Runaway Withers winner was expected to repeat in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct's same distance, but was a nose short as the 8-5 favorite. The Wood hasn't produced the Derby winner since Funny Cide in 2003, but did springboard last year's Preakness winner Early Voting and Belmont winner Mo Donegal.

Blue Grass Stakes runner-up by a neck could be part of the early pace in the Triple Crown series. Son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify has yet to win a stakes in 4 attempts. Could join Forte and Blazing Sevens as the only '22 Breeders' Cup Juvenile alumni in this year's Derby field.

Graded stakes winner at ages 2 and 3, he comes off his signature victory in the Jeff Ruby at Turfway. He's won on dirt and the Tapeta synthetic surface. First Triple Crown appearance for Midwest-based jockey and trainer.

Oaklawn's Rebel Stakes winner has not competed since February 25, a 10-week layoff that's never been successful in winning the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Desormeaux won the 2016 Preakness with Exaggerator, that year's Derby runner-up. His mother (dam) is half-sister to the legendary champion Zenyatta.

Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes winner has won 4 straight races with a strong-finishing style. The $1.3 million yearling purchase is by far the most expensive horse in this year's Derby field. Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) remains the only Derby winner to sell for 7 figures.

Only unbeaten runner heading into this year's Kentucky Derby, he made the class rise with success in the Louisiana Derby to get here. Wire-to-wire winner that day of America's longest Triple Crown prep race at 1-3/16 miles (Preakness distance). Regret, Big Brown & Justify won the Derby as 3-3 unbeatens.

Winner of January's Sham Stakes while with trainer Bob Baffert, but transferred to Yakteen barn due to Baffert's 2-year Kentucky Derby suspension. Subsquently third in the Rebel and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. Sire Good Magic also has Mage and Blazing Sevens in potential Derby lineup.

Impressive January 28 debut winner at Gulfstream Park has taken the fast track to the Derby with only 3 starts. Finished fourth in the Fountan of Youth and second in the Florida Derby, cutting nearly 6 lengths of his margin vs. Forte in his last start. Grandson of Preakness winner Curlin and Derby winner Big Brown.

Late-running Santa Anita Derby third-place finish is from the same trainer who upset the 2005 Kentucky Derby with 50-1 Giacomo. Connections change jockeys from Victor Espinoza to Juan Hernandez, looking for a better style fit for this closer. Sire Curlin won the 2007 Preakness and was third in the Kentucky Derby.

Scored a heart-pounding win in a 3-way photo in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby to sweep California's top 2 spring races, following up on March's San Felipe stylish victory. Running style keeps him in close contact to the leaders under Triple Crown rookie rider Vazquez.

Earned Derby qualifying points in final race of prep series, finishing third in the Lexington to propel him into the field. Runner-up in the Louisiana Derby has just a 7-furlong sprint win at Saratoga in his win column. Trainer Asmussen has more wins than any in North American history, including Preakness & Belmont scores, but no Derby wins to date.

Won Fair Grounds' Gun Runner Stakes in December and was third there in the Louisiana Derby. Has experience at Churchill with a third-place finsih in the Iroquois Stakes at age 2. Ownership group includes West Point Thoroughbreds, part-owners of 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline.

Kentucky-based trainer McPeek won the Preakness (Swiss Skydiver) and Belmont (Sarava), but looks for his first Derby. Late-running 4th-place finisher in the Blue Grass Stakes was runner-up in the Risen Star in February and looks for his first career stakes win.

Top southern sophomore won Fair Grounds' Risen Star and Oaklawn's Arkansas Derby, making him a rare, 2-time winner at 1-1/8 miles already this season. Son of Classic Empire, who ran 4th in Kentucky Derby and 2nd in Preakness in 2017.

Champion 2-Year-Old of 2022 has won 5 straight, including 4 Grade 1 stakes. His streak culminated with a thrilling Florida Derby rally at Gulfstream Park. He has been the favored individual entry in each Kentucky Derby Future Wager of 2023 and expected favorite on the first Saturday in May.

The only Gotham Stakes winner to win the Kentucky Derby was Secretariat, fitting that this is his 50th anniversary to his Triple Crown glory. Both career wins have been in 1-turn races, and he's 0-3 around 2 turns, including a no-threat 5th in the Blue Grass.

The most accomplished of the Japanese contingent, he's the winner of the UAE Derby, third-place finisher in the Saudi Derby and multiple stakes winner in his homeland. UAE Derby alumni are 0-17 in the Kentucky Derby. Led wire-to-wire in Dubai and should be part of the early pace.

Gulfstream Park's Holy Bull winner finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. Owns a win and a runner-up in 2 Churchill Downs tries at age 2, and sire Into Mischief was responsible for Derby winners Authentic (2020) and Mandaloun (2021 via DQ).

Son of 2007 Derby third and Preakness winner Curlin pulled the prep season's biggest upset at 59-1 in the Wood Memorial. His only previous win came in a 6-furlong maiden race in November. Florida-based colt looks for his second successful roadtrip shocker.

Winner of the Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby points chase earned an automatic berth to the Derby. Distant third in the UAE Derby as part of a sweep of the top 4 placings by Japanese-based runners, which included Derma Sotogake, also in the Kentucky Derby field. Trainer Yahagi is a 2-time Breeders' Cup winner on US soil.

Veteran of the 3 Gulfstream Park major preps, he finished third in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. Louisville native Dale Romans is a Preakness winner (Shackleford 2011) and seeks his first Kentucky Derby score. Son of Into Mischief, sire of 2020 and 2021 Derby winners Authentic and Mandaloun.

Nose defeat in the Santa Anita Derby showed this Japanese runner belongs with America's best. He's a nose and a neck away from a perfect record in 6 starts and made the fast rise out of his homeland's secondary circuit in the NAR. Son on 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby.

Pride of the 2012 sophomore crop, he's by Preakness third and Derby fifth-place finisher Creative Cause and out of a full-sister to that year's Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can. Runner-up in Arkansas Derby at 58-1 odds behind Angel of Empire in his only stakes bid.