Least-experienced Santa Anita Derby winner in history made a meteoric rise 4 weeks ago in California's key prep, defeating stablemate Messier. Now can he become the least-experienced Kentucky Derby winner since 1882?

The Bob Lewis Memorial winner and Santa Anita Derby runner-up was top-ranked on many Kentucky Derby lists for much of the prep season. This colt is sired by 2003 Kentucky Derby runner-up and Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker.

King of Tampa Bay Downs, winning the Sam F. Davis and local Derby there, backed up readily in the Florida Derby last time to finish 11th. After appearing off the Derby trail, he reappeared April 26 for a veteran ownership that wants to take a shot with the likely pace-setter.

Santa Anita Derby and San Felipe Stakes third-place finisher has to make up more than 10 lengths on past rivals Taiba and Messier, but is in the hands of 2-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill. He's a son of 2013 Preakness victor Oxbow.

Winner of the Fountain of Youth and third as the favorite in the Florida Derby, this Gulfstream Park veteran has made all 7 career starts at his home track. Trainer Antonio Sano was 7th in the 2017 Kentucky Derby with eventual $5 million earner Gunnevera.

Beaten favorite in the Risen Star to Epicenter and Blue Grass to Zandon, this son of champion sprinter Runhappy has never been out of the exacta. He won Churchill Downs' biggest 2-year-old race in November, the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

A stakes winner on turf and synthetic surfaces, this millionaire earner must prove his stakes mettle on dirt. His only try this year was a distant, 7th-place finish in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park to eventual Florida Derby winner White Abarrio.

Lexington Stakes winner in the final Kentucky Derby qualifying points prep, he also was runner-up on synthetic at Turfway Park in the Jeff Ruby. His sire finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, but Pioneerof The Nile is best known as the papa of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Winner of the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes, he was this year's leading point-getter on the Kentucky Derby trail. Epicenter could give Thoroughbred racing's all-time leading trainer by wins, Steve Asmussen, his first Kentucky Derby victory after 23 unsuccessful attempts.

Japan's representative in the Derby exits a victory in the United Arab Emirates Derby on the Dubai World Cup Night undercard. He's the fourth Japanese-raced horse to compete in the Kentucky Derby and second Japan-bred.

The same owner-trainer-jockey combination that brought you Kentucky Derby winners I'll Have Another and Nyquist (the sire of this contender) are back with the Sunland Derby winner. He beat top Derby hope Messier in the Los Al Futurity.

The Louisiana Derby runner-up has made fast strides since his Jan. 23 debut. He's won races at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn, so he's capable on the road for last year's Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Brad Cox.

Runner-up in the UAE Derby to Crown Pride, this Dubai-based colt has a pure Kentucky pedigree for his stateside debut. His only wins to date have come at 6 and 7 furlongs, a full 3 furlongs short of the Derby distance. Expect him on or near the lead.

Placed in all 3 legs of the Arkansas Derby series at Oaklawn, the consistent check-getter has not been beaten by more than 3 lengths this year. He won over the track at Churchill as a 2-year-old and will be a longshot late-runner in the Derby.

Louisiana Derby third-place finisher gets a third try against likely favorite Epicenter. Two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher sends out this colt, who is not related to 2021 dq'd Derby winner Medina Spirit.