April 25, 2024

Get to know the 2020 Kentucky Derby contenders

The Kentucky Derby trophy (c) Coady Photography/Churchill Downs

***UPDATED with post positions, morning-line odds, and free PPs link

The 146th Kentucky Derby (G1) is a “Run for the Roses” like no other, postponed to Sept. 5 and staged without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But America’s iconic race still goes forward.

The points leaderboard is complete after all the scoring races, and several defections from the top 20 have occurred. Pneumatic, who is targeting the Oct. 3 Preakness (G1), and the filly Swiss Skydiver, who is bound for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1), were long expected. But Dr Post, the injured Caracaro, and the coughing Shirl’s Speight are also out. On Sunday came the news that Rushie is pursuing the Pat Day Mile (G2) instead, and the morning of the draw Tuesday, the likely second favorite Art Collector was ruled out by an ill-timed foot issue.

Here is the field for Derby 146, in points order. For details, stats, and Speed ratings, check out the free Brisnet PPs.

Tiz the Law (372 points), Post 17, 3-5 fav

Tiz The Law
Tiz the Law wins the Travers (Horsephotos)

Hot favorite has romped in all four starts this year including the Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1).

Owner: Sackatoga Stable; Trainer: Barclay Tagg; Jockey: Manny Franco

Pedigree: Constitution-Tizfiz, by Tiznow

Tiz the Law news

 

 

Authentic (200 points), Post 18, 8-1

Authentic winning the San Felipe Stakes
Authentic wins the San Felipe (Benoit Photo)

Last-out Haskell (G1) winner was rebounding from his lone career loss in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Owners: Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables & Starlight Racing; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: John Velazquez

Pedigree: Into Mischief-Flawless, by Mr. Greeley

Authentic news

 

Honor A. P. (140 points), Post 16, 5-1

Honor A. P.
Honor A. P. wins the Santa Anita Derby (c) Benoit Photo

Santa Anita Derby victor was a rallying second in his final prep, the Shared Belief.

Owner: C R K Stable; Trainer: John Shirreffs; Jockey: Mike Smith

Pedigree: Honor Code-Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush

Honor A. P. news

 

 

Ny Traffic (110 points), Post 15, 20-1

Authentic just holds Ny Traffic in the Haskell (Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

Haskell near-misser has placed in four straight points races.

Owners: John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing & Paul Braverman; Trainer: Saffie Joseph; Jockey: Paco Lopez

Pedigree: Cross Traffic-Mamie Reilly, by Graeme Hall

Ny Traffic news

 

 

King Guillermo (90 pts), Post 6, 20-1 – SCR

King Guillermo wins the Tampa Bay Derby
King Guillermo wins the Tampa Bay Derby (SV Photography)

Tampa Bay Derby (G2) upsetter, last seen finishing second in an Arkansas Derby (G1) division, was scratched from Derby 146 with a fever.

Owner: Victoria’s Ranch; Trainer: Juan Carlos Avila; Jockey: Samy Camacho

Pedigree: Uncle Mo-Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band

King Guillermo news

 

 

 

Thousand Words (83 points), Post 10, 15-1

Thousand Words captured the Bob Lewis, giving Bob Baffert his 3,000th win © Benoit Photo

Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and Robert B. Lewis (G3) hero returned to winning form in the Shared Belief.

Owners: Albaugh Family Stable & Spendthrift Farm; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Florent Geroux

Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile-Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy

Thousand Words news

 

Max Player (60 points), Post 2, 30-1

Max Player wins the Withers (NYRA/Coglianese/Chelsea Durand)

Withers winner has since placed third in both the Belmont and Travers.

Owners: George Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.; Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Ricardo Santana

Pedigree: Honor Code-Fools in Love, by Not for Love

Max Player news

 

 

Enforceable (43 points), Post 3, 30-1

Enforceable captured the Lecomte on the Fair Grounds Road to the Derby (Hodges Photography)

Late-running Lecomte (G3) winner prepped with a fourth in the Blue Grass

Owner: John Oxley; Trainer: Mark Casse; Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Pedigree: Tapit-Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union

Enforceable news

 

 

Major Fed (38 points), Post 5, 50-1

Major Fed works at Churchill Aug. 18 (Coady Photography)

Risen Star (G2) runner-up exits a troubled second in the Indiana Derby (G3).

