Trail to Kentucky Derby 2023 at Churchill Downs: 20 horses to keep an eye on in prep races

Ten races remain on the trail to the Kentucky Derby, with the next four weekends set to determine the top contenders for the May 6 Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

Forte, trained by Todd Pletcher, is the current favorite for the Kentucky Derby. The 2-year-old champion made his 2023 debut with a victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream Park.

His final Kentucky Derby prep is scheduled to come in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 1 at Gulfstream.

Here’s the schedule for the final four weeks of Kentucky Derby prep races:

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• Saturday: Group 2 UAE Derby (Meydan), Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Turfway), Grade 2 Louisiana Derby (Fair Grounds).

• Sunday: Grade 3 Sunland Derby (Sunland Park).

• Saturday, April 1: Grade 1 Florida Derby (Gulfstream), Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn).

• Saturday, April 8: Grade 2 Wood Memorial (Aqueduct), Grade 1 Blue Grass (Keeneland), Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita).

• Saturday, April 15: Grade 3 Lexington (Keeneland).

The list of top Kentucky Derby contenders will inevitably change, but here are 20 horses to watch over the next few weeks, listed alphabetically.

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Angel of Empire

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables (Dennis Albaugh)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Sire: Classic Empire

Dam: Armony’s Angel, by To Honor and Serve

Price tag: $70,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Pennsylvania

Career record: 3-1-0 in five starts

Career earnings: $330,000

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 54 (No. 4)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 45-1

Last start: Won Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn

Notable: Angel of Empire won twice as a 2-year-old at Horseshoe Indianapolis and won the Risen Star at 13-1 odds.

Blazing Sevens

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owner: Rodeo Creek Racing (John Capek)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Sire: Good Magic

Dam: Trophy Girl, by Warrior’s Reward

Price tag: $225,000 at 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 2-0-1 in five starts

Career earnings: $472,750

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 16 (No. 21)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 35-1

Last start: Eighth in Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream

Likely next start: Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct

Notable: After finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Keeneland, Blazing Sevens had a disappointing 3-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth. “I wanted to train him for the Wood at Payson; that’s why I didn’t run in the Gotham,” Brown told the Daily Racing Form. “It proved to be a huge error. He didn’t handle the track early on in the race; draw a line through it. He’s got one more shot here to earn his way into the Derby field.”

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Confidence Game

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux

Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables (Kirk Godby)

Jockey: James Graham

Sire: Candy Ride

Dam: Eblouissante, by Bernardini

Price tag: $25,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 3-1-2 in seven starts

Career earnings: $785,525

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 57 (No. 3)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 24-1

Last start: Won Grade 2 Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn or Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland

Notable: Confidence Game broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on Aug. 13 and has four races at the track, compiling a 2-0-1 record there. He won the Rebel at 18-1 odds.

Disarm

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell)

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Sire: Gun Runner

Dam: Easy Tap, by Tapit

Price tag: Homebred

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 1-1-1 in three starts

Career earnings: $90,350

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 0 (N/A)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 45-1

Last start: Second in allowance optional claiming race Feb. 19 at Oaklawn

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn

Notable: Disarm hit the scene in August with a 6 ¼-length victory at Saratoga but had a setback and didn’t return to training until January.

Forte

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Repole Stable (Mike Repole) and St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Sire: Violence

Dam: Queen Caroline, by Blame

Price tag: $110,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 5-0-0 in six starts

Career earnings: $1,833,230

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 90 (No. 1)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 3-1

Last start: Won Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream

Likely next start: Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 1 at Gulfstream

Notable: Forte is the current Kentucky Derby favorite but has history against him as only two Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby — Street Sense (2006-07) and Nyquist (2015-16). Forte’s five victories have come at four different tracks — Keeneland (two), Belmont, Saratoga and Gulfstream. He has three Grade 1 victories.

