After a four-month delay, the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be held Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs as the second leg of an unprecedented Triple Crown that was rearranged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the postponement, which was announced by Churchill Downs executives in March in hopes that the pandemic would lessen in severity through the summer months, the 146^th Derby will still be significantly altered as no spectators will be allowed at the track and all essential personnel will have to undergo testing and adopt rigorous safety protocols.

That being said, the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby still promises to be what it always is, year after year: the high point of the North American racing calendar. Many of the 3-year-olds that resided in the upper echelon of Derby contenders during the early months of this year have been sidelined or retired – but leading winter-book Derby favorite Tiz the Law has navigated an extended prep season with astounding success, and the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets and Runhappy Travers Stakes winner headlines a solid field of Derby contenders lined up to vie for a permanent spot in racing history.

The $3 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby anchors a Saturday racecard at Churchill Downs that includes six other graded stakes.

NBC will broadcast the Kentucky Derby live as part of a five-hour broadcast from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET.

Follow America’s Best Racing’s Triple Crown page and social media feeds (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) for the latest information on the Derby as well as live streaming shows and feature stories.

Read on for information on all of the contenders in ABR's 2020 Kentucky Derby Cheat Sheet.

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1. Finnick the Fierce (SCRATCHED)

Jockey: Martin Garcia

Trainer: Rey Hernandez

Owners: Arnaldo Monge and Rey Hernandez

Career record: 9 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $191,290

Earnings per start: $21,254

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 99

Kentucky Derby points: 25

Pedigree: Dialed In – Southern Classic, by Southern Image

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This gelding has the distinction of being the only contender in the Kentucky Derby that has finished ahead of Tiz the Law in a race. That came back on Nov. 30, when Finnick the Fierce rallied late to nab second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on a sloppy Churchill Downs track, three quarters of a length behind winner Silver Prospector and a head in front of Tiz the Law. He went off at odds of 87.90-1 in the Kentucky Jockey Club, but gained some respect in that race and has continued on the Derby trail throughout the spring and summer, with his best showing this year coming when finishing third behind Nadal and King Guillermo in the second division of the Arkansas Derby on May 2 (at 62.20-1 odds). In his two starts since then, Finnick the Fierce competed against highly regarded Art Collector twice, finishing third to him in a June allowance/optional claiming race at Churchill (only four horses started) and then a well-beaten seventh in the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Art Collector withdrew from the Derby due to a minor injury, but Tiz the Law and horses such as Honor A. P. and Authentic make Saturday's field tougher than any he's ever faced. Finnick the Fierce can usually be counted on to give an honest effort and keep competing through the stretch in his races – the problem is, his best effort is decidedly a cut below those of most of his Derby opponents. On the other hand, as a closer drawing the rail post position should not have a major effect on his running style. This will be the first Derby appearance for co-owner Arnaldo Monge and co-owner and trainer Rey Hernandez. Martin Garcia has had four Derby starters, and his best finish came aboard third-place Dortmund in 2015. 

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2. Max Player (30-1)

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Owners: George and Lori Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds

Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $373,500

Earnings per start: $74,700

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 105

Kentucky Derby points: 60

Pedigree: Honor Code – Fools In Love, by Not for Love

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Max Player will make his first start for trainer Steve Asmussen in the Kentucky Derby after knocking heads with Tiz the Law in his two most recent starts while conditioned by Linda Rice. He jumped on the Triple Crown trail back on Feb. 1 with a 3 ¼-length win in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct and then was patiently managed by Rice over the next 4 ½ months before returning in the postponed Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on June 20. He made up some late ground to finish third in the shortened 1 1/8-mile Belmont, 5 ¼  lengths behind Tiz the Law, and basically replicated that effort in his final Derby start, the 1 ¼-mile Runhappy Travers Stakes, checking in third again to his Belmont conqueror by 7 ½ lengths. Those results indicate that Max Player has a lot of improving to do in order to topple Tiz the Law in the Kentucky Derby, but on the positive side he’s already settled in at Churchill Downs for Asmussen and has posted two good workouts through Aug. 27. Furthermore, this Honor Code colt is a grinder whose already raced at a mile and a quarter, and he stands a good chance to pick off quite a few forwardly-placed Derby horses through the stretch as they tire and he gets into gear. Those qualities make him a solid exacta and trifecta filler in this year’s run for the roses, albeit an outsider as a win candidate. Co-owners George and Lori Hall have sent three prior horses to the Derby, finishing ninth twice. Hall of Famer Asmussen, who became the all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs earlier this year, has finished second twice in the Derby with Nehro in 2011 and Lookin At Lee in 2017; he’s also finished third twice. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be making his sixth Derby start, and fifth in a row. His best finish came last year when Plus Que Parfait checked in eighth.

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3. Enforceable (30-1)

Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Trainer: Mark Casse

Owner: John Oxley

Career record: 10 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $397,150

Earnings per start: $39,715

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 97

Kentucky Derby points: 43

Pedigree: Tapit – Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Enforceable moved up many Derby watchers’ rankings in January with a sharp 1 ½-length score in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds and maintained his status in his next start after running second behind unchallenged pacesetter Mr. Monomoy in a division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford. Since then, however, he’s fallen off the Derby radar to a large extent, posting nonthreatening fifth- and fourth-place finishes in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, respectively. This son of top sire Tapit does have a good stamina pedigree and experience on the main track at Churchill Downs, having made three starts under the Twin Spires last year as a juvenile, including a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Tiz the Law finished third). He’s also been training well at Churchill for Mark Casse in recent weeks. Still, Enforceable is a deep closer who will need many things to go his way to have a chance at hitting the board come Saturday, and he’s yet to top the triple-digit Equibase Speed Figure mark through 10 starts. Filling out the superfecta against this tough field appears to be his ceiling. John Oxley owned 2001 Derby winner Monarchos, whose final time of 1:59.97 is second-fastest to Secretariat’s 1:59.40 in the race’s history. Casse, newly inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame, will saddle his eighth Derby starter this year, his best finish coming in 2017 when Classic Empire (owned by Oxley) finished fourth. England-born jockey Adam Beschizza will be making his Derby debut.

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4. Storm the Court (50-1)

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Trainer: Peter Eurton

Owners: David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson

Career record: 9 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $1,310, 451

Earnings per start: $145,606

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 106

Kentucky Derby points: 36

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

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Last year’s TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court enters the Kentucky Derby having been unable to recapture his World Championships form through five starts this year. He could very well approach the 45.90-1 odds he had in the Juvenile in Saturday’s Derby, although horseplayers looking for a positive angle can point to his two most recent starts, when he closed late to nab third in the Ohio Derby in June and then finished second in the La Jolla Handicap on turf on Aug. 9. Truthfully, he’s only had one outright bad race since his breakthrough in the Breeders’ Cup – a sixth-place finish in the second division of the Arkansas Derby back in May – but overall, Storm the Court hasn’t been competitive as a 3-year-old when matching up against horses such as Authentic, Honor A. P., and the now-retired Nadal in races earlier this year. In most of his races, he usually stalks the pace in midpack, but may be better served in the Kentucky Derby by sitting farther back and making one run under new rider Julien Leparoux. Kentucky-based Leparoux makes his 12^th Derby appearance Saturday; his best finish came aboard fourth-place Classic Empire in 2017. Peter Eurton returns to the Derby for the second time after Dance With Fate finished sixth in 2014. This is the first Derby start for Storm the Court’s ownership group.

