By Liane Crossley
NKyTribune contributor
The 143rd renewal of the Kentucky Derby has attracted an overflow field of 22 horses for America’s most famous race on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Only 20 Thoroughbreds will be allowed to run, so if there are no defections by the Friday deadline, the two with the fewest qualifying points will stay at the barn. This year’s renewal has attracted horses from across America and Canada, a globe-trotting Irish-born colt and a one-eyed wonder aptly named Patch.
The morning-line favorite at 4-1 is Classic Empire, last year’s champion two-year-old colt who comes to the race after winning the Arkansas Derby on April 15.
Post time for the Derby is 6:24 p.m. Eastern Time. Coverage on NBC begins at 2:30 p.m. with their affiliate NBC Sports Network broadcasting the undercard starting at noon.
Lexington and Louisville NBC affiliates traditionally have all-day coverage starting Saturday morning.
Following are summaries of the entrants and their connections to Kentucky in post-position order with birthplace in parentheses.
1. Lookin At Lee (Ky.)
One of the most experienced horses in the races with nine starts, Lookin At Lee was third in the Arkansas Derby on April 15 in his most recent outing.
His named is derived from co-owner Lee Levinson and sire Lookin At Lucky.
Kentucky connection: He was sold at 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $70,000.
2. Thunder Snow (Ireland)
After racing in England, France and the United Arab Emirates, Thunder Snow gives the Derby international flair as he tries to become the first Irish-born racer to win America’s most famous horse race. Only four horses not born in the United States have won the Derby—Northern Dancer (1964) and Sunny’s Halo (1983) were products of Canada and Omar Khayyam (1917) and Tomy Lee (1959) were born in Great Britain.
Kentucky connection: Thunder Snow campaigns for the powerhouse Godolphin Racing of Sheihk Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum whose Central Kentucky presence includes his Darley farm near Blue Grass Airport.
3. Fast and Accurate (Pa.)
Fast and Accurate is owned in a partnership that includes Olympic gold medal-winning skier Bode Miller, who purchased an interest after he won the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky on March 25. A victory would make him the third Pennsylvania-born Derby winner following Smarty Jones in 2004 and Lil E Tee in 1992.
Kentucky connection: Fast and Accurate was offered for sale at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling auction.
4. Untrapped (Ky.)
After winning at Churchill Downs in October while making his second career start, Untrapped has been second or third in a trio of key Derby preps. He was sixth in the Arkansas Derby on April 15 in his most recent race.
Kentucky connection: Untrapped is a two-time graduate of Keeneland auctions. He was sold in January 2015 for $97,000 and brought $150,000 in September that year.
5. Always Dreaming (Ky.)
Always Dreaming capped his three-race winning streak by romping to victory in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 1.
He is one of four entrants trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver.
Kentucky connection: He was sold for $350,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.
6. State of Honor (Ky.)
State of Honor has divided his career between his native Canada and the Sunshine State where he was runner-up in the Florida Derby on April 1.
Kentucky connection: He is trained by Mark Casse, who annually ranks among the leading trainers at Churchill Downs and Keeneland.
7. Girvin (Ky.)
Girvin’s four career starts have been at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans where he won the Louisiana Derby on April 1. Minor hoof problems requiring special horseshoes attracted an abundance of media attention in the two weeks leading to the Kentucky Derby but his impressive workout at Keeneland on April 29 ended speculation that he would bypass the Derby.
He is named for an area of Texas.
Kentucky connection: Girvin was sold for $130,000 as a yearling at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale in Lexington.
8. Hence (Ky.)
Hence rallied from far back and romped to victory on March 26 in New Mexico’s Sunland Derby, a prep race that produced 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. He has made his other five starts in New York, Arkansas and Kentucky.
Kentucky connection: Hence campaigns for the famed Calumet Farm in Lexington now owned by Brad Kelley whose racing colors are black and gold. During their glory days under different ownership, Calumet Farm won the Kentucky Derby a record eight times with their legendary red and blue silks.
9. Irap (Ky.)
Despite going winless in his first two starts, Irap was elevated to stakes company where he was remarkably competitive against more accomplished rivals.
He went from unknown to well known when he earned his very first career victory in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes on April 8. His connections—owner Paul Reddam, trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Guitierrez together have won the Kentucky Derby twice—I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016.
Kentucky connection: After winning the Blue Grass Stakes, Irap continued training at Keeneland before shipping to Churchill Downs on April 29. He was sold at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $140,000.
10. Gunnevera (Ky.)
The Kentucky Derby annually features a story about underdogs and this year the main character is Gunnevera, who was sold as a young horse for $16,000. His storyline includes his trainer who left Venezuela because of political unrest and owner who continues to reside there.
His jockey is multiple champion Javier Castellano, who was born in Venezuela. The Venezuela connection conjures up memories of Kentucky-born Canonero II, who scored a stunning Kentucky Derby upset in 1971 after launching his career in that South American country.