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Geaux Rocket Ride

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Owner: Pin Oak Stud (Jim and Dana Bernhard)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Sire: Candy Ride

Dam: Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo

Price tag: $350,000 at 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 1-1-0 in two starts

Career earnings: $120,200

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 20 (No. 17)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 28-1

Last start: Second in Grade 2 San Felipe on March 4 at Santa Anita

Likely next start: Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 at Santa Anita

Notable: Geaux Rocket Ride did not race as a 2-year-old and won his debut Jan. 29 at Santa Anita by 5 ¾ lengths. He was beaten 2 ½ lengths by Practical Move in the San Felipe.

Hit Show

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owners: Gary and Mary West

Jockey: Manny Franco

Sire: Candy Ride

Dam: Actress, by Tapit

Price tag: Homebred

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 3-0-0 in four starts

Career earnings: $264,375

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 20 (No. 15)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 32-1

Last start: Won Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 11 at Aqueduct

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn or Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct

Notable: Hit Show’s only loss came Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs in an allowance optional claiming race. “He’s a little green,” Franco said after the Withers victory. “He’s learning race by race, and I think he’ll be OK. I think the more distance the better for him.”

Instant Coffee

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owner: Gold Square LLC (Al Gold)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Sire: Bolt d’Oro

Dam: Follow No One, by Uncle Mo

Price tag: $200,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 3-0-0 in four starts

Career earnings: $442,815

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 32 (No. 9)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 14-1

Last start: Won Grade 3 Lecomte on Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds

Likely next start: Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds

Notable: Instant Coffee already has a victory at Churchill Downs, winning the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 26. After Instant Coffee’s victory in the Lecomte, he had been scheduled to run in the Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds but ultimately skipped that race.

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Kingsbarns

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Spendthrift Farm (Eric Gustavson)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Sire: Uncle Mo

Dam: Lady Tapit, by Tapit

Price tag: $800,000 at 2022 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 2-0-0 in two starts

Career earnings: $57,300

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 0 (N/A)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 35-1

Last start: Won allowance optional claiming race Feb. 12 at Tampa Bay

Likely next start: Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds

Notable: Kingsbarns did not race as a 2-year-old but is undefeated this year, winning his last race by 7 ¾ lengths at Tampa Bay. Likely will need a top-four finish in Louisiana Derby to have a chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

National Treasure

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Owners: SF Racing (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf), Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone), Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables (Barbara Banke), Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital (W. Gregg Slager) and Catherine Donovan

Jockey: John Velazquez

Sire: Quality Road

Dam: Treasure, by Medaglia d’Oro

Price tag: $500,000 at 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 1-1-2 in four starts

Career earnings: $300,000

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 0 (N/A)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 15-1

Last start: Third in Grade 3 Sham on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita

Likely next start: Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 at Santa Anita or Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland

Notable: National Treasure went about three weeks without a published workout after Feb. 19 but posted breezes at Santa Anita on March 14 and March 19. National Treasure was transferred from Bob Baffert to Yakteen in order to earn qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby. Baffert is suspended at Churchill Downs through this year’s Spring Meet. National Treasure finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Practical Move

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Owners: Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley

Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

Sire: Practical Joke

Dam: Ack Naughty, by Afleet Alex

Price tag: $230,000 at 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 3-1-2 in six starts

Career earnings: $434,200

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 60 (No. 2)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 12-1

Last start: Won Grade 2 San Felipe on March 4 at Santa Anita

Likely next start: Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 at Santa Anita

Notable: Yakteen has been in charge of Practical Move’s training since his first race in August.

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Raise Cain

Trainer: Ben Colebrook

Owners: Andrew Warren and Rania Warren

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

Sire: Violence

Dam: Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid

Price tag: $180,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 2-1-1 in six starts

Career earnings: $268,578

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 54 (No. 5)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 45-1

Last start: Won Grade 3 Gotham on March 4 at Aqueduct

Likely next start: Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland or Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct

Notable: Broke maiden at Keeneland in October and won graded-stakes debut in Gotham at 23-1 odds

Red Route One

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell)

Jockey: Cristian Torres

Sire: Gun Runner

Dam: Red House, by Tapit

Price tag: Homebred

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 1-2-1 in seven starts

Career earnings: $492,575

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 33 (No. 8)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 20-1

Last start: Second in Grade 2 Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn

Notable: Red Route One’s only career victory came on the turf at Kentucky Downs in September. He finished a length behind Confidence Game in the Rebel.