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5. Major Fed (50-1)

Jockey: James Graham

Trainer: Greg Foley

Owner: Lloyd Madison Farms IV

Career record: 6 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $215,600

Earnings per start: $35,933

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 96

Kentucky Derby points: 38

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

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: With Art Collector's late defection, Major Fed stands as the hometown hope for Derby 146, being based at Churchill Downs and with local connections. He’s a longshot candidate who turned heads with a sharp win back on New Year’s Day at Fair Grounds (his second career start) and then progressed nicely to run second behind Modernist in a division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford on February. Major Fed was compromised somewhat by outside posts in his next two starts – a rallying fourth in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and a no-show 10th in the Matt Winn Stakes – but regained some of his early 2020 form in his final Derby prep when second in the Indiana Derby on July 8. This son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper has been training well at Churchill Downs since his last start and should be making up some late ground in the stretch, but his best speed figures are well below those of top-tier (or even middle-tier) contenders and he’d need many unlikely scenarios to occur to fill out the Kentucky Derby trifecta, much less win the race. This will be the first Derby for the ownership syndicate Lloyd Madison Farms IV and trainer Greg Foley. Jockey James Graham rode Lone Sailor to an eighth-place finish in the 2018 Derby.

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6. King Guillermo (SCRATCHED)

Jockey: Samy Camacho

Trainer: Juan Avila

Owner: Victoria’s Ranch

Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Career earnings: $340,350

Earnings per start: $68,070

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 110

Kentucky Derby points: 90

Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: King Guillermo is the true wild card in this year’s Kentucky Derby, following an unorthodox path to the run for the roses under the guidance of trainer Juan Avila. The Derby will be only his third start of 2020, and his first since he ran second behind Nadal in the second division of the Arkansas Derby, which was held on the Kentucky Derby’s original date of May 2. King Guillermo jumped on the Triple Crown trail back in March with a blowout win in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby over Sole Volante, scoring by 4 ¾ lengths at odds of 49.20-1 and showing a new dimension coming back after a three month-plus layoff. In the Arkansas Derby, he was no match for Nadal, losing by three lengths, but it’s worth remembering that that now-retired colt was ranked either No. 1 or 2 in most Derby watchers’ contenders lists at that time. Since the Arkansas Derby, this son of Uncle Mo has trained steadily at Gulfstream Park and Churchill Downs while the other Kentucky Derby contenders continued to compete in prep races – and in recent weeks he has caught the eye of Churchill backstretch attendees with visually impressive workouts. In particular, his Aug. 15 and Aug. 22 five-furlong drills under the Twin Spires (each coming in under a minute) have generated major buzz. If those workouts are indeed reflective of a new step forward in development, King Guillermo stands an upset chance against top Derby contenders Tiz the Law and Honor A. P., and his pace-pressing running style should be an advantage in this field. This will be the first Kentucky Derby for all of King Guillermo’s connections – jockey Samy Camacho, trainer Avila, and owner Victor Martinez, a retired five-time Major League Baseball All-Star who named King Guillermo after his late father. UPDATE: Trainer Juan Avila announced on the afternoon of Sept. 3 that King Guillermo would miss the Kentucky Derby with a fever.

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7. Money Moves (30-1)

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Robert LaPenta and Bortolazzo Stable

Career record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $67,400

Earnings per start: $22,467

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: Candy Ride – Citizen Advocate, by Proud Citizen

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Despite not having a single Kentucky Derby qualifying point, Money Moves is Louisville-bound after a late decision by his owners, one of many odd occurrences in this unprecedented year. Based on his limited racing career, he should receive some support at the betting windows as a high-odds contender to use in exacta and trifecta bets with Tiz the Law, Honor A. P., and Authentic – or, for the more adventurous, as a possible upsetter. He did not make his first start until February 2020 but turned heads at Gulfstream Park with a 1 ¼-length score in a six furlong maiden on a sloppy track, and then backed that up with an even more visually impressive 2 ¾-length score in a March 27 allowance/optional claiming race going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream. Money Moves did not race again until July 25, and returned in a 1 1/8-mile allowance/optional claiming race competing against older horses at Saratoga Race Course. He ran very well off of the four-month layoff while stretching out around two turns, fighting gamely in the stretch and losing by a neck to 5-year-old gelding Prioritize, a stakes-placed earner of more than $240,000. This son of elite sire Candy Ride boosted his top Equibase Speed Figure over 20 points to 109 in that defeat, and it’s safe to say that having made only three career starts, he’s loaded with potential for even more improvement. He’s taking a huge class leap by starting in the Kentucky Derby, and seeing how Money Moves responds to that challenge will be one of many intriguing subplots in this year’s race. Co-owner Robert LaPenta has owned several Derby horses either alone or in partnership. His best finish came in 2010, when Ice Box (owned solely by LaPenta) came in second. Todd Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice from a record 54 starters with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017. He’s also finished second twice and third four times. Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano has yet to win the Derby from 13 prior starters. His best finish came in 2018 when Audible finished third.

