Where 2023’s Kentucky Derby contenders were born and how they made it to Churchill Downs

Kentucky is not just the “horse capital of the world” because the Kentucky Derby happens to be here.

It’s the horse capital of the world because almost all the contenders for this signature American classic are born and bred in the commonwealth.

This year, 16 of the 19 horses entered in the Derby were born in the Bluegrass. Only three come from outside the state (but usually you don’t have to go too far back in most of their pedigrees to find Kentucky ties).

Here’s a rundown of all the horse farms that nurtured Saturday’s runners, listed in post-position order with morning-line odds:

1. HIT SHOW (30-1)

Foaled: May 9, 2020, at Dell Ridge Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Manuel Franco.

Trainer: Brad H. Cox.

Owner: Gary and Mary West.

Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables Inc.

Sire: Candy Ride.

Dam: Actress.

Record: Three wins and a second in five starts, 60 Derby points.

Notes: Hit Show won the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct and was second in the Wood Memorial Stakes.

2. VERIFYING (15-1)

Foaled: May 11, 2020, at Hunter Valley Farm in Versailles.

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.

Trainer: Brad H. Cox.

Owner: Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor.

Breeder: Hunter Valley and Mountmellick Farm.

Sire: Justify.

Dam: Diva Delite.

Record: Two wins and two seconds in six starts, 54 Derby points.

Notes: Verifying was second in the Champagne Stakes, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, fourth in the Rebel Stakes and second in the Blue Grass Stakes.

3. TWO PHIL’S (12-1)

Foaled: March 16, 2020, at Spruceton Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Jareth Loveberry.

Trainer: Larry Rivelli.

Owner: Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan.

Breeder: Phillip Sagan.

Sire: Hard Spun.

Dam: Mia Torri.

Record: Four wins, one second and one third place in eight starts, 123 Derby points.

Notes: Two Phil’s was second in the Lecomte Stakes and third in the Risen Star Stakes, both at Fair Grounds, before winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park.

4. CONFIDENCE GAME (20-1)

Foaled: April 23, 2020, at Summer Wind Farm in Georgetown.

Jockey: James Graham.

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux.

Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables.

Breeder: Summer Wind Equine.

Sire: Candy Ride.

Dam: Eblouissante.

Record: Three wins, a second and two thirds in seven starts, 57 Derby points.

Notes: Confidence Game was fifth in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, was third in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds and won the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

5. TAPIT TRICE (5-1)

Foaled: Feb. 17, 2020, at Gainesway Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Luis Saez.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck).

Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds.

Sire: Tapit.

Dam: Danzatrice.

Record: Four wins and one third place in five starts, 150 Derby points.

Notes: Tapit Trice won the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

6. KINGSBARNS (12-1)

Foaled: Jan. 17, 2020, at Springhouse Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Jose Ortiz Jr.

Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm.

Breeder: Parks Investment Group.

Sire: Uncle Mo.

Dam: Lady Tapit.

Record: Three wins in three starts, 100 Derby points.

Notes: Kingsbarns won the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

7. REINCARNATE (50-1)

Foaled: April 1, 2020, born at Woods Edge Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: John R. Velazquez.

Trainer: Tim Yakteen.

Owner: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.

Breeder: Woods Edge Farm.

Sire: Good Magic.

Dam: Allanah.

Record: Two wins, three seconds and two thirds in seven starts, 45 Derby points.

Notes: Reincarnate won the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park, was third in the Rebel Stakes and third in the Arkansas Derby.

8. MAGE (15-1)

Foaled: April 18, 2020, at Runnymede Farm in Paris.

Jockey: Javier Castellano.

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.

Owner: OGMA Investments; Restrepo, Ramiro, Sterling Racing; and CMNWLTH.

Breeder: Grandview Equine.

Sire: Good Magic.

Dam: Puca.

Record: A win and a second in three starts, 50 Derby points.

Notes: Mage was fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and second in the Florida Derby.

9. SKINNER (SCRATCHED)

Foaled: Feb. 18, 2020, at Stonestreet Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Juan Hernandez.

Trainer: John A. Shirreffs.

Owner: C R K Stable.

Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

Sire: Curlin.

Dam: Winding Way.

Record: One win and three thirds in six starts, 45 Derby points.

Notes: Skinner was sixth in the American Pharoah Stakes, third in the San Felipe Stakes and third in the Santa Anita Derby.

10. Practical Move (SCRATCHED)

Foaled: April 30, 2020, at Dell Ridge Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Ramon A. Vazquez.

Trainer: Tim Yakteen.

Owner: Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger K. Beasley.

Breeder: Chad Brown and Head of Plains Partners.

Sire: Practical Joke.

Dam: Ack Naughty.

Record: Four firsts, one second and two thirds in seven starts, 160 Derby points.

Notes: Practical Move won the Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos, the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park and the Santa Anita Derby.

11. DISARM (30-1)

Foaled: Feb. 28, 2020, at Corinthia Farm in Lexington.

Jockey: Joel Rosario.

Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen.

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Sire: Gun Runner.

Dam: Easy Tap.

Record: One win, two seconds and two thirds in five starts, 46 Derby points.

Notes: Disarm was second in the Louisiana Derby and third in the Lexington Stakes.

