The 2024 Kentucky Derby will be held on May 4 at Churchill Downs, with post-time at the track around 18:57.
The historic race celebrates its 150th anniversary and has been won by some of the leading Kentucky Derby trainers in America down the years, so let’s have a closer look at the names that could headline once more in Louisville.
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The Most Successful Trainers
Wayne Lucas is the most successful trainer entering the 2024 Kentucky Derby, with four wins, one second-place finish, and five third-place finishes.
Knowing which trainers have previously won the Kentucky Derby is essential when evaluating who could win the 150th running on May 3, as those handlers equipped with a knowledge of what’s required could prove key once more.
With that in mind, here is a list of trainers currently with a license who hold an entry in the 2024 Kentucky Derby:
Kentucky Derby Trainer Records
| Trainer | Wins | 2nds | 3rds | Runners |
| D. Wayne Lukas | 4 | 1 | 5 | 49 |
| Todd Pletcher | 2 | 2 | 4 | 62 |
| Brad Cox | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Bill Mott | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Steve Asmussen | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| Chad Brown | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Kenny McPeek | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Back D. Wayne Lukas at +2000 on BetOnline.
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Kentucky Derby 2024 Trainers: Ones To Watch
Chad Brown
The Kentucky Derby isn’t a race Chad Brown has chased down the years, as he specializes more on turf than dirt, but with a runner-up (Good Magic in 2018) and third (Zandon in 2022) from just seven runners, he certainly knows when to send a live chance.
That is very much the case this year, too, as he holds the trump card in second favorite Sierra Leone, who could well become Brown’s first winner of this famous race. Domestic Product provides able backup—could it be a Chad Brown 1-2?
D. Wayne Lukas
With 4 Kentucky Derby winners already in the bag, D. Wayne Lukas’ runners should never be overlooked – admittedly, it’s been a while since any of his made the frame.
Indeed, the record-breaking trainer’s quartet of Kentucky winners came from 1988 to 1999, so he may not have the same caliber of weaponry these days, but in Just Steel and Seize The Grey, his followers could get a run for the money this time around.
Todd Pletcher
Another of the top trainers to have tasted success on two occasions in this race is Todd Pletcher, who also went close with a couple of runners-up.
True, Churchill Downs has seen its fair share of contenders aiming for greatness, with a total of 62 hopefuls in the past. While many have fallen short, Todd Pletcher presents a strong contender this year in Fierceness, partnered with the skilled jockey John Velazquez.
4 of the last 6 Kentucky Derby winners in the last 10 years featured one-word names, a trend that also bodes well for Todd Pletcher.
Brad Cox
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Brad Cox would be a welcome trainer in the winner’s enclosure if landing the 150th Kentucky Derby with Catching Freedom or Just A Touch.
Cox has already won this race when triumphing by default when his runner-up was promoted after the original winner was disqualified in 2021.
However, Cox has made it known that he wants to prove he can win the Derby by having the first horse to cross the wire on merit rather than being handed it – could 2024 be the year?
Bill Mott
Considering Bill Mott has been a trainer for horse racing prospects since the 1980s, it’s amazing to think he’s only sent 11 horses to Churchill Downs to tackle the ‘Run for the Roses’ – and, even more impressive is that he produced a winner and a third from such a small batch.
That will certainly give his followers hope of Resilience running a big race and possibly making the places.
Kentucky Derby Trainers & Latest Odds
The following list of runners is ranked in order of favorite following the announcement of post positions.
| Horse | Trainer | Odds |
| Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | +250 |
| Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | +300 |
| Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | +800 |
| Just A Touch | Brad Cox | +1000 |
| Forever Young | Yoshito Yahagi | +1000 |
| Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | +2000 |
| Just Steel | D. Wayne Lukas | +2000 |
| Honor Marie | Whit Beckham | +2000 |
| Dornoch | Danny Gargan | +2000 |
| Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | +2000 |
| Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | +2000 |
| Resilience | Bill Mott | +2000 |
| T O Password | Daisuke Takayanagi | +3000 |
| Catalytic | Saffie Joseph Jr. | +3000 |
| Endlessly | Michael McCarthy | +3000 |
| Domestic Product | Chad Brown | +3000 |
| Epic Ride | John Ennis | +3000 |
| Mugatu | Jeff Engler | +3000 |
| Grand Mo The First | Victor Barboza Jr. | +5000 |
| West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | +5000 |
| Society Man | Danny Gargan | +5000 |
Brad Cox’s horse Encino has withdrawn from the 2024 Kentucky Derby following a soft tissue strain. He will be replaced by Epic Ride, trained by John Ennis.
The Best Kentucky Derby Trainers 2024
A number of trainers will be looking to taste success in the first leg of the Triple Crown come the first week of May. D. Wayne Lukas has done it more times than most in the past, and he has a couple of live chances for the frame at big odds.
But, one trainer yet to taste success at Churchill Downs is Chad Brown, who is edging closer with a runner-up and third and holds the ace in the pack this time around with Sierra Leone.
Brad Cox has also built a tidy record from just 11 runners, having won it once while also producing a couple of third-placed runners, and his Catching Freedom could be another to make the frame.
Back Chad Brown’s Sierra Leone using BetOnline.
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$25 Risk-Free Bet
- Top Racing Rebates up to 9% on Win, Place, Show & Exotic wagers with no caps
- Exclusive USA Racing Props for Triple Crown & Breeders' Cup events
- Bet live from your moblie into the World Pool for major international events - Epsom Derby & Royal Ascot!