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8. South Bend (50-1)

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Trainer: Bill Mott

Owners: Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch, and Pantofel Stable

Career record: 12 starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $390,114

Earnings per start: $32,510

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 103

Kentucky Derby points: 18

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

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: South Bend was entered in the Kentucky Derby on the morning of Sept. 1, just hours before the race was drawn. He profiles as a one-run closer who will sit near the rear of the 18-horse field and bide his time until well into the far turn before making his rally. In his last start before the Derby, he improved through the stretch to finish fourth in the Runhappy Travers Stakes, but he was still 9 ½ lengths behind Tiz the Law (and two lengths behind third-place Max Player). One start prior to that, he closed well to finish second by three-quarters of a length to Dean Martini in the June 27 Ohio Derby. South Bend had started five times on turf before his Ohio Derby run but does have good back form on dirt at Churchill Downs, having won two races on that surface as a juvenile in 2019, including the one-mile Street Sense Stakes. Still, he’s one of many longshots in the Kentucky Derby that will be up against it in a race that does not project to have a lot of pace and also features a heavy favorite in Tiz the Law who has elite tactical speed. Gary Barber owned last year’s Kentucky Derby seventh-place finisher War of Will outright; that colt was interfered with by disqualified first-place finisher Maximum Security in the Derby and subsequently won the Preakness Stakes. Young rider Tyler Gaffalione was aboard War of Will for both races. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was the beneficiary of last year’s Derby controversy, as Maximum Security’s disqualification elevated Country House to first and gave Mott his first Derby victory. Mott-trained Tacitus was also moved up to third last year; those two horses gave him his best Derby finishes from nine overall starters.

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9. Mr. Big News (50-1)

Jockey: Gabriel Saez

Trainer: Bret Calhoun

Owner: Allied Racing Stable

Career record: 7 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $168,553

Earnings per start: $24,079

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 96

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway – Unappeased, by Galileo

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Mr. Big News joined Money Moves as another late Kentucky Derby addition without any qualifying points when owner Chester Thomas announced on Aug. 31 that his stakes-winning colt would enter the race. This son of the late, great sire Giant’s Causeway jumped onto the Triple Crown trail after breaking his maiden at Fair Grounds in January, finishing fifth in a division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford on Feb. 15. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced some tracks to close and others to alter their schedules, Mr. Big News showed up next in the Oaklawn Stakes on April 11. Competing against a solid and full field of 3-year-olds on a sloppy track, he rallied through the Oaklawn Park stretch to score by a half-length at odds of 46.80-1. Trainer Bret Calhoun then pointed Mr. Big News to another Derby points race, the rescheduled Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on July 11, where he lost momentum on the backstretch and finished sixth, 10 ¼ lengths behind Art Collector. This colt should have no trouble getting the Derby’s mile-and-a-quarter distance, but as a one-dimensional closer he’ll need a fast pace and about 10 or more horses in front of him to all tire to have a chance at a monumental upset. Running on late to fill out the superfecta should be considered a success given the circumstances – especially since he has a proven affinity for off tracks and the Sept. 5 forecast in Louisville calls for sunny skies. Thomas’ Allied Racing Stable and trainer Bret Calhoun both made their Derby debuts last year with By My Standards, who finished 11^th. Gabriel Saez rode By My Standards last year, which was his third start in the Derby. He finished second on the filly Eight Belles in 2008.