12. JACE’S ROAD (50-1)

Foaled: April 25, 2020, at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville.

Jockey: Florent Geroux.

Trainer: Brad H. Cox.

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables.

Breeder: Colts Neck Stables.

Sire: Quality Road.

Dam: Out Post.

Record: Two wins and two thirds in six starts, 45 Derby points.

Notes: Jace’s Road was third in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, won the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds, was fifth in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and was third in the Louisiana Derby.

13. SUN THUNDER (50-1)

Foaled: March 12, 2020, at Southern Equine Farm in Midway.

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek.

Owner: R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine.

Breeder: Southern Equine Stables.

Sire: Into Mischief.

Dam: Greenfield D’Oro.

Record: One win, one second and one third in six starts, 54 Derby points.

Notes: Sun Thunder was fourth in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, second in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, fifth in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

14. ANGEL OF EMPIRE (8-1)

Foaled: April 9, 2020, in Pennsylvania.

Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Trainer: Brad H. Cox.

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables.

Breeder: Forgotten Land Investment Inc. and Black Diamond Equine Corp.

Sire: Classic Empire.

Dam: Armony’s Angel.

Record: Four firsts and a second in six starts, 154 Derby points.

Notes: Angel of Empire was second in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn, won the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in February and won the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 1.

15. FORTE (SCRATCHED)

Foaled: Feb. 3, 2020, at Gunston Hall in Lexington.

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.

Breeder: South Gate Farm in Virginia.

Sire: Violence.

Dam: Queen Caroline.

Record: Six wins in seven starts, 190 Derby points.

Notes: Forte won the Breeders’ Futurity and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, both at Keeneland, and the Fountain of Youth Stakes in March and the Florida Derby in April, both at Gulfstream.

16. RAISE CAIN (50-1)

Foaled: April 7, 2020, at Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds in Versailles.

Jockey: Gerardo Corrales.

Trainer: Ben Colebrook.

Owner: Andrew N. Warren and Rania Warren.

Breeder: Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds.

Sire: Violence.

Dam: Lemon Belle.

Record: Two wins, a second and a third in seven starts, 64 Derby points.

Notes: Second in the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds, won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct and finished fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

17. DERMA SOTOGAKE (10-1)

Foaled: April 28, 2020, in Japan.

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire.

Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi

Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma.

Breeder: Shadai Farm.

Sire: Mind Your Biscuits.

Dam: Amour Poesie.

Record: Four wins and two thirds in eight starts, 100 Derby points.

Notes: Derma Sotogake won the Zennippon Nisai Yushun in Japan and the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

18. ROCKET CAN (30-1)

Foaled: April 28, 2020, at WinStar Farm in Versailles.

Jockey: Junior Alvarado.

Trainer: William I. Mott.

Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.

Breeder: Woodford Thoroughbreds.

Sire: Into Mischief.

Dam: Tension.

Record: Two wins and two seconds in seven starts, 60 Derby points.

Notes: Rocket Can won the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, was second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and was fourth in the Arkansas Derby.

19. LORD MILES (SCRATCHED)

Foaled: March 30, 2020, at Hartwell Farm in Nicholasville.

Jockey: Paco Lopez.

Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.

Owner: Vegso Racing Stable.

Breeder: Vegso Racing Stable.

Sire: Curlin.

Dam: Lady Esme.

Record: Two wins and a third place in five starts, 105 Derby points.

Notes: Lord Miles won the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct.

20. CONTINUAR (SCRATCHED)

Foaled: March 7, 2020, in Japan.

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai.

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi.

Owner: Lion Race Horse Co.

Breeder: Lake Villa Farm.

Sire: Drefong.

Dam: Pan De Ring.

Record: Two firsts, a second and a third in five starts; invited to Derby.

Notes: Continuar won the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse and finished third in the UAE Derby.

21. Cyclone Mischief (30-1)

Foaled: April 30, 2020, at Castleton Lyons in Lexington.

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer: Dale Romans.

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons.

Breeder: Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate.

Sire: Into Mischief

Dam: Areyoucominghere

Record: Two wins and three thirds in seven starts.

Notes: Cyclone Mischief was third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and third in the Florida Derby.

22. Mandarin Hero (20-1)

Foaled: March 20, 2020 in Japan.

Jockey: Kazushi Kimura.

Trainer: Terunobu Fujita.

Owner: Hiroaki Arai.

Breeder: Hirano Bokujo.

Sire: Shanghai Bobby.

Dam: Namura Nadeshiko.

Record: Four wins and two seconds in six starts.

Notes: Mandarin Hero was second in the Santa Anita Derby in April.

23. King Russell (50-1)

Foaled: Feb. 8, 2020, at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky.

Jockey: Rafael Bejarano.

Trainer: Ron Moquett.

Owner: Brereton C. Jones and Naber Racing.

Breeder: Brereton C. Jones.

Sire: Creative Cause.

Dam: Believe You Will.

Record: One wins and three seconds in six starts.

Notes: King Russell finished second in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, his only career stakes race.

2023 Kentucky Derby

When: 6:57 p.m. Saturday

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville

TV: NBC

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