THE FIELD AT A GLANCE
1. LOOKIN AT LEE
Sire: Lookin At Lucky Dam: Langara Lass, by Langfuhr Owner: L and N Racing LLC Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Corey Lanerie Record: 2-2-2 in nine starts Odds: 20-1 What to know: Finished third in Arkansas Derby, 11⁄ lengths 2 behind winner Classic Empire. ... Fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
2. THUNDER SNOW
Sire: Helmet Dam: Eastern Joy, by Dubai Destination Owner: Godolphin (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid el Maktoum, et al) Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Record: 4-2-0 in eight starts Odds: 20-1 What to know: Sheikh Mohammed and his Godolphin Stable is 0-for-10 in the Kentucky Derby, his best finish coming in 2015 with Frosted (fourth). ... Thunder Snow has won three consecutive races, joining Always Dreaming and Fast and Accurate.
3. FAST AND ACCURATE
Sire: Hansen Dam: It’s Heidi’s Dance, by Green Dancer Owner: Kendall Hansen Trainer: Michael Maker Jockey: Channing Hill Record: 3-1-0 in six starts Odds: 50-1 What to know: In his last race, Fast and Accurate won the Spiral Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Blueridge Traveler. ... Hansen and Maker teamed in the 2012 Kentucky Derby with Hansen, who finished ninth.
4. UNTRAPPED
Sire: Trappe Shot Dam: Exit Three, by Giant’s Causeway Owner: Michael Langford Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Record: 1-3-1 in six starts Odds: 30-1 What to know: Finished sixth in the Arkansas Derby, 5 lengths behind winner Classic Empire. ... Distance is a question as his sire, Trappe Shot, was more successful as a sprinter.
5. ALWAYS DREAMING
Sire: Bodemeister Dam: Above Perfection, by In Excess Owner: Brooklyn Boyz Stables (Anthony Bonomo Sr.) and Teresa Viola Racing Stables Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: John Velazquez Record: 3-1-1 in five starts Odds: 5-1 What to know: Won the Florida Derby by 5 lengths over State of Honor. ... Bodemeister, Always Dreaming’s sire, finished second in the Derby and in the Preakness Stakes in 2012.
6. STATE OF HONOR
Sire: To Honor and Serve Dam: State Cup, by Elusive Quality Owner: Conrad Farms Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Jose Lezcano Record: 1-4-2 in 10 starts Odds: 30-1 What to know: No horse in the Derby field will have run as many races (10) as State of Honor. Has finished in the money in six races in a row, winning once (Oct. 19 maiden race at Woodbine). ... With regular rider Julien Leparoux on Classic Empire, Lezcano will ride State of Honor for the first time.
7. GIRVIN
Sire: Tale of Ekati Dam: Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon Owner: Brad Grady Trainer: Joe Sharp Jockey: Mike Smith Record: 3-1-0 in four starts. Odds: 15-1 What to know: In his last time out, Girvin won the Louisiana Derby by 11⁄ lengths over Patch. 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Girvin in each of his first four races but chose to ride McCraken in the Derby. That opened the door for Smith to take the mount. ... Sharp is married to Rosie Napravnik, the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks in 2012 with Believe You Can.
8. HENCE
Sire: Street Boss Dam: Floating Island, by A.P. Indy Owner: Calumet Farm Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Florent Geroux Record: 2-1-1 in six starts Odds: 15-1 What to know: In his last race, he won the Sunland Derby by 33⁄ lengths over Conquest Mo 4 Money. ... Hence’s 103 Brisnet Speed Figure for the Sunland Derby is the best for any Derby hopeful in his last race.
9. IRAP
Sire: Tiznow Dam: Silken Cat, by Storm Cat Owner: Reddam Racing (Paul Reddam) Trainer: Doug O’Neill Jockey: Mario Gutierrez Record: 1-3-1 in eight starts Odds: 20-1 What to know: Won the Blue Grass Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Practical Joke, becoming the first maiden winner in the race’s history. ... The connections of Reddam, O’Neill and Gutierrez won the Kentucky Derby with Nyquist last year and I’ll Have Another in 2012.
10. GUNNEVERA
Sire: Dialed In Dam: Unbridled Rage, by Unbridled Owner: Peacock Racing Stables (Solomon Del-Valle, Guillermo Guerra and Jaime Diaz) Trainer: Antonio Sano Jockey: Javier Castellano Record: 4-2-1 in nine starts Odds: 15-1 What to know: Trainer Antonio Sano was kidnapped twice in his native Venezuela before moving to the USA in 2009. ... Gunnevera was a $16,000 purchase at the 2015 Keeneland September sale.