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10. Thousand Words (SCRATCHED)

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owners: Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm

Career record: 7 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $327,000

Earnings per start: $46,714

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107

Kentucky Derby points: 83

Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile – Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace/stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Back in February, Thousand Words was ensconced within the top two or three Kentucky Derby contenders in Bob Baffert’s stable based on wins in the Los Alamitos Futurity and Robert B. Lewis Stakes, but saw his reputation crater after two consecutive poor efforts during early spring. Flash forward 4 ½ months, and he’s joining Authentic as one of Baffert’s two Derby starters and with newfound respect based on a wire-to-wire win over Honor A. P. in the Shared Belief Stakes Aug. 1 at Del Mar. This $1 million yearling purchase may be hard pressed to carry his speed another furlong and a half in the Kentucky Derby, although in the Shared Belief he gamely turned back a pace-pressing bid from stablemate Cezanne at the top of the stretch and continued on well to the finish even as Honor A. P. kicked into gear late. If this son of Pioneerof the Nile (who sired 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah) is truly back on track for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, he could hit the board in the Kentucky Derby; at the very least, he’ll have a say in how the race plays out from a pace perspective. Co-owner Albaugh Family Stables is back at the Derby for the fourth time in five years, their best finish coming with seventh-place Brody’s Cause in 2016. B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm owned 2005 fourth-place Derby finisher Don’t Get Mad and three other Derby horses outright in years past, along with one in partnership; Spendthrift also co-owns Authentic. Florent Geroux, who will be riding Thousand Words for the first time, finished third in the 2016 Derby on Gun Runner. Bob Baffert’s five previous Derby wins came with Silver Charm (1997); Real Quiet (1998); War Emblem (2002);  American Pharoah (2015); and Triple Crown winner Justify. Baffert has also finished second and third three times each in the Derby.

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11. Necker Island (50-1)

Jockey: Miguel Mena

Trainer: Chris Hartman

Owners: Greg Harbut, Raymond Daniels and Wayne Scherr

Career record: 10 starts -2 wins – 0 seconds – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $199,730

Earnings per start: $19,973

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 99

Kentucky Derby points: 14

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

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Necker Island was placed back on the Kentucky Derby trail after being claimed by his new owners in June. Since then, he has run third in two consecutive points races, the Indiana Derby and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby. He was defeated by a combined dozen lengths in those races and was no threat whatsoever to Art Collector (nor was any other horse) at Ellis Park on Aug. 9. This son of Hard Spun did post back-to-back wins at Churchill Downs in fall 2019 – the only two wins of his career – but made little impression in four stakes races earlier this year before he was purchased out of a June allowance/optional claiming race at Churchill Downs won by Art Collector, who would probably have been the second morning-line betting choice in the Kentucky Derby before he was withdrawn on Sept. 1. Overall, Necker Island should be one of the longest shots in the Derby come post time and, based on his past form, seems best suited to one-turn races at no longer than a mile. Necker Island is the first Kentucky Derby starter for owners Greg Harbut, Raymond Daniels, and Wayne Scherr and trainer Chris Hartman. Jockey Miguel Mena returns to the Derby for the first time since his debut in 2010, when his mount finished 20^th.

