2023 Kentucky Derby top contenders, with odds

While there's still one more Kentucky Derby prep race in Saturday's Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, the field of 20 starters is likely set for the Run for the Roses, with the first leg of the Triple Crown to be run on May. 6 at Chruchill Downs.

A year ago, it was 80-1 Rich Strike, the longest shot to win the race in over a century, pulling off a stunning upset, pulling off a dramatic stretch run, made possible by incredibly fast early fractions.

Who will be draped in a blanket of roses this year?

Post time on May 6 will be 6:57 p.m., with the race televised on NBC from 2:30-7:30 p.m.

Here are the 20 three-year-old colts expected to go postward in the 10-furlong test, and our early predictions on what the odds will be for this year's contenders:

Forte 5/2

Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Irad Ortiz.

Has four career Grade 1 wins, including rallying from far back to win the Florida Derby. Unbeaten over last five starts, Forte does not have a Beyer Speed Figure over 98 so far, getting a 95 for the Florida Derby.

Practical Move 3-1

Trainer: Tim Yakteen; Jockey: Ramon Vazquez.

Has won three straight graded stakes, holding on to win the Santa Anita Derby by a nose, after being purchased for $230,000 as a 2-year-old last spring. Likes to stalk the pace. His sire, Practical Joke, was at his best around one turn.

Angel of Empire 7/2

Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Comes off an impressive 4 1/2-lenth win in Arkansas Derby, moving on the outside and rolling past the field, after coming from way back to win the Risen Star back on Feb. 18. Will be a factor at the end going 10 furlongs.

Tapit Trice 5-1

Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Luis Saez.

Rallied wide to get up and win the Blue Grass Stakes by a neck over Verifying, and has now won four straight, including the Tampa Bay Derby.  Likes to come from off the pace. Tapit has sired three Belmont winners, but has yet to produce a Derby winner.

Kingsbarns 5-1

Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Secured Derby invitation with an impressive front-running win in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, remaining unbeaten in three career starts while picking up a career-best 95 Beyer.  

Two Phil’s 6-1

Trainer: Larry Rivelli; Jockey: Jareth Loveberry.

Credited with a 101 Beyer in winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on March 25. The last horse to win that race and come back to win the Kentucky Derby was Animal Kingdom, who rallied wide from far back to win at 20-1. Could be in play in exotics at a higher price here.

Derma Sotogake 8-1

Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi; Jockey: Christophe Patrice Lemaire.

It's difficult to know how a win in the UAE Derby on March 25 in Dubai will translate here, winning by 5 1/2 length win at 1-1/16 mile, with horses from Japan taking the top four spots.  Lemaire rode last year’s UAE Derby winner, Crown Pride to a 13th place finish in the Derby.

Rocket Can 8-1

Trainer: Bill Mott; Jockey: Junior Alvarado.

Won the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 4 at Gulfstream, stalking the pace before taking control at the quarter pole. Was second-best to Forte in the Fountain of Youth, and ran evenly placing fourth in the Arkansas Derby.

Verifying 10-1

Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.

A late bump in a stretch dual with Tapit Trice may have cost Verifying a victory in the Blue Grass Stakes, beaten a neck. Credited with a 97 Beyer in an allowance win at Oaklawn to open the year.

Confidence Game 12-1

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux; Jockey: James Graham.

An impressive winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn back on Feb. 28. But Desormeaux has opted to train Confidence Game up to the Derby, working four furlongs in 1:00.4 at Churchill Downs on April 8.

Continular 15-1

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi.

Winner of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby,” comes in off a third place finish behind Derma Sotogake in the UAE Derby.

Mage 15-1

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado; Jockey: Luis Saez.

With just three career starts, punched Derby ticket with a second-place finish in the Florida Derby, credited with a 94 Beyer in finishing a length behind Forte, after breaking last in the field of 12.

Raise Cain 18-1

Trainer: Ben Colebrook; Jockey: Joel Rosario.

Came from far back to win the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 4, but was unable to rally from 10th in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, finishing fifth, beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Tapit Trice.  His late running style could make him a factor at 10 furlongs.  

Hit Show 18-1

Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Manny Franco.

Did well on the New York route to the Derby, winning the Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 11 before losing to longshot Lord Miles by nose in the Wood Memorial.

Lord Miles 20-1

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.; Jockey: Paco Lopez.

Stunning winner of the Wood Memorial at 59-1, surviving a three-horse battle deep in the stretch and an inquiry to edge favored Hit Show by a nose. This after struggling in three stakes races in Florida to open the year.

Sun Thunder 20-1

Trainer: Ken McPeek; Jockey: Florent Geroux.

Secured a spot in the field with a fourth-place finish at 13-1 in the Blue Grass Stakes. A non-winner outside the maiden ranks, finished second in the Grade 2 Risen Star behind Angel of Empire on Feb. 18.

Blazing Sevens 20-1

Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Winner of the Champagne Stakes last fall in New York, comes off a third in the Blue Grass Stakes, finishing six lengths behind the top two, after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth.  

Reincarnate 25-1

Trainer: Tim Yakteen; Jockey: John Velazquez.

Has hit the board in three straight graded stakes, including a victory in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 8. Finished third in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in last two starts.  

Jace’s Road 25-1

Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Florent Geroux.

Secured a spot in the starting gate by placing third at the Louisiana Derby, five lengths behind winner Kingsbarns. Ran in a pair of stakes races at Churchill Downs last fall.

Wild On Ice 30-1

Trainer: Joel Marr; Jockey: Ken Tohill.

Picked up 50 Derby points by winning the Sunland Park Derby on March 28 at 35-1, longest shot in the field. Only other win came in an allowance race at Zia Park last December.