Get to know the 2019 Kentucky Derby contenders
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UPDATED after Tuesday's draw with post positions, morning-line odds, and final PPs.
Now that all the Kentucky Derby (G1) scoring races are in the books, and the points allocated, the field is set for the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
Here are the top 19 ranked in order of points on the leaderboard, plus the colt who earned the invitation by way of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, Master Fencer. For those horses who have scored the same number of points, non-restricted stakes earnings serve as the tiebreak.
Along with synopsis, connections, and basic pedigree, you can find a hyperlink to news and features regarding each contender. Detailed contender information, including BRIS Speed ratings, is available in the free Brisnet past performances for the Derby. (Click here for an explanation of how to read the past performances.)
Also be sure to check out the Kentucky Derby Study Materials compiled by Ed DeRosa and our entire Derby news category.
Now let’s meet the field for Derby 145:
Tacitus winning the Wood Memorial (c) NYRA/Coglianese Photography/Chelsea Durand
TACITUS (150 points), Post 8, 10-1
Blueblood vaulted to the top of the leaderboard by capturing both starts this year, the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2).
Owner: Juddmonte Farms; Trainer: Bill Mott; Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Pedigree: by Tapit-Close Hatches, by First Defence
OMAHA BEACH (137.5 points), Post 12, 4-1 morning line favorite - SCRATCHED
Omaha Beach captures the Arkansas Derby (c) Coady Photography/Oaklawn
Tactical speed proved a lethal weapon in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and second division of the Rebel (G2).
Owner: Fox Hill Farm; Trainer: Richard Mandella
Pedigree: by War Front-Charming, by Seeking the Gold
VEKOMA (110 points), Post 6, 20-1
Vekoma wins the Blue Grass (c) Keeneland/Coady Photography
Blue Grass (G2) winner was rebounding from his only career loss, a third in the Fountain of Youth (G2).
Owner: R.A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables; Trainer: George Weaver; Jockey: Javier Castellano
Pedigree: by Candy Ride-Mona de Momma, by Speightstown
PLUS QUE PARFAIT (104 points), Post 9, 30-1
Plus Que Parfait wins the UAE Derby (c) Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood
First U.S.-based horse to win the UAE Derby (G2) now hopes to buck stats against those who took the Dubai road to Louisville.
Owner: Imperial Racing; Trainer: Brendan Walsh; Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Pedigree: by Point of Entry-Belvedera, by Awesome Again
ROADSTER (100 points), Post 17, 6-1
Roadster takes the Santa Anita Derby © BENOIT PHOTO
Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, and initially buzzworthy juvenile, is two-for-two since minor surgery to correct a breathing issue.
Owner: Speedway Stable; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Florent Geroux
Pedigree: by Quality Road-Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost
BY MY STANDARDS (100 points), Post 3, 20-1
By My Standards wins the Louisiana Derby (c) Hodges Photography /Amanda Hodges Weir
Louisiana Derby (G2) upsetter was overlooked at 22-1 off his maiden score.
Owner: Allied Racing Stable; Trainer: Bret Calhoun; Jockey: Gabriel Saez
Pedigree: by Goldencents-A Jealous Woman, by Muqtarib
MAXIMUM SECURITY (100 points), Post 7, 10-1
Maximum Security scores in the Florida Derby (c) Coglianese Photography/Leslie Martin
Unbeaten Florida Derby (G1) hero has come a long way from his $16,000 maiden claiming score to emerge as a surprise second contender for owners of Game Winner.
Owner: Gary & Mary West; Trainer: Jason Servis; Jockey: Luis Saez
Pedigree: by New Year’s Day-Lil Indy, by Anasheed
GAME WINNER (85 points), Post 16, 5-1
Game Winner clinched a championship in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (c) Coady Photography
Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion didn’t miss by much to stablemate Roadster in the Santa Anita Derby and to Omaha Beach in the second division of the Rebel.
Owner: Gary & Mary West; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Joel Rosario
Pedigree: by Candy Ride-Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy
Code of Honor captures the Fountain of Youth (c) Coglianese Photography/Leslie Martin
CODE OF HONOR (74 points), Post 13, 15-1
Fountain of Youth winner fared best of the closers when third in a “merry-go-round” Florida Derby.