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12. Sole Volante (30-1)

Jockey: Luca Panici

Trainer: Patrick Biancone

Owners: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone

Career record: 7 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 1 third

Career earnings: $323,310

Earnings per start: $46,187

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109

Kentucky Derby points: 30

Pedigree: Karakontie – Light Blow, by Kingmambo

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Back in the spring, Sole Volante was among the handful of leading Kentucky Derby contenders, having posted a visually impressive, off-the-pace win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and then running second to King Guillermo in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. But then the gelding was given three-month break by trainer Patrick Biancone prior to his return in June, and although he won a high-quality allowance race at Gulfstream Park, by that point several other horses had captured the attention of Derby watchers. Curiously, after such a lengthy break, Sole Volante was turned around quickly following his allowance win and entered in the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, where he had no response whatsoever and finished sixth, 15 ¾ lengths behind Tiz the Law. He’s been away from racing since the Belmont, and training steadily in Florida for a chance at redemption in the Derby. This son of turf Grade 1 winner Karakontie should appreciate going back to two turns, and if he can recapture his best form could move up in the stretch to grab the third- or fourth-place share of the Derby purse. His co-owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing has partnered on several Derby horses in past years, highlighted by third-place finisher Mucho Macho Man in 2011. Jockey Luca Panici will be making his first Derby start, and trainer Patrick Biancone his fourth. Biancone-trained Lion Heart finished second to superstar Smarty Jones in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

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13. Attachment Rate (50-1)

Jockey: Joe Talamo

Trainer: Dale Romans

Owners: Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister

Career record: 8 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $143,732

Earnings per start: $17,967

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 99

Kentucky Derby points: 35

Pedigree: Hard Spun – Aristra, by Afleet Alex

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This Virginia-bred Hard Spun colt jumped on the Derby trail back in February after winning his third career start, a one-mile race at Gulfstream Park on a sloppy track, by 6 ¼ lengths. He hasn’t shied away from competition since then, starting in five consecutive stakes races and finishing second twice, to Dr Post in the Unbridled Stakes at Gulfstream Park in April and to Art Collector in his final Derby prep, the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby. Those two efforts are easily his best to date – although while he finished up 3 ½ lengths behind Art Collector at Ellis, that margin actually could have been bigger as the winner was geared down late (Attachment Rate did defeat third-place Necker Island by 5 ¼ lengths). This runner would need to boost his best speed figures by about 10-15 points to have a shot at toppling the leading Kentucky Derby contenders, and he hasn’t shown much late acceleration in any of his stakes tries. He’ll be one of the longest shots in Saturday’s field when the gates open. This will be the first Kentucky Derby for Attachment Rate’s owners, and the 11^th for Louisville native Dale Romans, who’s the second-winningest trainer at Churchill Downs. Romans has finished third twice in the Derby. Jockey Joe Talamo, who moved his tack to Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park from California earlier this year, will be making his third Derby start, with his best finish coming in 2015 when 16^th.

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14. Winning Impression (50-1)

Jockey: Joe Rocco Jr.

Trainer: Dallas Stewart

Owners: West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing

Career record: 9 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $98,552

Earnings per start: $10,950

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 92

Kentucky Derby points: 20

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

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Winning Impression is a good bet to have the longest post-time odds in Derby 146, coming into the race off of two consecutive seventh-place finishes in Derby preps where he was defeated by a combined margin of 24 ¾ lengths. After improving once stretched out to two turns in four starts at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park – winning his maiden and also finishing first in an allowance/optional claiming race before being disqualified – this gelding picked up the pieces in the first division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby to finish fourth, 9 ¼ lengths behind Charlatan. He was then elevated to third weeks later when Charlatan was disqualified due to testing positive for a banned substance, giving him more Kentucky Derby qualifying points and convincing his owners to start him in the Indiana Derby and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby – the aforementioned seventh-place finishes. Winning Impression carries the lowest speed figures of any Kentucky Derby starter and appears overmatched at this level, although on the positive side he has been training well over the past few weeks at Churchill Downs. Trainer Dallas Stewart has lit up the Kentucky Derby toteboard big-time twice in recent years with his longshots Golden Soul and Commanding Curve, who respectively finished second to Orb in 2013 and California Chrome in 2014. If Winning Impression were to complete the exacta come Saturday, it would be a bigger surprise than either of those years. The West Point Thoroughbreds group had part ownership of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and owned Commanding Curve outright. Jockey Joe Rocco Jr. is back in the Derby after finishing 17^th in his 2014 debut.

