As the iconic 150th Kentucky Derby 2024 draws near, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. With the thundering hooves of history echoing through the hallowed halls of Churchill Downs, eyes are set on the odds table for the 20 participants. All the three-year-old equines have qualified for a spot after going through a series of races. 

While all 20 horses are ready to be released for an 11/4 miles long race, Secretariat’s bloodline reigns supreme this year. It has been 50 long years since the Secretariat secured a Triple Crown win in 1973. But this year his descendants might have a chance to uplift the tag of the bloodline. Out of the 20 participating horses, 8 belong to Secretariat’s descendants. As the countdown ticks away, the question on every racing aficionado’s lips is clear. How will Secretariat’s lineage shape the outcome of this year’s Derby spectacle? 

Pedigree powerhouses unleashed for the intense race to victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby

Forever Young and Honor Marie

Amidst the flurry of contenders vying for glory, Forever Young and Honor Marie boast the immortal champion twice within their pedigrees. Forever Young stands at 10-1 and Honor Marie is 20-1. Moreover, pedigree often becomes a deciding factor for race prediction. Thus the odds for Forever Young and Honor Marie remain quite high.

Forever Young ranks sixth in the Derby points leaderboard and Honor Marie holds the 13th position. The chances of winning for Kentucky-bred Honor Marie might not be too high. However, Forever Young is well and truly favored to clinch the top spot in the race. Both Honor Marie’s jockey Ben Curtis and Forever Young’s jockey Ryusei Sakai will be debuting in their first derby this May 3. However, others too are not lagging behind. 

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Sierra Leone and Dornoch

Sierra Leone is one of the top favorites at 3-1 in the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds. Making an entry after emerging victorious at the Blue Grass Stakes, Sierra Leone is also racing fast in the tracks. Sierra Leone is currently also holding the first rank in the Derby points table with 155. On the other hand, Dornoch who has previously beaten Sierra Leone too is participating in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Chad Brown had shared his love for Sierra Leone. Brown added, “He’s been a star since he was born. He’s just an unbelievable physical specimen. You can’t fault him anywhere.” Tyler Gaffalione will be the jockey for Sierra Leone and amid all the 20 the Kentucky-bred undoubtedly holds a favourable chance to taste triumph this season. 

An entertaining moment from ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ has added fuel to the fire. In a segment titled Puppies Predict the Winner of Kentucky Derby 2024, Sierra Leone has already emerged victorious. But Dornoch too is at 8th position in the list and is under the training of Danny Gargan. After Blue Grass Gargan said, “He ran good but got a little tired. He’ll run better next time”.

Just Steel in the Kentucky Derby

But it’s not just Secretariat, whose descendants are running for the derby win this season. Just Steel, belonging to the lineage of Triple Crown winner Justify, is waiting to grab a triumph in the race. Keith Asmussen will be the jockey for Just Steel and also this would be his first derby. D. Wayne Lukas is training Just Steel and oozing out confidence the trainer added, “When there’s a little bit of brilliance in there when you see it, you can dig in there and get it.’ If they don’t have that brilliance, then you’re just in la la land bringing these horses over and hoping.”

Catching Freedom and Fierceness

Catching Freedom is entering the Kentucky Derby after emerging victorious in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds this March. Under the training of Brad Cox and with Flavien Prat as his jockey, he is 8-1. Standing at the second position in the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 136 points, he is raising high stakes.

After Catching Freedom’s win at the Louisiana Derby, trainer Cox said, “We’ll make sure he is happy and healthy. … He broke his maiden (at Churchill Downs), so he knows the place. Hopefully, he can have a great six weeks and a big run the first Saturday in May.”

Fierceness is waiting for a triumph. John Velazquez is the jockey for Fierceness and is 3 for 25 in the Derby. Ranking in second position in the ranks table with 136 points the Kentucky homebred had won the Florida Derby. Todd Pletcher, the trainer too holds a record of winning a derby in 2010. Pletcher shared, “…it was so perplexing his two races that he didn’t run brilliantly. He’s three times brilliant and two times has had off days.”

Last-minute changes in the Kentucky Derby lineup

Amid these, recently Encino and Tapit Jenallie had to make sudden exits from the list of participants for the Kentucky Derby. Encino had to be ruled out owing to a soft tissue strain and in his place Epic Ride has made a lucky entry. And to fill the vacancy created by Tapit Jenallie, Our Pretty Woman will be running for a win. Epic Ride’s trainer John Ennis has previously added, “I would love if we could get into the Derby because I think he’s entitled to have a shot”. And now with a chance to grab a win, the underdog holds a fair chance to grab a spot.

Inside scoop on the Run for the Roses!

Mystik Dan, Stronghold, and Resilience are 20-1 alongside Dornoch. Endlessly, Catalytic and Epic Ride stands at 30-1. Although, Sierra Leone has made the entry after a win at the Blue Grass Stakes, no horse after emerging victorious at Blue Grass Stakes has won the Kentucky Derby since 1991. Japan-bred Forever Young currently holds a perfect record and might pose a threat to the other equines reigning supreme in the list. 

Although a few from the list of 20 have captured the favourite spots the odds are varying with each passing minute. With just a few hours to go for the showdown to begin the stakes are going higher. So are you all buckled up to find out the winner of the Kentucky Derby’s 150th Run for the Roses?