Reincarnate

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Owners: SF Racing (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf), Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone), Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables (Barbara Banke), Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital (W. Gregg Slager) and Catherine Donovan

Jockey: John Velazquez

Sire: Good Magic

Dam: Allanah, by Scat Daddy

Price tag: $775,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 2-3-1 in six starts

Career earnings: $231,900

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 15 (No. 23)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 18-1

Last start: Third in Grade 2 Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn

Notable: Reincarnate was transferred from Bob Baffert to Yakteen in order to earn qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby. Baffert is suspended at Churchill Downs through this year’s Spring Meet. Reincarnate broke his maiden in his fourth start and then won the Grade 3 Sham — under Baffert’s care — on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita.

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Rocket Can

Trainer: Bill Mott

Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Sire: Into Mischief

Dam: Tension, by Tapit

Price tag: $245,000 at 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale (reserve not attained)

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 2-2-0 in six starts

Career earnings: $326,538

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 40 (No. 7)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 40-1

Last start: Second in Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream

Likely next start: Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn

Notable: Broke his maiden Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs in his third career start. Won the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 4 at Gulfstream and was beaten by Forte by 4 ½ lengths in the Fountain of Youth.

Skinner

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Owners: CRK Stable (Lee and Susan Searing)

Jockey: Victor Espinoza

Sire: Curlin

Dam: Winding Way, by Malibu Moon

Price tag: $510,000 at 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 1-0-2 in five starts

Career earnings: $126,300

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 15 (No. 25)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 45-1

Last start: Third in Grade 2 San Felipe on March 4 at Santa Anita

Likely next start: Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 at Santa Anita

Notable: Skinner was 0 for 3 as a 2-year-old, including losses in a pair of Grade 1s, before breaking his maiden Feb. 12 at Santa Anita. He rallied for third in the San Felipe after breaking a step slow.

Sun Thunder

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Owners: RT Racing Stable (Ramon Tallaj) and Cypress Creek Equine (Kevin Moody)

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Sire: Into Mischief

Dam: Greenfield d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro

Price tag: $400,000 at 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 1-1-1 in four starts

Career earnings: $181,250

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 24 (No. 11)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 55-1

Last start: Second in Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds

Likely next start: Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds

Notable: Made career debut Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs, finishing third in a maiden special weight.

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Tapit Trice

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Whisper Hill Farm (Amanda Pope) and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Sire: Tapit

Dam: Danzatrice, by Dunkirk

Price tag: $1.3 million at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 3-0-1 in four starts

Career earnings: $310,150

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 50 (No. 6)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 8-1

Last start: Won Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 11 at Tampa Bay

Likely next start: Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland

Notable: Connections hopeful late-running colt will relish longer distances in Blue Grass, Kentucky Derby.

Two Phil’s

Trainer: Larry Rivelli

Owners: Patricia’s Hope LLC (Vince Foglia) and Phillip Sagan

Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

Sire: Hard Spun

Dam: Mia Torri, by General Quarters

Price tag: $150,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale (reserve not attained)

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 3-1-1 in seven starts

Career earnings: $275,450

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 23 (No. 13)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 50-1

Last start: Third in Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds

Likely next start: Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday at Turfway

Notable: Won the Grade 3 Street Sense in October at Churchill Downs at 7-1 odds. Co-owner Phillip Sagan also is the breeder.

Verifying

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owners: Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg Limited (Michael Kussner), Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Sire: Justify

Dam: Diva Delite, by Repent

Price tag: $775,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Bred in: Kentucky

Career record: 2-1-0 in five starts

Career earnings: $304,900

Road to the Kentucky Derby points (ranking): 14 (No. 27)

Caesars Sportsbook odds: 22-1

Last start: Fourth in Grade 2 Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn

Likely next start: Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland

Notable: Finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Keeneland. Winless in three career graded stakes.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Trail to Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs: 20 to watch in prep races