'I love it here.' Stars grace the red carpet at Churchill Downs for the 2023 Kentucky Derby

Who to bet at the Kentucky Derby? Super Bowl Champ Patrick Mahomes and Louisville-born rapper Jack Harlow walked the red carpet at historic Churchill Downs Racetrack Saturday but did not reveal their favorites for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

"I am shy," Harlow told the throng of reporters when asked about his Derby pick. While both celebs left the red carpet without speaking directly to the media, they did stop for photos, which thrilled the crowd.

Others, like Bon Jovi's Rickie Sambora, television personality Star Jones and country music legend Travis Tritt, admitted they didn't have a clue who to put their money on in a year where a handful of scratched horses meant an unpredictable field for the 149th "Run for the Roses."

“All of the ones that I had originally picked scratched,” Tritt said.His new strategy? Closing his eyes, Tritt mimicked pointing at a random name in a program booklet.

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Singer-songwriter Rachel Platten — who performed multiple songs, including the National Anthem, at the Kentucky Oaks — walked the Kentucky Derby red carpet for the first time.

“It’s my first Derby, but it will not be my last," she said, gleaming. "This is literally my vibe. Like, you are all my people. I love it here.”

Television host Chris Harrison of "The Bachelor" fame also was enjoying his first Kentucky Derby. Undecided at the Unbridled Eve gala Friday night, he did his homework overnight on the Derby field.

"I like Kingsbarns," he said. "I think it was (trainer Todd Pletcher's) best horse to start with. I know Forte scratched, but I really like that Louisiana Derby field coming into this."

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"Yellowstone" star Ian Bohen said he plans on returning for future Kentucky Derby festivities.

"My pick has been scratched, unfortunately, Forte," Bohen said. "The same trainer trained Tapit Trice, which is one of the odds-on favorites. So I’m going to have to switch my allegiance over there."

Marcus Ericsson, the winner of the 2022 Indianapolis 500, is no stranger to the racetrack, just not a dirt racetrack. He liked Confidence Game for the 2023 Derby.

"The racecar, I feel like you’re in control at least," he told The Courier Journal. "You know, we’re doing 200-plus miles per hour. But I’m the one pedaling. These horses, they are beasts, so it’s going to be interesting to see."

Music legend Smokey Robinson, who was red hot Friday night on the stage at Patricia Barnstable Brown's Derby Eve Gala, came dressed in a red sports coat and accompanied by his wife, Frances. His wife picks the horses on Derby Day based on their name and color.

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Though the horse names change year to year, and despite all the unpredictability of the 149th field, Robinson said the reason he comes back to Louisville is a guaranteed memorable time.

"The Barnstable Party is just wonderful and then we love the track on Saturday," Robinson said from the Churchill Downs red carpet. "We love coming in for the Kentucky Derby and reconnecting with friends."

Actor Chris Pine made a dash down the red carpet as the celebrity parade wrapped for the afternoon, as did R&B singer Macy Gray. It was Gray's third time at Churchill Downs, she said, and she was ready to relax and watch the races.

"I actually really like it here," she said. "I'm from a little town in Ohio, so I was telling everybody how comfortable I am here."

Kentucky Derby 2023 reading

• How to watch Kentucky Derby 2023 at Churchill Downs: Race time, TV channel, streaming info

• 'Happy to be here': Revelers bring the party to the 2023 Kentucky Derby infield

• Kentucky Derby undercard results 2023: Chad Brown's Fluffy Socks wins Distaff Turf Mile Stakes

• Freezing Point: Seventh horse dies at Churchill Downs in leadup to Kentucky Derby

• Trainers to beat: Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox’s varied paths to top, Kentucky Derby 2023

• Making a case: Why your horse can — or can't — win Kentucky Derby

• C.L. Brown: Why victory for Reincarnate in Kentucky Derby 2023 would be Bellarmine basketball win

• Chloe's Dream: Sixth horse death in lead up to 149th running of Kentucky Derby

• 'He was one of a kind': Secretariat's legacy remains untouched 50 years after Triple Crown

• What is a furlong, anyway? Every racing term to know for Kentucky Derby 2023

• 50 years later: How Secretariat changed Ron Turcotte's life — and helped decorated jockey inspire others

• Kentucky Derby 2023 betting strategy: Ed DeRosa's picks after four scratches at Churchill Downs

• 'Two in one week?' Sudden death of two horses at Churchill Downs leaves industry questioning what happened

• Another C.L. Brown column: Horse safety at Churchill Downs starts with addressing people problem during Derby week

• 'Being unconventional': Keith Desormeaux's Confidence Game has a chance to rewrite the Kentucky Derby record books

• 'The want-to to do it': After stunning defeat in 2022, Steve Asmussen resumes chase for first Kentucky Derby win

• The favorite: Todd Pletcher says 'everything on course' for Kentucky Derby Forte after 'bobble'

• 19 remain in field: Skinner, with elevated temperature, is 4th horse scratched from Kentucky Derby 2023

• Friday at Churchill Downs: Pretty Mischievous, trained by Brendan Walsh, wins Kentucky Oaks 2023

Reach Features Reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com. Reach Business Reporter Matthew Glowicki at mglowicki@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2023 Kentucky Derby: Celebrities walk red carpet at Churchill Downs