2018 Kentucky Derby

A horse heads onto the track for a morning workout at Churchill Downs Friday, May 4, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby took place on Saturday, May 5.

Check out this year's contenders: 

Firenze Fire

Firenze Fire (1)

Trainer: Jason Servis
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Morning Line: 50-1

Firenze Fire came in first at the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct and the Champagne Stakes at Belmont, but he placed fourth in his last two runs - the Wood Memorial and the Gotham Stakes. 

Free Drop Billy

Free Drop Billy (2)

Trainer: Dale L. Romans
Jockey: Robby Albarado               
Morning Line: 30-1

Free Drop Billy won his maiden race at Churchill Downs last June, and the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. He placed second at the Holy Bull Stakes, and third at the Blue Grass Stakes last month. 

Promises Fulfilled

Promises Fulfilled (3)

Trainer: Dale L. Romans
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie               
Morning Line: 30-1

Winner of the Maiden Special Weight last September and the Fountain of Youth Stakes in March, he finished a disappointing ninth at the Florida Derby last time out.

Flameaway

Flameaway (4)

Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Morning Line: 30-1

First-place finisher at the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Flameaway came in second at the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes. 

Audible

Audible (5)

Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Morning Line: 8-1

Audible has won his last four races, including the Holy Bull Stakes and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream. 

Good Magic

Good Magic (6)

Trainer: Chad C. Brown
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Morning Line: 12-1

Last time out, Good magic won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, and last November the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He came in third at the Fountain of Youth Stakes. 

Justify - WINNER

Justify (7)

Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike E. Smith
Morning Line: 3-1

In his third start, Justify won the $1 million Santa Anita Derby, making this colt the 3-1 favorite.

Justify drew a favored post position - 7 - which has been the starting gate for six Derby winners, most recently 2007's Street Sense. But that blessing also comes with the "Curse of Apollo": no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year old. (Magnum Moon is in the same boat.)

Justify ran the 2018 Kentucky Derby's 1¼ miles with a winning time of 2:04.20

Lone Sailor

Lone Sailor (8)

Trainer: Thomas M. Amoss
Jockey: James Graham
Morning Line: 50-1

Lone Sailor came close in his last two outings, including finishing second in the Louisiana Derby Stakes.

Hofburg

Hofburg (9)

Trainer: William I. Mott
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Morning Line: 20-1

Finished second at the Florida Derby in March. 

My Boy Jack

My Boy Jack (10)

Trainer: J. Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Kent J. Desormeaux
Morning Line: 30-1

My Boy Jack posted wins in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, and the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. 

Bolt d'Oro

Bolt d'Oro (11)

Trainer: Mick Ruis
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Morning Line: 8-1

Bolt d'Oro was victorious in the FrontRunner Stakes and the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, and was second in the Santa Anita Derby.

Espinoza rode American Pharoah to win the 2015 Triple Crown.

Enticed

Enticed (12)

Trainer: Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Morning Line: 30-1

Winner of the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, and a second-place finisher at the Wood Memorial.

Bravazo

Bravazo (13)

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Luis Contreras
Morning Line: 50-1

Winner of the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn (14)

Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan L. Moore
Morning Line: 5-1

Winner of the UAE Derby and the Patton Stakes. Having previously raced in Dubai, Ireland and Great Britain, Mendelssohn could be the first horse coming from Europe to win America's biggest race.

Instilled Regard

Instilled Regard (15)

Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Morning Line: 50-1

Instilled Regard came in first at the LeComte Stakes, and fourth at the Santa Anita Derby and Risen Star Stakes. 

Magnum Moon

Magnum Moon (16)      

Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Morning Line: 6-1

Magnum Moon posted wins at the Arkansas Derby and the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Solomini

Solomini (17)

Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Morning Line: 30-1

A string of second-place finishes, in the FrontRunner Stakes, Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Rebel Stakes. 

Vino Rosso

Vino Rosso (18)

Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Morning Line: 12-1

Pletcher and Velazquez were victorious at last year's Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming. Here, they are fielding the winner of the Wood Memorial. 

Noble Indy

Noble Indy (19)

Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Morning Line: 30-1

Winner of the Louisiana Derby Stakes. 

Combatant

Combatant (20)

Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Morning Line: 50-1

Finished second at the Springboard Mile Stakes, Smarty Jones Stakes and Southwest Stakes; third at the Rebel Stakes; and fourth at the Arkansas Derby.

"The Sun Shines Bright ..."

Women wearing Derby hats also wore protective gear on Saturday, May 5, as showers made for a soggy running of the Kentucky Derby. 

Derby Day

From left: Paige Rogers, Josephine Whan and Soohuen Whan take shelter from the rain under a tarp during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Despite the rain, attendance was more than 157,000.

Grandstand

The field enters the first turn during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

Enticed and Audible

Junior Alvarado aboard Enticed (12) races Javier Castellano aboard Audible (5) during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

First Turn

Justify and Promises Fulfilled lead the pack into the first turn of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Justify Leads

Mike Smith aboard Justify (7) races Corey J. Lanerie aboard Promises Fulfilled (3) and Victor Espinoza aboard Bolt D'Oro (11) during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

To the Finish Line

Mike Smith aboard Justify (7), ahead of Javier Castellano aboard Audible (5), heads ot the finish line to win the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

The Finish Line

Mike Smith aboard Justify (7) crosses the finish line to win the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

Justify

Mike Smith aboard Justify crosses the finish line to win the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It was Smith's first Kentucky Derby victory since riding Giacomo in 2005.

Good Magic came in second, Audible was third. 

Roses

Jockey Mike Smith aboard Justify in the winner's circle following the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 5, 2018.

Run for the Roses

A general view of roses in the infield before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

Mint Juleps All Around

A bartender serves a mint julep during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.