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15. Ny Traffic (20-1)

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owners: John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman

Career record: 9 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $565,470

Earnings per start: $62,830

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109

Kentucky Derby points: 110

Pedigree: Cross Traffic – Mamie Reilly, by Graeme Hall

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Despite not having won a stakes race, Ny Traffic has gradually made his way into the top handful of Kentucky Derby contenders during this extended prep season by consistently holding his own against top competition. After an undistinguished juvenile campaign, Ny Traffic was transferred to his current trainer and won his 2020 debut impressively at Gulfstream Park. That was followed by four consecutive in-the-money finishes in Kentucky Derby prep races: third in a division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford, and then second in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, Matt Winn Stakes, and TVG.com Haskell Stakes. His most recent two races have been his best as he hung tough with highly-rated (and currently sidelined) Maxfield in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs and then nearly caught Authentic at the Haskell finish line, losing by a nose. It’s hard to envision Ny Traffic winning the Kentucky Derby since he couldn’t close the deal in any of his four preps, but he should definitely be a pace factor and has shown enough determination to carry his speed well into Churchill Downs’ homestretch. Co-owners Paul Braverman and Chuck Zacney’s Cash is King both have prior Derby experience. Cash is King’s Afleet Alex finished third in a memorable 2005 run for the roses before winning the Preakness and Belmont Stakes en route to receiving champion 3-year-old male honors at the Eclipse Awards. Braverman was a co-owner of Soldat, who ran 11^th in the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Young trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will be making his first Derby appearance, and jockey Paco Lopez his second after riding Firenze Fire to an 11^th-place finish in 2018.

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16. Honor A. P. (5-1)

Jockey: Mike Smith

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Owner: C R K Stable

Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $382,200

Earnings per start: $76,440

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 106

Kentucky Derby points: 140

Pedigree: Honor Code – Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This ridgling ships into Churchill Downs as the top West Coast-based Kentucky Derby contender, leading a regional division that at one time appeared to be overloaded with talent. That was back in April, and since then several promising California-based horses have either retired, been sidelined, or gone off form. Honor A. P. has been brought along patiently by trainer John Shirreffs since finishing second in his career debut a little over a year ago at Del Mar. He’s only made four starts since then, three of them this year: a runner-up effort behind Authentic in the San Felipe Stakes; a table-turning win over that foe in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby; and then a late-closing second to Thousand Words in his most recent start, the Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 1 at Del Mar. Shirreffs did not seem very concerned about Honor A. P.’s second-place finish in the Shared Belief and should have him cranked up for a career-best effort in the Kentucky Derby if his recent workouts at Del Mar are any indication. This well-bred son of Honor Code has never raced outside of his California base before, but he’s been very consistent and should be used on exacta and trifecta Kentucky Derby tickets, with a slight chance at pulling the upset. Shirreffs and “Big Money” Mike Smith already teamed up for a Derby win with longshot closer Giacomo back in 2005. More recently, Smith piloted Justify to a Derby win in 2018 en route to sweeping the Triple Crown; he has also finished second four times in the Derby and third once. Lee and Susan Searing’s C R K Stable previously sent Candy Boy to the 2014 Derby, where he finished 13^th.

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17. Tiz the Law (3-5)

Jockey: Manny Franco

Trainer: Barclay Tagg

Owner: Sackatoga Stable

Career record: 7 starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $2,015,300

