142nd Kentucky Derby Rundown!

By: Brittany Bevis

What could be better than enjoying a spectacular sunset over the Twin Spires with an ice cold mint julep in hand as a parade of fanciful hats and the most talented Thoroughbreds in the country head to the infield for the 142nd Kentucky Derby? While it might be hard to believe, the first Saturday of the month is upon us, and, in addition to April showers bringing May flowers, it’s time for the fastest two minutes in sports.

Twenty 3-year-old racehorses will take to the one and one quarter mile track at Churchill Downs in front of a live crowd of approximately 155,000 and millions more watching at home on television. As the first race of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby kicks off the excitement that another hopeful might follow in the footsteps of last year’s Triple Crown champion, American Pharoah.

Thanks to KentuckyDerby.com, we found out a few interesting facts about the Derby that you might not know…

• 20 horses compete in the Kentucky Derby, which is a much larger field than a typical race of eight horses.
• The Kentucky Derby’s winning purse is $2 million!
• In order to make it to the Derby, horses must compete in a series of 35 races at tracks around the world, called the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Points are awarded to the top four horses that finish. The top 20 with the most points get a coveted Derby invitation.

Weird News

Hoverboards have been added to the list of prohibited devices for the 2016 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. In 2015, selfie sticks were banned as well as drones and remote controlled aircraft. A ban from previous years will continue on laptop computers, cameras with detachable lenses, tripods, grills, backpacks, umbrellas, fireworks, and thermoses; however, small televisions will be permitted.

Celebrity Spottings

The winner of season nine of The Voice, Jordan Smith, will perform the national anthem at the Kentucky Oaks. Multi-platinum recording artist Lady Antebellum will perform the anthem at the Derby. Sports Illustrated cover model, actress, and former APHA youth competitor, Kate Upton, has been named the First Lady of the Longines Kentucky Oaks. As First Lady, Upton will participate in 8th annual Survivor’s Parade, which is held to raise national awareness of breast and ovarian cancer. She has also been invited to the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala.

Marching in the parade alongside Upton will be 142 cancer survivors from Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Massachusetts, Ontario, and Kentucky. These lucky survivors were selected through an online process where 500 plus women were nominated. Each survivor will also receive two reserved seats to the Kentucky Oaks.

Here is the field as they will exit from the starting gate on Saturday, per KentuckyDerby.com, the official Kentucky Derby website.

#1- Trojan Nation– Jockey- Aaron Gryder, Trainer- Patrick Gallagher

Fun Fact– This horse was named in honor of the University of Southern California.

#2- Suddenbreakingnews– Jockey- Luis S. Quinonez, Trainer- Donnie K. Von Hemel

Fun Fact- As a youngster, this horse was considered to be a ridgling, because he had two undescended testicles.

#3- Creator– Jockey- Ricardo Santana, Jr., Trainer- Steven M Asmussen

#4- Mo Tom– Jockey- Corey Lanerie, Trainer- Thomas Amoss

Fun Fact: Mo Tom and Tom’s Ready have the same owner in GMB Racing. Reportedly, Gayle Benson named the horses after her husband Tom, who is also the owner of the NFL New Orleans Saints and NBA New Orleans Pelicans.

#5- Gun Runner– Jockey- Florent Geroux, Trainer- Steven M. Asmussen

Fun Fact- Gun Runner and Creator have the same trainer, Steven Asmussen.

#6- My Man Sam– Jockey- Julien Leparoux, Trainer- Chad Brown

Fun Fact- This horse has only ran in one race.

#7- Oscar Nominated– Jockey- Robby Albarado, Trainer- Michael J. Maker

Fun Fact– This horse must have been named for his mother, Devine Actress.

#8- Lani– Trainer- Mikio Matsunaga

Fun Fact: This horse has only raced once and he has visited Japan. 

#9- Destin– Jockey- Javier Castellano, Trainer- Todd A. Pletcher

#10- Whitmore– Jockey- Victor Espinoza, Trainer- Ron Moquett

Fun Fact: Reportedly named after the trainer’s high school buddy.

#11- Exaggerator- Jockey- Kent Desormeaux, Trainer- J. Keith Desormeaux

Fun Fact: Nickname is “Buster”

#12- Tom’s Ready– Jockey- Brian Hernandez, Jr., Trainer- Dallas Stewart

Fun Fact: One of the only horses not from Kentucky; he is from Pennsylvania.

#13- Nyquist– Jockey- Mario Gutierrez, Trainer- Doug F. O’Neill

Fun Fact: The favorite. This horse is undefeated in seven races and has earned $3,289,000. As a lifelong fan of the NHL Detroit Red Wings, the owner has a habit of naming horses after his favorite hockey players like, Datsyuk, Lindstrom, Zetterberg, Mrazek, Kronwall, Tatar, and now Gustav Nyquist.

#14- Mohaymen– Jockey- Junior Alvarado, Trainer- Kiaran P. McLaughlin

#15- Outwork– Jockey- John Velazquez, Trainer- Todd Pletcher

#16- Shagaf– Jockey- Irad Ortiz, Jr., Trainer- Chad Brown

#18- Majesto– Jockey- Javier Castellano, Trainer- Gustavo Delgado

#17- Mor Spirit– Jockey- Gary L. Stevens, Trainer- Bob Baffert

Fun Fact: This horse is one of the only not from Kentucky. He is from Pennsylvania. 

#19- Brody’s Cause– Jockey- Luis Saez, Trainer- Dale L. Romans

#20- Danzing Candy– Jockey- Mike E. Smith, Trainer- Clifford Sise Jr.

#21- Laoban– Jockey- Jose Lezcano, Trainer- Eric Guillot

#22- Cherry Wine- Jockey Corey Laneris, Trainer- Dale Romans

For more Derby fun, check out this blog Derby’s Iconic Fashions- 141 years of Hats and Bow Ties. Also, be sure to download the Kentucky Derby Party Planning Guide for recipes, fashion ideas, and betting games.

Be sure to tune in to watch the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC Sports.