Owner: William S. Farish; Trainer: Shug McGaughey; Jockey: John Velazquez
Pedigree: by Noble Mission-Reunited, by Dixie Union
Haikal wins the Gotham (c) Coglianese Photography/Joe Labozzetta
HAIKAL (70 points), Post 11, 30-1 - SCRATCHED
Closing kick got him up in time in the Gotham (G3) but had to settle for third in the Wood.
Owner: Shadwell Stable; Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin; Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Pedigree: by Daaher-Sablah, by Distorted Humor
Improbable wins the Los Alamitos Futurity © BENOIT PHOTO
IMPROBABLE (65 points), Post 5, 6-1
Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) romper still looks like a work in progress after runner-up finishes in the Arkansas Derby and first Rebel division.
Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & Starlight Racing; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Pedigree: by City Zip-Rare Event, by A.P. Indy
WAR OF WILL (60 points), Post 1, 20-1
War of Will wins the Risen Star at Fair Grounds (c) Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.
Risen Star (G2) and Lecomte (G3) winner suffered his first dirt loss in the Louisiana Derby, where he was ninth after tweaking something in an awkward start, but back on worktab since.
Owner: Gary Barber; Trainer: Mark Casse; Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Pedigree: by War Front-Visions of Clarity, by Sadler’s Wells
Long Range Toddy (outside) takes the first Rebel division (c) Coady Photography/Oaklawn Park
LONG RANGE TODDY (53.5 points), Post 18, 30-1
Upset winner of first Rebel division over Improbable regressed to sixth in the Arkansas Derby, his first race on a sloppy track.
Owner: Willis Horton Racing; Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Jon Court
Pedigree: by Take Charge Indy-Pleasant Song, by Unbridled’s Song
Tax guts out the Withers (c) NYRA/Coglianese/Viola Jasko
TAX (52 points), Post 2, 20-1
Withers (G3) winner backed up that effort with a clear second in the Wood.
Owner: R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch & Corms Racing Stable; Trainer: Danny Gargan; Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Pedigree: by Arch-Toll, by Giant’s Causeway
Cutting Humor takes the Sunland Park Derby (c) Coady Photography/Sunland Park
CUTTING HUMOR (50 points), Post 10, 30-1
Sunland Park Derby (G3) hero booked his spot in track-record time.
Owner: Starlight Racing; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Mike Smith
Pedigree: by First Samurai-Pun, by Pulpit
Win Win Win set a track record in the Pasco at Tampa (c) SV Photography
WIN WIN WIN (50 points), Post 14, 15-1
Troubled Blue Grass runner-up was previously third in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Owner: Live Oak Plantation; Trainer: Mike Trombetta; Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Pedigree: by Hat Trick-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones
Country House (c) Coady Photography/Oaklawn
COUNTRY HOUSE (50 points), Post 20, 30-1
Risen Star runner-up, only fourth in the Louisiana Derby, got back in the game with a third in the Arkansas Derby.
Owner: Mrs. J.V. Shields, E.J.M. McFadden Jr. & LNJ Foxwoods; Trainer: Bill Mott; Jockey: Flavien Prat
Pedigree: by Lookin at Lucky-Quake Lake, by War Chant
Gray Magician (c) Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood
GRAY MAGICIAN (41 points), Post 4, 50-1
UAE Derby runner-up had looked an unlikely Derby candidate before stepping up on Dubai World Cup night.
Owner: Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber; Trainer: Peter Miller; Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Pedigree: by Graydar-Burg Berg, by Johannesburg
Spinoff (left) places in the Louisiana Derby Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.
SPINOFF (40 points), Post 19, 30-1
Louisiana Derby runner-up appeared on the way to victory but flattened out late after a wide trip.
Owner: Wertheimer et Frere; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Manny Franco
Pedigree: by Hard Spun-Zaftig, by Gone West
Master Fencer was fourth on the Japan Road points list but the top scorer among Triple Crown nominees (c) Akio Takahashi
MASTER FENCER (Japan Road invitee), Post 15, 50-1
Runner-up in the last scoring race at Nakayama becomes the first Japanese-bred Derby contestant.
Owner: Katsumi & Yasuyo Yoshizawa; Trainer: Koichi Tsunoda; Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Pedigree: by Just a Way-Sexy Zamurai, by Deputy Minister
BODEXPRESS (40 points), 30-1, drew in as also-eligible
Maiden finished second in the Florida Derby at odds of 71-1.
Owner: Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred & GDS Racing Stable; Trainer: Gustavo Delgado; Jockey: Chris Landeros
Pedigree: by Bodemeister-Pied a Terre, by City Zip
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