Biggest upset winner of the 2021 Triple Crown prep trail, the 72-1 shocker he pulled in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct was the largest in the history of New York's most important prep. Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher saddles this son of Preakness winner Bernardini for historic Calumet Farm. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche will become the first African-American jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby since 2013 and could become the first to wear the roses since Jimmy Winkfield's back-to-back victories in 1901-1902.

Consistent member of the Fair Grounds' sophomore series, he won the Lecomte, finished third in the Risen Star and was runner-up in the Louisiana Derby, never defeated more than 2 lengths in those races. The son of Tiznow is bred for distance and was runner-up at Churchill Downs last September on Derby Day in the Iroquois Stakes. Trainer Steve Asmussen ranks #2 all-time in Thoroughbred victories in North America and seeks his first Kentucky Derby.

12-1 upset winner of the Arkansas Derby, he rallied to catch the dueling pair of Caddo River and Concert Tour in Oaklawn's signature race. He finished third to likely Kentucky Derby favorite in last year's Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and has never finished worse than fourth on dirt. Trainer Steve Amussen, a Preakness and Belmont winner, has the second most victories in North American Thoroughbred history, but has yet to win the Kentucky Derby.

The Santa Anita-based colt has proven to be a road warrior, winning March's Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and finishing second at Keeneland in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He is just 1 length away from being undefeated on dirt in races at a mile or longer, dropping a narrow decision in the Robert Lewis Memorial behind Medina Spirit. Trainer Doug O'Neill is a 2-time Kentucky Derby winner with I'll Have Another (2012) and Nyquist (2016).

12-1 runner-up to Known Agenda in the Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The previously undefeated colt won his 2 initial starts by 10 combined lengths, adding a Tampa Bay Downs allowance route to his debut sprint win against fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Casse won two-thirds of the 2019 Triple Crown with Preakness winner War of Will and Belmont upsetter Sir Winston, but has yet to win a Kentucky Derby. Sire Into Mischief was repsonsible for last year's Kentucky Derby champ Authentic.

Consistent, top-2 finisher across Santa Anita's Robert B. Lewis Stakes, San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby, he could give trainer Bob Baffert a record-setting seventh Kentucky Derby winner. Baffert and jockey John Velazquez seek back-to-back Kentucky Derby scores after winning last year teamed with Authentic. The $35,000 bargain purchase has earned nearly 10 times that back to date.

The undefeated 2-year-old champion of 2020 has been as sterling at 3 as he was during his Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winning run last autumn. He stabled in New Orleans at Fair Grounds, but traveled to Oaklawn to win the Southwest and to Keeneland in Kentucky to score the Blue Grass. While no horse has swept the Blue Grass and Kentucky Derby since 1991 (Strike the Gold), last year's champion trainer Brad Cox is playing a very formidable hand.

Gulfstream Park's Florida Derby winner turned the corner on his season in late February with a smashing, 11-length allowance win. Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher was down this victorious path in 2017 with Always Dreaming for some of the same owners, which includes Vincent Viola, owner of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers.

The wire-to-wire Santa Anita Derby winner has never been defeated. He made a smashing dirt debut April 3 while stretching out beyond a mile for the first time. Rock Your World's sire Candy Ride is renowned for his versatility, and this colt has that. He did not debut until Jan. 1, and only Justify (2018) in more than a century has won the Kentucky Derby without racing as a 2-year-old.