Kentucky Derby 2024 Contenders: Horse Pedigree and Jockey Info for Top Favorites

Heading into the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Fierceness is a popular pick to win the race. The colt is the betting favorite (5-2) and appears poised for a strong showing on Saturday at Churchill Downs, where the 150th running of the Derby is set to take place.

However, anything can happen during the event widely known as the "most exciting two minutes in sports." Fierceness may be the favorite, but any of the other 19 horses in Saturday's field could emerge victorious.

Five unique trainers have made it to the winner's circle the past five years, while six different jockeys have won the past six editions of the Derby. Perhaps those trends will continue, or maybe a familiar face or two will be with the winning horse.

Here's a closer look at the top contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby.

Pedigree: City of Light and Nonna Bella

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

Pletcher is a two-time Kentucky Derby champion, having won in 2010 (Super Saver) and 2017 (Always Dreaming). So it would only be fitting for him to win again in 2024, considering his first two victories at the event were seven years apart.

No jockey in the 2024 field has had more Kentucky Derby success than Velazquez, who is a three-time winner. He's finished first in the race in 2011 (Animal Kingdom), 2017 (Always Dreaming) and 2020 (Authentic).

Fierceness has won three of his five career races, including his most recent one. At the Florida Derby in March, the colt outlasted fellow Kentucky Derby participants Catalytic and Grand Mo the First to secure the victory.

The Pletcher-Velazquez combo has been a winning formula at Churchill Downs before, and perhaps that will be the case again Saturday.

Pedigree: Gun Runner and Heavenly Love

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Brown is a longtime trainer, yet the 45-year-old has never had a Kentucky Derby-winning horse. He's a two-time Preakness Stakes champion, but he's never been victorious in the Derby or the Belmont Stakes during Triple Crown season.

Gaffalione's lone win at a Triple Crown event came in 2019, when he rode War of Will to victory at the Preakness. This will be his seventh appearance in the Kentucky Derby, where he's never been on a horse who finished in the top three.

Sierra Leone has had a lot of success in his four-race career, notching three wins and one second-place finish. The colt is coming off a victory at the Blue Grass Stakes last month.

Pedigree: Constitution and Catch My Drift

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Cox notched his first Kentucky Derby win in 2021, when Mandaloun was victorious. However, Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in that race before being disqualified due to a positive test for betamethasone.

Prat's lone Kentucky Derby victory also came on a horse that didn't cross the line first. He won in 2019, when Country House was victorious after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference.

Catching Freedom has three wins in five career races and has never finished worse than fourth. He's coming off a victory in the Louisiana Derby in March.