There are 20 living Kentucky Derby winners. Here’s where they all are now.

Ben Roberts

May 1, 2023 at 6:00 AM·14 min read

An exclusive club in the sport of horse racing will grow by one Saturday evening, when the 149th Kentucky Derby is run and a new champion is crowned.

Whoever is wearing the roses after that race will join a group that includes 20 surviving Derby winners from years past. The youngest among those is expected to make his return to the track later this week. The oldest is pushing 30, and — like many on this list — is living in central Kentucky. In between are two Triple Crown winners and several other beloved Thoroughbreds who have captured the imagination of racing fans over the past three decades.

Here’s a look at the current status of each of those Derby champions.

Rich Strike

Birthdate: April 25, 2019

Status: Still in training

The shock winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby — his 80-1 odds made him the second longest shot ever to win the race — Rich Strike remains an active racehorse, though he hasn’t seen the winner’s circle since last year’s first Saturday in May. The son of Keen Ice is expected to make his 2023 debut for trainer Eric Reed in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on Friday. Rich Strike skipped a Triple Crown attempt after winning the Derby last year, bypassing the Preakness only to finish sixth in the Belmont Stakes. From there, he was fourth in the Travers Stakes, second in the Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill — his first run against older horses — fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, and sixth in the Clark Stakes, also at Churchill.

Rich Strike, who has been training at Keeneland in anticipation of his 4-year-old debut, still has just two wins in 13 career races: the Derby and a maiden race at Churchill Downs during his 2-year-old season. Only Donerail — at 91-1 in 1913 — has won the Kentucky Derby at longer odds.

Mandaloun

Birthdate: March 18, 2018

Status: Juddmonte Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Mandaloun was named the winner of the 2022 Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit, who failed a drug test after the race, leading to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s two-year ban from the race. Mandaloun was trained by Louisville native Brad Cox, who scored his first career Derby victory via DQ and went on to guide Mandaloun to three consecutive wins following that race. After a ninth-place finish in the lucrative Saudi Cup in February 2022, the son of Into Mischief finished fourth in both the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs and San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last summer before being officially retired from racing in September. He’s currently at Juddmonte with a listed stud fee of $25,000. His Derby rival, Medina Spirit, died in December 2021 following a workout at Santa Anita Park.

Authentic

Birthdate: May 5, 2017

Status: Spendthrift Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Authentic won the 2020 Kentucky Derby, which was run in September at a nearly empty Churchill Downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trained by Bob Baffert, he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland two months later, ending his career with six victories and two runner-up finishes in eight races. Authentic now stands stud for $60,000 at Spendthrift Farm, where his father, Into Mischief, is the star stallion (at $250,000 this season) and the reigning four-time leading sire in North America. Authentic’s first reported foal was born Jan. 16, 2022, at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville. His first crop of foals will reach racing age next year.

Country House

Birthdate: May 8, 2016

Status: Darby Dan Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Country House was moved to first place in the 2019 Kentucky Derby — at 65-1 odds, the third-biggest long-shot winner in the race’s history — following a lengthy stewards’ review that led to the disqualification of Maximum Security. Country House — a son of Lookin At Lucky — missed the Preakness due to a virus and ultimately never raced again following a series of ailments, including laminitis. He was officially retired from racing in February 2020 and is now at Darby Dan Farm with a $7,500 stud fee for this year. His first foal was also born in January of last year. Maximum Security is also retired and stands at Ashford Stud in Versailles for $10,000.

Justify

Birthdate: March 28, 2015

Status: Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

Justify won the 2018 Kentucky Derby in just his fourth career start and ultimately delivered the Triple Crown for trainer Bob Baffert before being retired after the Belmont Stakes, winning all six of his races. He is the only Triple Crown winner to have an undefeated record on the track. The son of Scat Daddy resides at Ashford Stud, and Coolmore has a listed stud fee of $100,000. His first crop of foals turned 3 this year, and he already has a likely Kentucky Derby starter with Verifying, who was the second-place finisher in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. The most recent Derby winner to sire a Derby winner was Unbridled, who won the 1990 race and was the father of Grindstone, the 1996 Derby winner.

Always Dreaming

Birthdate: Feb. 25, 2014

Status: WinStar Farm, Versailles, Ky.

Always Dreaming won the Kentucky Derby in 2017 to cap a terrific spring, but it ended up as the last victory of his career, which wrapped up with a fifth-place finish in the Alysheba Stakes on Derby Day 2018. The son of Bodemeister was retired after that race and moved to WinStar Farm, where he stands at a $12,500 stud fee this year. Like Justify, this is the first year of Kentucky Derby eligibility for Always Dreaming’s progeny.

Nyquist

Birthdate: March 10, 2013

Status: Darley, Lexington, Ky

Nyquist was just the seventh undefeated horse to win the Kentucky Derby in the previous 100 years when he took the roses in 2016. His perfect record and Triple Crown bid ended two weeks later with a third-place finish in the Preakness, and he ultimately never won again. The son of Uncle Mo stands for $55,000 at Darley and has already produced several graded-stakes winners.

American Pharoah

Birthdate: Feb. 2, 2012

Status: Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

One of the most-celebrated Thoroughbreds in recent memory, American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby in 2015 and later became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, wrapping up his career with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. The son of Pioneerof the Nile moved to nearby Ashford Stud two days after that victory and had an initial stud fee of $200,000 for his first breeding season. Pharoah, who was trained by Bob Baffert, has a $60,000 stud fee for 2023 and has not yet produced a Kentucky Derby starter, though he’s already sired six Grade 1 winners.

California Chrome

Birthdate: Feb. 18, 2011

Status: Arrow Stud, Hokkaido, Japan

The first California-bred to win the Kentucky Derby in more than 50 years, California Chrome took the 2014 race as the favorite and went on to a career that featured seven Grade 1 victories and American Horse of the Year honors in 2014 and 2016. The son of Lucky Pulpit started his stud career at Taylor Made Farm in Jessamine County, and his first offspring was born in 2018. The following year, a deal was made that sent California Chrome to stand stud in Japan, though he will return to the United States and live in retirement at Taylor Made when his stallion career is finished. His stud fee is $35,000.

Orb

Birthdate: Feb. 24, 2010

Status: Haras Cuatro Piedras, Uruguay

Orb won the 2013 Kentucky Derby for his fifth consecutive victory before finishing fourth in the Preakness to end his Triple Crown hopes. The son of Malibu Moon never won again and was retired later that year. Orb, who was trained by Shug McGaughey, began his stallion career at Claiborne Farm in Bourbon County — where he had been born and raised — and was sold to a group of Uruguayan breeders in 2021. The 13-year-old horse is currently standing stud at Haras Cuatro Piedras in Progreso, Uruguay.

Fun fact: The winner of Orb’s first career race was a colt named Violence, who this week will be best known as the sire of Forte, the 2023 Kentucky Derby favorite. Orb finished third in that race. Violence started his 3-year-old campaign by finishing second to Orb as the odds-on favorite in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on the 2013 Derby trail, his final race before being retired due to injury.

I’ll Have Another

Birthdate: April 1, 2009

Status: Ocean Breeze Ranch, Bonsall, Calif.

I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2012 but was scratched before the Belmont Stakes and retired before running another race. The son of Flower Alley began his stallion career in Japan before returning to the United States for the 2019 breeding season. I’ll Have Another was reacquired by his former owners — Paul and Zillah Reddam — in 2020 so he could remain in California, where he’s currently standing stud for $10,000.

Animal Kingdom

Birthdate: March 20, 2008

Status: Jbba Shizunai Stallion Station, Hokkaido, Japan

Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and raced into his 5-year-old season, winning the Dubai World Cup at that age. The son of the Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux began his stallion career later that year in Australia and has spent much of his post-racing career at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Animal Kingdom, who has sired a few Grade 1 winners, started a stallion run in Japan in 2020 and is still living there, now 15 years old. He’s listed with a stud fee of 1.2 million yen for 2023. (That’s about $9,000 in American dollars.)

Super Saver

Birthdate: March 18, 2007

Status: Turkish Jockey Club Izmit Stallion Complex, Izmit, Turkey

Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby as a homebred for WinStar Farm and started his stallion career there the following year. The son of Maria’s Mon was acquired by the Turkish Jockey Club in 2019 and is currently living there, with a stud fee of nearly $14,000 this year. As part of the deal that sent Super Saver to Turkey, he will return to the United States for retirement when his career as a stallion is finished. He was the sire of Smile Happy, who finished eighth in last year’s Kentucky Derby.

Mine That Bird

Birthdate: May 10, 2006

Status: Retired, HV Ranch near Lone Oak, Texas

The ninth and most recent gelding to win the Kentucky Derby, Mine That Bird prevailed at 50-1 odds and is the fourth longest shot to take the roses. The son of Birdstone never won again in nine starts after the Derby, though he did finish second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes later that spring. The gelding was originally retired to co-owner Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, N.M. Allen sold his ranch in 2020, and the Derby champ then became a pony for young racehorses at HV Ranch in Texas.

Big Brown

Birthdate: April 10, 2005

Status: Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Stillwater, N.Y.