11. BATTLE OF MIDWAY
Sire: Smart Strike Dam: Rigoletta, by Concerto Owner: WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer Jockey: Flavien Prat Record: 2-1-1 in four starts Odds: 30-1 What to know: Was second in the Santa Anita Derby, a halflength behind Gormley. ... WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable purchased the horse April 21. ... Battle of Midway did not race as a 2-year-old.
12. SONNETEER
Sire: Midnight Lute Dam: Ours, by Half Ours Owner: Calumet Farm Trainer: J. Keith Desormeaux Jockey: Kent Desormeaux Record: 0-4-2 in 10 starts Odds: 50-1 What to know: Brothers J. Keith and Kent Desormeaux teamed up in the 2016 Kentucky Derby with Exaggerator, finishing second. He went on to win the Preakness. ... Sonneteer would be just the 11th maiden to run in the Kentucky Derby since 1937. Trojan Nation became the 10th last year, finishing 16th.
13. J BOYS ECHO
Sire: Mineshaft Dam: Letgomyecho, by Menifee Owner: Albaugh Family Stable Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: Luis Saez Record: 2-1-1 in six starts Odds: 20-1 What to know: Romans has saddled seven Derby starters, finishing third twice with Paddy O’Prado (2010) and Dullahan (2012). ... Mineshaft, J Boys Echo’s sire, was the American Horse of the Year in 2003.
14. CLASSIC EMPIRE
Sire: Pioneerof the Nile Dam: Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief. Owner: John Oxley Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Julien Leparoux Record: 5-0-1 in seven starts. Odds: 4-1 What to know: Won the Arkansas Derby by a half-length over Conquest Mo Money. Was the 2-year-old champion colt after winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. ... Leparoux is 0-for-9 in the Kentucky Derby.
15. MCCRAKEN
Sire: Ghostzapper Dam: Ivory Empress, by Seeking the Gold Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC (Janis R. Whitham) Trainer: Ian Wilkes Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Record: 4-0-1 in five starts Odds: 5-1 What to know: Was considered the Derby favorite after winning his first four races but slipped a bit after an ankle injury and a third-place showing in the Blue Grass Stakes. ... This will be the first Derby starter for trainer Wilkes, who worked under Carl Nafzger during Derby victories with Unbridled (1990) and Street Sense (2007).
16. TAPWRIT
Sire: Tapit Dam: Appealing Zophie, by Successful Appeal Owner: Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert V. LaPenta Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Jose Ortiz Record: 3-1-0 in six starts Odds: 20-1 What to know: One of the most expensive horses in the field, Tapwrit was purchased for $1.2 million at the 2015 FasigTipton Saratoga sale. ... Seemed to be improving after winning the Tampa Bay Derby but had a wide trip in the Blue Grass.
17. IRISH WAR CRY
Sire: Curlin Dam: Irish Sovereign, by Polish Numbers Owner: Isabelle De Tomaso Trainer: Graham Motion Jockey: Rajiv Maragh Record: 4-0-0 in five starts Odds: 6-1 What to know: Won the Wood Memorial by 31⁄ lengths over 2 Battalion Runner. ... Motion won the Kentucky Derby in 2011 with Animal Kingdom. ... Irish War Cry was among the Derby favorites after winning the Holy Bull but slipped some after a seventh-place finish in the Fountain of Youth.
18. GORMLEY
Sire: Malibu Moon Dam: Race to Urga, by Bernstein Owner: Jerry and Ann Moss Trainer: John Shirreffs Jockey: Victor Espinoza Record: 4-0-0 in six starts Odds: 15-1 What to know: Rallied to win the Santa Anita Derby by a halflength over Battle of Midway. The Mosses and Shirreffs teamed to win the Derby in 2005 with Giacomo. ... Four wins have been impressive, but Gormley has been inconsistent, finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and fourth in the San Felipe.
19. PRACTICAL JOKE
Sire: Into Mischief Dam: Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor Owner: William H. Lawrence and Klaravich Stables Trainer: Chad Brown Jockey: Joel Rosario Record: 3-2-1 in six starts Odds: 20-1 What to know: Finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes, threequarters of a length behind Irap. ... Had an impressive 2-year-old campaign, with two Grade I victories, and finished third behind Classic Empire and Not This Time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
20. PATCH
Sire: Union Rags Dam: Windyindy by A.P. Indy Owner: Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley) Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Record: 1-2-0 in three starts Odds: 30-1 What to know: Was second in the Louisiana Derby, 11⁄ lengths 4 behind Girvin. ... Patch’s left eye was removed because of massive inflammation before his first race. Also eligible: No. 21 Royal Mo and No. 22 Master Plan could draw into the field if there are scratches by 9 a.m. ET Friday.