, tracked a few lengths off the pace for much of the race but quickened well approaching the furlong mark and won by 3 1/2 lengths over favored Costa Nova. Admire Daytona saved ground midfield but came up empty in the lane and finished 14th.

Publisher, unraced since finishing fourth in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) in September, drops out of the graded-stakes ranks for the first time since his juvenile year. He drew post 6 of seven in a maiden special weight race Thursday, covering 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The Steve Asmussen trainee is the 6-5 favorite on the morning line.

2024 Kentucky Derby

The top three horses past the wire in the Breeders' Cup Classic all were alumni of the 2024 Kentucky Derby. They were the same top three from the 2024 Classic, but in a different order: Forever Young got the jump on Sierra Leone and turned the tables, with Fierceness chasing home third. Sierra Leone and Fierceness have been retired to stud, but Forever Young will stay in training with a Breeders' Cup Classic repeat attempt as his long-term goal.

The only other horse from the 2024 Kentucky Derby field entered at the Breeders' Cup was Derby winner Mystik Dan, who was entered in the Dirt Mile. He was scratched, however, and was retired to stud at Airdrie.

Six other entrants from the 2024 Kentucky Derby have raced in recent weeks. Two competed in graded-stakes company. Honor Marie raced in the Fayette (G3) at Keeneland on Oct. 25. He settled well off the pace, passed a few horses down the lane and finished sixth behind Hit Show. Encino, switching back to grass after a win on the Tapeta at Presque Isle in September, finished ninth in the River City (G3) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8. He raced keenly early, tracked in range but ultimately flattened out down the stretch.

Four others recently raced in allowance company. Catching Freedom was second in a race at Keeneland, Epic Ride was third at Churchill, Resilience was fifth at Churchill and Catalytic was seventh at Keeneland. Catching Freedom will try to go one better on Friday, when he is entered for an allowance-optional claiming race at Churchill Downs. He drew post 7 of eight and has been named the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. 

2023 Kentucky Derby

A trio of horses from the 2023 Kentucky Derby have raced in recent weeks. Hit Show won for the fourth time this year and the 11th time in his consistent career Oct. 25, when he won the Fayette (G3) at Keeneland for the second year in a row. The Brad Cox trainee chased midpack early, rallied to the lead past the furlong mark and had enough to hold off late-running Rattle N Roll to win by a length.

On Nov. 9, Derma Sotogake raced for the first time since February. Settled toward the rear early in a muddy edition of the nine-furlong Miyako (G3) at Kyoto, he passed a few late to finish eighth behind winner W Heart Bond.

King Russell raced in an allowance-level dirt mile Friday at Remington. He battled for the lead and crossed the wire second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Victory for Vets, but he bore out midstretch, bumped last-place finisher Classic Cut and was disqualified to seventh and last as a result of that incident. 

2022 Kentucky Derby

One horse from the 2022 Kentucky Derby field raced at the Breeders' Cup. Tawny Port, in some of the best form of his life, was entered in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He settled near the rear of the field and picked off a few in the lane but was ninth across the wire, 7 3/4 lengths behind Ethical Diamond. White Abarrio also was entered in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, but was scratched before the race. He is expected to stay in training in 2026.

Rattle N Roll also raced recently, contesting the Fayette at Keeneland on Oct. 25. He improved second off a long summer layoff. Though he had a rough beginning and trailed in last most of the race, he rallied with good interest and crossed the wire second in the field of 11, just a length behind Hit Show.

2021 Kentucky Derby

Unraced since the summer, Like the King returned to the work tab Oct. 25 at Palm Meadows. He has had two recent published drills, with the most recent being a four-furlong breeze on the dirt at Palm Meadows on Nov. 8.

2020 Kentucky Derby

Enforceable traveled to Brazil and switched to the grass to face top horses from South America in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano at Gavea on Oct. 18. He was hard to settle early while tracking toward the front of the field in the 1 1/4-mile race, but he flattened out through the far turn and down the lane. He ultimately finished 12th in the field of 16, behind Brazil-based Obataye.

Necker Island, unraced since September 2024, has officially been retired to stud. The 10-time winner and millionaire, a son of Hard Spun, will stand for $3,000 at Breakway Farm in Indiana for the 2026 season.