The nearly-5-length winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby also won the Preakness before failing to finish in the Belmont Stakes — the only loss of his eight-race career — and retiring later that year. The son of Boundary began his time as a stallion in 2009 at Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County with a stud fee of $65,000, and he was moved to New York in 2015. His current stud fee is $5,000, and he lives about 7 miles from Saratoga Race Course, the site of his first career race. Big Brown sired Dortmund — the third-place finisher, behind American Pharoah, in the 2015 Derby — and he’s also the damsire of Mage, who was second in this year’s Florida Derby and will be an expected starter in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Street Sense

Birthdate: Feb. 23, 2004

Status: Darley, Lexington, Ky

Street Sense was the 2-year-old champion in 2006 and the Kentucky Derby winner in 2007 before being retired at the end of his 3-year-old campaign. (He’s also the last Blue Grass Stakes starter to win the Derby, finishing second in that race before his trip to Louisville.) The son of Street Cry was sold to Darley Stud while still in training and remains an impressive stallion at 19 years old. His current stud fee is $75,000, and he’s sired 12 Grade 1 winners. One of his current 3-year-olds, First Mission, won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland last month and is likely to be in the field for the Preakness Stakes on May 20.

Giacomo

Birthdate: Feb. 16, 2002

Status: Oakhurst Equine Veterinary Services, Newberg, Ore.

Another surprise winner among living Kentucky Derby champions, Giacomo upset the 2005 field at 50-1 odds and retired at the end of 2006 with three victories in 16 career races. The son of Holy Bull first stood at stud at Adena Springs in Woodford County — the operation later moved to Bourbon County — with an initial fee of $12,500 and remains a stallion today, though he moved to Oregon several years ago. His most recent listed stud fee was $1,500.

Smarty Jones

Birthdate: Feb. 28, 2001

Status: Equistar Training and Breeding, Annville, Pa.

Smarty Jones was undefeated when he won the Kentucky Derby and then the Preakness in 2004 before getting caught in the stretch by Birdstone and finishing second in the Belmont Stakes, the final race of his career. The son of Elusive Quality was just the second Pennsylvania-bred to win the Derby, and he began his stallion career at Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County. Smarty Jones went back to Pennsylvania after several years at Three Chimneys, later returned to Kentucky to stand stud at Calumet Farm, spent some time as a stallion in Uruguay, and has now returned once again to his home state, where he has a listed stud fee of $3,500 and lives near Hershey, Pa.

Funny Cide

Birthdate: April 20, 2000

Status: Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Ky.

Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby in 2003, becoming the first gelding to do so in 74 years. The son of Distorted Humor is still the only New York-bred to win the Derby, and he retired at age 7 with a record of 11 victories in 38 career races. Funny Cide’s underdog story made him a fan favorite, and he won the Preakness before finishing third in the Belmont Stakes. After his retirement, Funny Cide served as a stable pony for trainer Barclay Tagg, and in 2008 he moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, where he remains a popular attraction.

Fusaichi Pegasus

Birthdate: April 12, 1997

Status: Retired, Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

Fusaichi Pegasus won the 2000 Kentucky Derby as the 2-1 favorite, finished second to Red Bullet in the Preakness and ended his career with a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs later that year. The son of the great stallion Mr. Prospector was purchased as a yearling at Keeneland for $4 million by Japanese businessman Fusao Sekiguchi and sold to Coolmore for a reported $70 million — the highest price ever for a racehorse — after his Derby victory. Fusaichi Pegasus split time between Ashford Stud in Woodford County and Coolmore’s breeding operation in Australia for the first decade of his stallion career. He was retired in 2020 at age 23 and remains at Ashford Stud. He was the sire of champion Thoroughbreds in several different countries.

Silver Charm

Birthdate: Feb. 22, 1994

Status: Retired, Old Friends, Georgetown, Ky.

Silver Charm was the first Kentucky Derby winner for Bob Baffert, and he nearly won the Triple Crown in 1997, losing the Belmont Stakes to Touch Gold by less than 1 length. The son of Silver Buck had 12 wins and seven second-place finishes in 24 career starts, racing until he was 5 years old. One of six Florida-breds to win the Kentucky Derby, he started his stud career at Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County and was purchased by the Japanese Breeders Association in 2004, beginning a run as a stallion in Japan shortly thereafter. He was retired from stud duty in 2014 and has lived at Old Friends in Georgetown ever since. Silver Charm is now 29 years old and the oldest surviving Kentucky Derby winner following the deaths of Go For Gin and Grindstone last year. He was named to the Racing Hall of Fame in 2007 and remains one of only two surviving Derby winners with that honor. American Pharoah is the other.

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