Owner: Lloyd Madison Farms IV; Trainer: Greg Foley; Jockey: James Graham

Pedigree: Ghostzapper-Bobby’s Babe, by Smart Strike

Major Fed news

 

 

 

Storm the Court (36 points), Post 4, 50-1

Storm the Court (right) narrowly prevailed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
© BENOIT PHOTO

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) shocker has gone 0-for-5 since.

Owners: David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock & Susanna Wilson; Trainer: Peter Eurton; Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Pedigree: Court Vision-My Tejana Storm, by Tejano Run

Storm the Court news

 

Attachment Rate (35 points), Post 13, 50-1

Attachment Rate (left) was second to Dr Post in the Unbridled (Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson)

Ellis Park Derby runner-up comes off his best result in a points race.

Owners: Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister; Trainer: Dale Romans; Jockey: Joe Talamo

Pedigree: Hard Spun-Aristra, by Afleet Alex

Attachment Rate news

 

 

 

 

Sole Volante (30 points), Post 12, 30-1

Sole Volante posted a 2 1/2-length win in the Sam F. Davis (c) Tampa Bay Downs/S V Photography

Sam F. Davis (G3) victor was most recently a subpar sixth in the Belmont.

Owners: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing & Andie Biancone; Trainer: Patrick Biancone; Jockey: Luca Panici

Pedigree: Karakontie-Light Blow, by Kingmambo

Sole Volante news

 

Finnick the Fierce (25 pts), Post 1 – SCR

Finnick the Fierce at Oaklawn (Coady Photography)

Runner-up here in last fall’s Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), who had an excuse when seventh in the Blue Grass, scratched on Friday.

Owners: Arnaldo Monge & Rey Hernandez; Trainer: Rey Hernandez; Jockey: Martin Garcia

Pedigree: Dialed In-Southern Classic, by Southern Image

Finnick the Fierce news

 

 

 

Winning Impression (20 pts), Post 14, 50-1

Winning Impression finished first in an Apr. 4 Oaklawn allowance, but was disqualified and placed fifth (c) Coady Photography

Arkansas Derby third (promoted by disqualification of Charlatan) has been well beaten in next two.

Owners: West Point Thoroughbreds & Pearl Racing; Trainer: Dallas Stewart; Jockey: Joe Rocco

Pedigree: Paynter-Unbridled Sonya, by Unbridled’s Song

Winning Impression news

 

 

South Bend (18 points), Post 8, 50-1

South Bend finally got room to stay unbeaten in the Street Sense at Churchill Downs
South Bend won the Street Sense (Coady Photography)

Ohio Derby (G3) runner-up and Travers fourth was a surprise addition to the field on Tuesday

Owners: Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch & Pantofel Stable; Trainer: Bill Mott; Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Pedigree: Algorithms-Sandra’s Rose, by Old Trieste

South Bend news

 

 

Necker Island (14 points), Post 11, 50-1

Necker Island broke his maiden at Churchill (Coady Photography)

Indiana and Ellis Park Derby third appears to be on upswing for new connections.

Owners: Raymond Daniels & Wayne Scherr; Trainer: Chris Hartman; Jockey: Miguel Mena

Pedigree: Hard Spun-Jenny’s Rocket, by Mr. Greeley

Necker Island news

 

 

 

Mr. Big News (0 points), Post 9, 50-1

Mr. Big News upset the Oaklawn Stakes (Coady Photography)

Oaklawn S. upsetter, sixth in the Blue Grass, was slated for the American Turf (G2) on Derby Day before a late change of plan.

Owner: Allied Racing Stable; Trainer: Bret Calhoun; Jockey: Gabriel Saez

Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway-Unappeased, by Galileo

Mr. Big News news

 

 

Money Moves (0 points), Post 7, 30-1

Money Moves wins a Gulfstream allowance (Lauren King/Coglianese Photos)

Winner of two of three lifetime has yet to try stakes company.

Owners: Robert V. LaPenta & Bortolazzo Stable; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Javier Castellano

Pedigree: Candy Ride-Citizen Advocate, by Proud Citizen

Money Moves news

 

4 Comments on Get to know the 2020 Kentucky Derby contenders

    • Due to travel restrictions, both Ortiz brothers will reportedly stay to ride at Saratoga during the final week of its meet rather than ride Derby Week at Churchill.

    • Due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prat is one of several notable jockeys not competing in the Derby this year. He will ride at Del Mar this weekend.

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