The 150th Kentucky Derby is just around the corner.
The world's best 3-year-old horses are scheduled to race at Churchill Downs on Saturday at approximately 6:57 p.m. Millions of dollars are wagered on racetracks and around the world on strong favorites and longest long shots.
Who will win Saturday night's Garland of Roses? Here are the Courier Journal sports staff's favorites to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
rich barak
winner: seize freedom
On the board: Sierra Leone, intensity and eternal youth
Long shot pick: honor marie
If Fierceness and Sierra Leone can overcome their tough starting position, they will be hard to beat. I'm expecting a free-for-all at the head of the straight and imagine Catching Freedom and Sierra Leone jumping over Fierce and cornering him on the wire.
ryan black
winner:Violent
On the board: Sierra Leone, Fortress, Forever Young
long shot choose: Just a Touch
No horse enters the Run for the Roses in better form than Fierceness, who won his last start (Florida Derby at Gulfstream) by 13 and a half lengths on March 30th. But that's not all he wants to do. He will be led by John Velasquez, the Derby's most experienced jockey (3 Derby winners in 25 rides). And he is trained by one of the best trainers, Todd A. Pletcher, the highest-paid trainer in North American history and two-time Derby winner. I'll admit he's not a very imaginative choice. But picking winners is more fun than being creative.
CL brown
winner: Just touch
on the board: Intensity, TO password
long shot pick: West Saratoga
I think Sierra Leone would win if they had a better draw, but they won't be able to overcome it if they start from second post. Just Touch is the right horse for the right place in a comparable field.
Alexis Cubitt
winner: West Saratoga
on the board: Just Steel, Sierra Leone, Intensity
long shot choose: TOPassword
The Derby had its fair share of surprising horses and underdog (or underdog?) winners. This year seems like as good a time as ever for a horse that wasn't really expected to win to do so.
Jason Frakes
winner: Just touch
on the board: Sierra Leone
Long shot pick: honor marie
Just-A-Touch seems to be improving with each race and performing great when it matters most. Trainer Brad his cox will know how he feels when his horse crosses the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby.
Brooks Holton
winner: Violent
On the board: Just a Touch, Sierra Leone, Honor Marie
Long shot pick: Domestic products
Judging by Derby wins alone, they are an inexperienced group of jockeys. Hall of Famer John Velasquez is trying to become the fourth man to reach the winner's circle four times on Run for the Roses. Giving the 52-year-old Puerto Rican the fastest horse in the field won't hurt his chances.
prince james story
winner: Just touch
on the board: Fierceness and freedom in Sierra Leone
long shot pick: endlessly
He is his father's son. As Jason Frakes explained in his Just a Touch profile, he didn't race as a two-year-old, but neither did his sire, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. He almost beat Sierra Leone in the Bluegrass Stakes, but I think he did it this time.
Natalie Pierre
winner: forever young
on the board: Intense, just touched on.
long shot pick: Honor Marie
This is the year that Japanese horses finally accomplished the feat at the Run for the Roses. Forever Young is a proven winner with speed, experience and post and could add a clear win to his perfect resume Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Contact sports reporter Brooks Warren at bwarren@gannett.com and follow X at @Brookksss.