Earnings per start: $287,900

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117

Kentucky Derby points: 372

Pedigree: Constitution – Tizfiz, by Tiznow

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: In what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable Triple Crown seasons in history – for underlying reasons that no one wanted to happen – Tiz the Law has a shot at overcoming the gloomy national mood with a Kentucky Derby win that could place him on the popularity level of 21^st century stars like Smarty Jones, California Chrome, and American Pharoah. He’s already clearly in that class as an athlete, absolutely dominating four Kentucky Derby prep races earlier this year that included the repositioned and shortened Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets and the rescheduled Runhappy Travers Stakes. His appeal is based on more than just on-track achievement, though – his ownership group of Sackatoga Stable and trainer Barclay Tagg first won the hearts of sports fans back in 2003 with Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide, and their return to the spotlight 17 years later with another New York-bred has been warmly welcomed to say the least. Furthermore, Tiz the Law’s young jockey Manny Franco has handled the pressure of competing in historic races like the Belmont and Travers with poise and gratitude. In short, this physically striking Constitution colt and his human connections are very easy to root for, and they’ll have the backing of millions of fans cheering them on from their homes Saturday. Tiz the Law checks every conceivable box for a standout Kentucky Derby contender, and even has added another one for 2020 – a win in a 1 ¼-mile race thanks to his Travers romp. In that final Derby prep, Franco geared him down during the final sixteenth of the Saratoga stretch and Tiz the Law has kept up his elite form in subsequent workouts. If there is a question mark, it concerns his only career loss, which came in his only Churchill Downs start last fall when he finished third by three-quarters of a length in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. That race was held on a sloppy track, and Franco struggled to get his mount in a good position through the backstretch, but Tiz the Law still nearly won. Look for Franco to position Tiz the Law no farther back than seventh or eighth early in the Derby – and perhaps closer depending on how he breaks from his outside post – and keep him racing outside of horses before asking him for his best on the far turn. Honor A. P. is a legitimate threat, but odds-on favorite Tiz the Law will be very tough to beat Saturday as he continues on a quest for the Triple Crown and a spot alongside the all-time greats. In addition to Funny Cide, Tagg has sent four other horses to the Kentucky Derby, finishing fourth in 2008 with Tale of Ekati. Tiz the Law is Franco’s third Derby mount following appearances in 2015 and 2019.

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18. Authentic (8-1)

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owners: Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing

Career record: 5 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $1,011,200

Earnings per start: $202,240

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113

Kentucky Derby points: 200

Pedigree: Into Mischief – Flawless, by Mr. Greeley

Color: Bay

Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Somewhat overlooked in the deserved pre-Derby buzz surrounding Tiz the Law’s incredible year is the fact that this colt has also kept his status as a top-tier Derby contender through the extended prep season. After winning his debut last November, Authentic took two Kentucky Derby preps at Santa Anita Park back-to-back in early 2020, romping in the Sham Stakes and then besting Honor A. P. by 2 ¼ lengths in the San Felipe Stakes. He then finished second to Honor A. P. in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on June 6 after getting off to a slow start, and in his final Derby prep won the TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park by a nose over Ny Traffic after setting an uncontested pace. His efforts in the Santa Anita Derby and the Haskell, both held at 1 1/8 miles, raise questions about Authentic’s ability to extend his speed another furlong in the Kentucky Derby, although his Haskell jockey Mike Smith said immaturity was to blame for Authentic faltering in deep stretch. At the very least, this talented colt should be a pace factor in the 2020 Derby as he figures to vie for the early lead. He’ll need a career-best effort to post the upset, however, and his drawing the far outside post will do him no favors, forcing John Velazquez to get him out of the gate fast and use some early speed to get a forwardly placed position before the field reaches the first turn. Authentic’s ownership group has never collectively sent a horse to the Kentucky Derby before, although several members have done so solely or with other partners. Jack Wolf’s Starlight Racing was part of the group that campaigned Justify to Triple Crown glory in 2018; Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables also owned a percentage of Justify under another entity. This year, Bob Baffert has a chance  to tie Ben Jones with the most Kentucky Derby winners at six. The Hall of Famer’s five previous Derby wins came with Silver Charm (1997); Real Quiet (1998); War Emblem (2002); Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (2015); and the aforementioned Justify. Baffert has also finished second and third three times each in the Derby. Fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez will be riding Authentic for the first time Saturday and won the 2011 Derby aboard Animal Kingdom and the 2017 Derby on Always Dreaming. He’s also finished second twice.