This Saturday, the best three-year-old horses in the world not trained by Bob Baffert step onto the Churchill Downs dirt for the annual Kentucky Derby. Heading into Saturday’s event, most horseplayers believe it’s a two equine contest between Todd Pletcher trained Fierceness and Chad Brown’s Sierra Leone. Check out more 2024 Kentucky Derby odds along with a preview of America’s most famous horse race.

2024 Kentucky Derby Race Info

Post Positions for the 150th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. pic.twitter.com/E2DFN5poae

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 27, 2024

• When: Saturday, May 4th, 2024. 2:30 pm EST
• Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
• TV/Streaming: Peacock
• Distance & Surface: 1 ¼ miles on dirt

Churchill Downs bans Baffert horses for a third straight year

Bob Baffert, again, has been banned from entering horses into the Kentucky Derby. What it means is that Muth, arguably the best three-year-old equine on the planet, won’t run in the United States’ most popular horse race.

Muth’s owners tried to get an injunction to allow the Arkansas Derby winner to participate. But a judge said doing so would be at the detriment of other horses. So Muth must stand on the sidelines.

No matter. Baffert won the Preakness with National Treasure last year. So Bob will sit on his hands and wait a couple of weeks before ending the Kentucky Derby winner’s Triple Crown dream.

Two horse race between Sierra Leone and Fierceness?

Horseplayers, a majority of them, believe Sierra Leone, arguably the classiest horse in this year’s Derby, will knock heads with Fierceness, the fastest horse in this year’s Run for the Roses.

Fierceness not only won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he also won the 2024 Florida Derby. The Todd Pletcher trained runner should take the early lead. So Sierra Leone will have to do his running from behind or at least in the middle of the pack. Depending on your handicapping style, speed or class, you will lean towards backing Fierceness or Chad Brown horse.

If Fierceness grabs an easy early lead, it’s all over but the shouting

Sounds crazy, but if Fierceness grabs an early lead, and doesn’t get any pressure from Forever Young or Just a Touch, or just gets pressure from one of them, the Derby is likely to be over. Forget the stamina question.

Fierceness has it. He’s also, by far, the fastest horse in the race. So some pony has to go all in early or the Pletcher runner is likely to prance gate to wire.

Forever Young is the best UAE Derby winner to ever enter the Kentucky Derby

Forever Young is, by far, the best UAE Derby winner to ever step foot on Churchill Downs’ soil. The Japanese bred, and trained horse ran wide throughout the 1 1/8 miles UAE Derby and still managed to pull away from the pack and catch front-runner Auto Bahn.

Forever Young is a presser, which means he won’t be too far off the pace. Give Forever Young a real shot to get it done if, and only if, jockey Ryusei Sakai can keep up with Fierceness early.

Just a Touch, Resilience, and Catching Freedom rising

Just a Touch, the Bluegrass second place finisher, Catching Freedom, the Louisiana Derby winner, and Resilience, the Wood Memorial champ, have begun to turn heads. All three are considered live longshots heading into the Derby.

Bill Mott trains Resilience, which took a massive step forward when winning the Wood. Catching Freedom has a monster turn of foot. So if the pace is hot, consider the LA Derby winner.

Just a Touch couldn’t hold off Sierra Leone, but it was Justify sired runner’s third lifetime race. Not only that, Just a Touch was a part of a wicked early pace and still managed to finish second. Give Just a Touch a real chance.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.

READ MORE: 2024 Kentucky Derby Betting Favorites, Dark Horses & Longshots