Gunnevera established himself as top-shelf racer when he captured the Saratoga Special in August and has been on a roll ever since. After winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes in March, he finished third in the Florida Derby on April 1 in his most recent start.
Kentucky connection: He was sold at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $16,000.
11. Battle of Midway (Ky.)
Battle of Midway has made all four of his starts at Santa Anita where he has won twice. He will be racing for owners WinStar and Don Alberto for the first time since they purchased him following his runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
Kentucky connection: Upon retirement, he likely will spend his stallion career at WinStar Farm in Woodford County.
12. Sonneteer (Ky.)
With 10 starts to his credit, Sonneteer has yet to finish first. The last racer to earn his first career victory in the Derby was Brokers Tip in 1933. He was fourth in the Arkansas Derby on April 15.
Kentucky connection: Sonneteer campaigns for the famed Calumet Farm in Lexington now owned by Brad Kelley whose racing colors are black and gold. During their glory days under different ownership, Calumet Farm won the Kentucky Derby a record eight times with their legendary red and blue silks.
13. J Boys Echo (Ky.)
J Boys Echo is a hometown favorite by virtue of Dale Romans, his Louisville-raised trainer who has long been based at Churchill Downs where his father also was a high-profile trainer.
The colt was second in his career debut at Churchill Downs in October before stamping himself as a Derby contender by winning the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 4. He was fourth in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 in his most recent start.
J Boys Echo is named for co-owner Jason Loutsch, who often is called “J Boy.” The second part of the moniker is a nod to the colt’s dam, Letgomyecho.
Kentucky connection: He was sold at 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $485,000.
14. Classic Empire (Ky.)
Classic Empire is one of the most accomplished entrants with a resume that includes the Eclipse Award as the best 2-year-old male racehorse of 2016.
His victories last year include the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He added a victory in the Arkansas Derby to his record on April 15 in his most recent start.
Kentucky connection: He was purchased at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $475,000.
15. McCraken (Ky.)
McCraken won his first four starts before finishing third in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8. He races for octogenarian Janis Whitham, a longtime owner who named the colt for the town of McCracken in her home state of Kansas.
Because of a clerical error, his name was inadvertently misspelled.
Kentucky connection: McCraken has won three races at Churchill Downs.
16. Tapwrit (Ky.)
Tapwrit is the most expensive horse in the field with a price tag of $1.2-million at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and one of the most attractive with his blackish gray coat and white-trimmed tail.
He has won three of six starts including the Tampa Bay Derby in March. He is one of four entrants trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver.
Kentucky connection: Tapwrit finished fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8.
17. Irish War Cry (N.J)
In five races, Irish War Cry is nearly perfect. He made amends for his lone defeat in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida by winning another major prep race—the Wood Memorial Stakes at New York’s Aqueduct—in April.
A victory would make him the third New Jersey-born racer to win the Kentucky Derby following Calvacade in 1934 and the filly Regret in 1915.
Kentucky connection: His sire Curlin was third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby.
18. Gormley (Ky.)
Gormley solidified his place as a Kentucky Derby contender by scoring a half length victory in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. He has won four of six career starts, including the key prep race to the Santa Anita Derby, but he has never raced outside southern California.
He is owned by Ann and Jerry Moss and trained by John Shirreffs who teamed to win the Derby in 2005 with Giacomo.
Kentucky connection: Gormely was offered at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.
19. Practical Joke (N.Y.)
After winning his first three starts last year, Practical Joke was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.
Never worse than third in six career starts, Practical Joke was a gallant runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8. A triumph would make him the second New York-born winner following Funny Cide in 2003.
His name is derived from his lineage—his sire is Into Mischief and his dam is Halo Humor.
Kentucky connection: He has sold twice at Keeneland auctions—for $135,000 in January 2015 and for $240,000 in September 2015.
20. Patch (Ky.)
A one-eyed horse with the folksy name of Patch sounds like fiction but, indeed, is fact. He was christened in reference to his sire Union Rags but inadvertently lived up to his name when his ailing left eye was removed leaving a skin-covered socket.
Undeterred by his special challenge, he won his second career start in February and was runner-up in the Louisiana Derby on April 1.
Kentucky connection: Patch campaigns for the famed Calumet Farm in Lexington now owned by Brad Kelley whose racing colors are black and gold. During their glory days under different ownership, Calumet Farm won the Kentucky Derby a record eight times with their legendary red and blue silks.
Also eligible:
These horses will draw into the race if there are scratches.
Royal Mo (Ky.)
Royal Mo is owned by Ann and Jerry Moss and trained by John Shirreffs who teamed to win the Derby in 2005 with Giacomo. He comes to the Derby after finishing third in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
Kentucky connection: Royal Mo was sold for $300,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Master Plan (Ky.)
Master Plan returns to the U.S. after finishing third in the United Arab Emirates Derby on March 25. He is one of four entrants for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver.
Kentucky connection: He was sold for $70,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer