Kentucky Derby 2024 odds, horses, jockeys and complete bettor’s guide

An inside look at how the 150th Kentucky Derby will shape up:

1. Dornoch (20-1)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Current form: Used early speed to win three in a row including the Fountain of Youth. Never made the lead in the Blue Grass and finished a flat fourth to Sierra Leone.

Worth a wager: One of the winter book favorites. Better value now after disappointing in final prep. Luis Saez has got to get him out fast from the rail which may compromise his stamina. Tired fifth.

2. Sierra Leone (3-1)

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Trainer: Chad Brown

Current form: Stretch-running monster came out of the clouds to win the Risen Star and the Blue Grass. Tough to load the gate and doesn’t leave it well either.

Worth a wager: Is it Chad Brown’s day to win the Derby? Didn’t appreciate the crowd noise at Keeneland but knows where the finish line is. Saves ground leaving from inside, gets free on the backstretch and finishes second.

3. Mystik Dan (20-1)

Jockey: Brian Hernandez

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Current form: Won the Southwest by eight widening lengths before racing evenly for third behind the banned Bob Baffert’s Muth in the Arkansas Derby.

Worth a wager: Check the conditions because Dan is your mud horse. Loved the slop in the Southwest where he drew a fig of 101. Closes well to be sixth.

4. Catching Freedom (8-1)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Trainer: Brad Cox

Current form: Ran third behind Sierra Leone in the Risen Star. Stretched to 1 3/16 miles and rallied from last of 11 to win the Louisiana Derby.

Worth a wager: Getting better with every race and we know he can get the distance. Freedom catches most of the speed horses and gets up for fourth.

5. Catalytic (30-1)

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Current form: Fought Fierceness early in the Florida Derby, gave way and held on for second at 29-1, some 14 lengths back. Lightly raced with one win from three starts.

Worth a wager: Catalytic couldn’t convert at Gulfstream and not sure he wants more ground. Rider change to Jose Ortiz. Doesn’t help. A tired 15th.

6. Just Steel (20-1)

Jockey: Keith Asmussen

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Current form: Strong second at 32-1 between Muth and Mystik Dan in the Arkansas Derby after losing to Dan in the rain-soaked Southwest.

Worth a wager: Can’t have a Derby without D. Wayne Lukas. There have been 149 of them and he’s had a horse in 49, winning four. Make it 4-for-50. Mid-pack 10th.

7. Honor Marie (20-1)

Jockey: Ben Curtis

Trainer: Whit Beckman

Current form: Trailed early before finishing an energetic second behind Catching Freedom in the Louisiana Derby. A half dozen behind Sierra Leone in the Risen Star previously.

Worth a wager: Not the best stretch runner in the field. Won a Grade 2 at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old and should make a belated run here to be 11th.

8. Just a Touch (10-1)

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Trainer: Brad Cox

Current form: Is 0-for-2 this year. Took second in both the Gotham at Aqueduct and in the Blue Grass, where he was passed late by the freight train named Sierra Leone.

Worth a wager: Not Fierceness fast, but he will be forwardly placed and in the mix early. Wilts, settles for eighth.

10. T O Password (10-1)

Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi

Current form: Japanese colt went 2-for-2 before shipping to the States. Both races, including a 225k, were contested at 9 panels.

Worth a wager: Tired, desperate winner last out. Clocked a half mile in :46.2 over the Churchill Downs strip but not convinced he wants another furlong. The Password is: Pass. 16th.

11. Forever Young (10-1)

Jockey: Ryusai Sakai

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Current form: The other, more-seasoned Japanese import. He’s 5-for-5 after winning the UAE Derby, at this distance from well off the pace.

Worth a wager: Remember Derma Sotogake and Mubtaahij? Of course you don’t. They are just two of the 19 UAE Derby winners who failed miserably at Churchill Downs. Needs a clean trip and I mean clean as he doesn’t enjoy dirt/mud kicked in his face. Can he outkick Sierra Leone? Winner.

12. Track Phantom (20-1)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Current form: Showed the way in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby before watching Sierra Leone and Catching Freedom roll on by.

Worth a wager: Lots of speed in this Derby field and Steve Asmussen’s colt will be forwardly placed. Puts blinkers on to keep him focused. Not sure it will be a difference-maker. A tired 12th.

13. West Saratoga (50-1)

Jockey: Jesus Castanon

Trainer: Larry Demeritte

Current form: Punched his ticket to the Derby by finishing second at 36-1 to Endlessly in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Won the Iroquois mile at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old but is 0-for-4 since.

Worth a wager: Tough spot. Not as fast as the speed horses and can’t kick like the late-kickers. Maybe West will be better at Saratoga this summer. Last of 20.

14. Endlessly (30-1)

Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Current form: Has won five of six but has never raced on dirt. Three grass wins and 2-for-2 on synthetic surfaces including the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

Worth a wager: Connections weren’t sure. But after finishing full of run in the JR they will give it a go. If you believe the wild card will take to the dirt you will be rewarded. We have him 14th.

15. Domestic Product (30-1)

Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Trainer: Chad Brown

Current form: Powered from off the pace to nip a suspect bunch in the Tampa Bay Derby. The fig was underwhelming.

Worth a wager: That was on March 9 so he is the most rested horse in the field. Irad Ortiz will ride as Tyler Gaffalione stays on Sierra Leone. Smart move. Races evenly, checks in 13th.

Kentucky Derby 2024 Betting: Everything you need

16. Grand Mo The First (50-1)

Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo

Trainer: Victor Barboza

Current form: Close third to Domestic Product in the TB Derby then a more distant third to Fierceness in the Florida Derby.

Worth a wager: Earned enough Derby points with the pair of thirds. Does best racing early but so does more than half of this field. Grand Mo won’t be first. How about 18th?

17. Fierceness (5-2)

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Current form: In a word, fierce. Took charge from the get-go in the Florida Derby and never looked back, winning by more than a dozen lengths. Five starts but has never won two in a row.

Worth a wager: Reunited and it feels so good. Mike Repole, Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez have won a few big races. Outside post is a plus but can he get the distance and record back-to-back Ws. A game third.

18. Stronghold (20-1)

Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Trainer: Phil D’Amato

Current form: Sat just off the pacesetters to win the Sunland and a watered-down Santa Anita Derby.

Worth a wager: Won the Santa Anita by a game neck, but not impressed with the competition in those two preps. Will certainly have to step up here. Not convinced he will. Ninth.

19. Resilience (20-1)

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Trainer: Bill Mott

Current form: Finished 3 ¹/₂ lengths behind Sierra Leone in the Risen Star before winning the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Worth a wager: Saddled by Hall-of-Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, who has won some big races recently, including the Saudi Cup. The last Wood winner to win the Derby: Funny Cide in 2003. A resilient seventh.

20. Society Man (50-1)

Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Current form: Was entered in the Wood Memorial off a maiden breaker and ran a surprising second at 106-1 to Resilience.

Worth a wager: From a maiden at Aqueduct in March to the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May? World-class jock Frankie Dettori rides. Not last but 19th.

21. Epic Ride (30-1)

Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Trainer: John Ennis

Current form: Took third prize in the Blue Grass at 51-1, about five lengths back of Sierra Leone.

Worth a wager: Drew in when Encino bailed out. In the mix early but stops and lands 17th.