How much does a Kentucky Derby horse cost? Here are the prices on this year’s contenders.

It’s not necessary to pay six figures (or more) to get a Kentucky Derby horse.

But shelling out for a price tag like that sure doesn’t hurt.

Truth is, the Derby typically features contenders from different backgrounds with owners that offered up varying prices to secure them. The reality is that it pays to pony up at auctions, if landing a spot in the sport’s most famous race is the ultimate goal.

In this year’s field, that concept is exemplified by Tapit Trice — a big, beautiful gray son of three-time leading sire Tapit, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes, and the 5-1 second choice on the Derby morning line.

The price paid to get him? $1.3 million.

Tapit Trice was purchased for that number at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Whisper Hill Farm’s Mandy Pope, the daughter of the late John William Pope, who was founder of Variety Wholesalers — a North Carolina-based company that operates more than 400 discount stores in 14 states.

Mandy Pope has a long-lasting passion for horse racing, and she’s been known to shell out seven figures for promising Thoroughbreds on a fairly regular basis over the years.

Tapit Trice’s damsire is the regally bred Dunkirk, and Pope and Whisper Hill racing manager Todd Quast budgeted $1 million for the colt at that Keeneland sale nearly two years ago, only to go another $300,000 over that number during the auction.

“I always try to set a realistic price, but Mandy has been known to push the envelope when she really likes a horse,” Quast said last month. “I knew who we were (bidding) against, and I knew we had to stay strong. … He was very kind at the sale. Very relaxed every time we went to the barn to look at him. We had been outbid on several horses earlier in the sale, so she was pretty determined to get this one.”

She got him, and breeder Gainesway Thoroughbreds ultimately bought back in as an ownership partner. Tapit Trice finished third in his career debut last November and hasn’t lost since. He’ll take a four-race winning streak into Saturday, and his impressive presence at Churchill Downs over the past few weeks has made him a favorite among handicappers going into Derby Day.

The son of Tapit is far from the only high-priced colt in this field.

Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns — a son of Uncle Mo, with Tapit as his damsire — sold for $250,000 as a yearling and then went for $800,000 in a March 2022 auction in Florida. He’s undefeated in three career starts.

Two-time Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher has both Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns on Saturday.

Verifying and Reincarnate both went for $775,000 at the same Keeneland sale that featured Tapit Trice. Those two are sons of Justify and Good Magic, respectively, the 1-2 finishers in the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

In all, seven of the 15 Derby contenders sold at auction went for more than $500,000.

One of those was Japanese-bred Continuar, a 50-1 shot in Saturday’s race and an example of uneven sales prices not necessarily carrying over to the racetrack.

Continuar, who was scratched from the Derby on Thursday night, was purchased for nearly $650,000 as a yearling at a Japanese auction in July 2021. At the very same sale, compatriot Derma Sotogake went for about $160,000. On the track, Derma Sotogake has already defeated Continuar three times — including by 10 lengths in the UAE Derby in March — and he’s expected to be one of the top betting choices Saturday, while Continuar would have been among the longest shots on the board.

There were also other bargains to be found in this field.

And one of them is the other Pletcher trainee: Derby favorite Forte, the 2-year-old champion of 2022 and winner of five straight races going into Saturday’s run for the roses.

Forte — a son of Violence — went for “just” $110,000 in that same Keeneland yearling sale in 2021. He’s earned more than $2.4 million to date for billionaire owners Mike Repole and Vincent Viola. (Forte was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Saturday morning.)

Only three horses in the field sold for less at their most recent auction.

One is another top contender: Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire, the 8-1 third choice on the Kentucky Derby morning line and a $70,000 purchase by Albaugh Family Stables at the same Keeneland yearling sale. The son of Classic Empire has more than $1 million in earnings. He’s also looking to become the first Pennsylvania-bred to win the Derby since Smarty Jones in 2004. (Aside from the Japanese contingent, every other horse in this field was bred in Kentucky.)

Long-shot King Russell sold for $60,000 at a Keeneland yearling sale in October 2021, though breeder Brereton Jones — the former governor of Kentucky — retained part ownership of the colt.

The lowest price in the 2023 Derby is Rebel Stakes winner Confidence Game, who sold for a mere $25,000 at the aforementioned Keeneland September yearling sale.

Confidence Game — a 20-1 shot on the Derby morning line — was sired by Candy Ride, and his dam is Eblouissante, who was a half-sister to both the great Zenyatta and fellow Grade 1 winner Balance. A mare named Vertigineux was the mother of all three.

Trainer Keith Desormeaux, who has a reputation for finding talented horses at bargain prices, noted to BloodHorse last month that he had a previous history with that line.

“I knew the family before there was a Balance or a Zenyatta,” he said. “I bought the first foal out of Vertigineux, their dam, for $4,000. She was the last horse through the sale one day during the second week at Keeneland.”

Desormeaux will be looking for a big win with a relatively small price tag Saturday in Louisville.

If Confidence Game pulls the upset, it’ll be a second straight year with a walking bargain wearing the roses.

Last year, 80-1 shot Rich Strike became the first horse purchased via a claiming race to win the Kentucky Derby. He was claimed for $30,000 from breeder Calumet Farm about eight months before his shocking victory.

That’s obviously an anomaly among Derby winners. Over the past decade, Justify, Authentic, Always Dreaming and Nyquist have sold for prices varying from $350,000 to $500,000 before their racing careers began.

The other five Derby winners over the past 10 years — Mandaloun, Country House, American Pharoah, California Chrome and Orb — were all homebreds.

Derby horse price tags

A look at the auction prices for each horse in the Kentucky Derby field:

▪ Tapit Trice — $1,300,000.

▪ Kingsbarns — $800,000.

▪ Reincarnate — $775,000.

▪ Verifying — $775,000.

▪ Continuar — $635,000 (scratched).

▪ Jace’s Road — $510,000.

▪ Skinner — $510,000 (scratched).

▪ Cyclone Mischief — $450,000.

▪ Sun Thunder — $400,000.

▪ Mage — $290,000.

▪ Practical Move — $230,000 (scratched).

▪ Raise Cain — $180,000.

▪ Derma Sotogake — $163,000.

▪ Forte — $110,000 (scratched).

▪ Angel of Empire — $70,000.

▪ King Russell — $60,000.

▪ Confidence Game — $25,000.

Note: Disarm and Hit Show are homebreds, while Two Phil’s and Rocket Can didn’t meet their reserve price at auction and were later sold privately. Mandarin Hero was also sold privately.

A run through the field: Odds and info on every 2023 Kentucky Derby contender

Who should you bet on in the 2023 Kentucky Derby? Here’s who the experts are picking.

Handicapping the 2023 Kentucky Derby: Best bets, long shots and more advice on the race

How every Kentucky Derby horse got his name. It’s harder than it looks.

Mandy Pope is not afraid to spend big money. Is she about to win the Kentucky Derby?

Former Baffert assistant has his own Kentucky Derby horse this year. And it’s one to watch.

Three stallions have sired multiple contenders for 2023 Kentucky Derby. Meet the fathers.

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

How to do the Derby, whether at Churchill, Keeneland, at home or on your phone