In the buildup to Saturday’s 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, much of the narrative will surround six-time Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert. And Baffert won’t even have a horse in the starting gate, currently surving a suspension due to Medina Spirit’s post-race positive drug test after winning a year ago.
But when this year’s contenders are loaded into the staring gate for the 6:57 p.m. post-time, the reality is that a deep, talented field of 20 going after $3 million in purse money.
Coverage of this year’s Derby will be from 2:30-7:30 p.m. on NBC.
The post position draw for the Kentucky Derby will be held on Monday, from 2-3 p.m. Check back right here for complete coverage, including post positions and morning line odds for the group of top 3-year-old colts.
For now, here are the top contenders for the Run for the Roses :
Epicenter
Trainer: Steve Asmussen.
Jockey: Joe Rosario.
Capped a run of three wins in four starts at Fair Grounds with a score in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, earning a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 102.
Zandon
Trainer: Chad Brown.
Jockey: Flavien Prat.
Comes off a win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland in last start with a career-best 98 Beyer. Ran third behind Epicenter in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 19.
White Abarrio
Trainer: Saffie Joseph.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.
Comes off back-to-back wins at Gulfstream in the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby, pressing the pace in the Holy Bull and coming from just off the pace in the Florida Derby.
Mo Donegal
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Consistent New York-based runner has win in the Grade 3 Remsen and Grade 2 Wood Memorial, both at Aqueduct, while finishing third behind White Abarrio and Simplification in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream.
Tiz The Bomb
Trainer: Ken McPeek.
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Comes off back-to-back win at Turfway Park, including an impressive win in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in last start, earning a career-best 94 Beyer. Was well-beaten seventh in the Holy Bull three starts back.
Cyberknife
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux.
Related: Derby contender’s emotional ties to Monmouth Park
Ran best race of career in last start, a 2 3/4-length score in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, earning a 92 Beyer. Has followed that win up with several good workouts.
Crown Pride
Trainer: Kochi Shintani.
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire.
Japan-based runner coming off a win in the UAE Derby in Dubai on March 28. Will be the third Derby runner from Japan since 2016, with Master Fencer sixth in 2019.
Taiba
Trainer: Tim Yakteen.
Jockey: Mike Smith.
Lightly-race Gun Runner colt has two impressive wins in as many starts, including a win over Messier and Happy Jack in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby to earn a 102 Beyer, after a 103 in breaking maiden.
Simplification
Trainer: Antonio Sano.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz.
Finished third behind White Abarrio and Charge It in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, after battling Classic Causeway for the lead. Earned 96 Beyer for win in Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 5.
Smile Happy
Trainer: Ken McPeek,
Jockey: Corey Lanerie.
Comes off back-to-back runner-up efforts in Grade 2 Risen Star, behind Epicenter, and the Grade 1 Blue Grass, behind Zandon. Credited with 94 Beyers in both races.
Classic Causeway
Trainer: Brian Lynch.
Jockey: Julien Laparoux.
Comes off a disappointing last-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby after leading early. Led wire-to-wire in back-to-back wins at Tampa Bay, including the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 3 Sam F. Davis.
Tawny Port
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Came from off the pace to win Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in last start, two weeks after rallying for second in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park.
Barber Road
Trainer: John Ortiz.
Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez.
Has not won beyond allowance ranks, but comes off top effort of career with a second-place finish behind Cyberknife in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, coming from well off the pace.
Un Ojo
Trainer: Rickey Courville.
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez.
Came from last to get second at 28-1 in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct, before rallying to win the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. Ran a disappointing 8th in Arkansas Derby last time out.
Early Voting
Trainer: Chad Brown.
Jockey: TBD.
A neck away from being unbeaten in three career starts, led into the final 1/16th in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial before getting caught late by Mo Donegal in last start, after front-running win in Grade 3 Withers.
Messier
Trainer: Tim Yakteen.
Jockey: John Velazquez.
Earned a 103 Byer in winning the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita by 15 lengths on Feb. 6, and then got a 102 in finishing second behind Taiba in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby after taking the lead in the stretch.
Zozos
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: Manny Franco.
Finished second behind Epicenter after leading the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in last start, earning a 98 Beyer in third career start. Won Oaklawn allowance race by 10 1/4 lengths on Feb. 11.
Summer Is Tomorrow
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar.
Jockey: Mikael Barzalona.
All seven career starts have been in Dubai. Comes off a second-place finish behind Crown Pride in last start.
Charge It
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Luis Saez.
Lightly raced with just three career starts, finished second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby behind White Abarrio. Broke maiden by 8 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream two starts back.
Happy Jack
Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano.
Has not won beyond the maiden ranks, finishing third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in last start, after placing third in the Grade 2 San Felipe two starts back.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Kentucky Derby 2022: Post positions and analysis