Top 7 Kentucky Derby 2022 Contenders

The prep races for the 2022 Kentucky Derby have begun. There are already a few front runners. The big race is in two months. Here are the early front-runners for that race.

Emannuel is one of the 2022 Kentucky Derby contenders. He has not raced in stakes company yet, but he is 2-for-2 for trainer Todd Pletcher. His damsire, Hard Spun, was second in the Breeder’s Cup Classic and Derby in 2007.

Classic Causeway won the Sam F. Davis Stakes under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in his debut. The horse finished the year 2021 with a runner-up place in the juvenile race at Churchill Downs.

Epicenter won the Risen Star stakes by three lengths. He is now at the top of the 2022 Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 64 points.

Messier is one of the favorites in the sportsbooks. His Beyer Speed Figure is 103. Bob Baffert trains and cares for the colt. Messier has zero points so far, even though he won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes by 15 lengths.

Forbidden Kingdom won the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park on January 29. This weekend he will run for the first time at two turns. His sire is American Pharoah, a Triple Crown champion.

Smile Happy lost the Risen star race against Epicenter. It was the horse's first race in almost three months. The fans are excited to see how the colt develops.

Rattle N Roll hasn't raced in more than four months. He will make his return to the track this Saturday in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous horse races globally. It is full of tradition, pageantry and excitement. There is also gambling involved.