In 150 years of the Kentucky Derby, a trainer has had at least three horses in the race 32 times.
Bob Baffert: Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown championships and controversy
Horse racing trainer Bob Baffert has multiple Kentucky Derby wins, two Triple Crown champions, and a career marked by both triumph and controversy.
- The most starters a trainer has had in a Derby is five, which has happened four times (1996, 2005, 2007 and 2013).
The 151st Kentucky Derby is just eight days away.
Famed trainer Bob Baffert, in his return to the Kentucky Derby after a three-year suspension, had three horses on the Derby leaderboard. About two weeks before the race, however, he opted to have one (Madaket Road) run in the Pat Day Mile on the Derby Day undercard at Churchill Downs.
With Baffert’s decision, no trainer will have more than two starters in Derby 151. As the Hall of Fame trainer goes for a record seventh win in the Run for the Roses, how have those with at least three horses fared historically? Does having at least three starters in the Kentucky Derby actually correlate with better showings for trainers? In 150 years, it’s happened 32 times. Thirteen of those 32 instances have seen at least one starter finish in the top three.
The most starters a trainer has had in a Derby is five, which has happened four times (1996, 2005, 2007 and 2013).
Brad Cox had three starters in 2022 and four in 2023. His horse Angel of Empire finished third in 2023. Baffert has had three starters in the Derby on three occasions: 1999, 2006 and 2019. None of them won, placed or showed.
Other trainers who’ve had three-plus horses in the race multiple times have had more luck. Herbert J. “Derby Dick” Thompson had three starters in the 1922 and 1924 Kentucky derbies. Bet Mosie finished second in 1922, and Beau Butler finished third in 1924.
D. Wayne Lukas, whose horse American Promise ranks 14th on the current Derby leaderboard, had three horses in 1983, 1987, 1990 and 1995. Thunder Gulch and Timber Country finished first and third, respectively, in 1995. Lukas had five starters in 1996, two of which finished in the top three: Grindstone (first) and Prince of Thieves (third).
Todd Pletcher had at least three starters in 11 Kentucky derbies from 2000 to 2022. Two of his horses won — Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017. Four of his horses finished third — Impeachment in 2000, Revolutionary in 2013, Danza in 2014 and Audible in 2018.
Here’s a full breakdown of trainers with three, four and five starters in the Kentucky Derby and how they finished:
1917 – W.B. Jennings:
- War Star (5th)
- Star Master (9th)
- Stargazer (10th)
1922 – Herbert J. “Derby Dick” Thompson:
- Bet Mosie (2nd)
- By Gosh (9th)
- Busy American (DNF)
1923 – James “Jimmy” Rowe Sr.:
- Enchantment (6th)
- Rialto (7th)
- Picketer (15th)
- Cherry Pie (20th)
1924 – Herbert J. “Derby Dick” Thompson:
- Beau Butler (3rd)
- Baffling (17th)
- Bob Tail (19th)
1929 – Charles “Boots” Durnell:
- Panchio (3rd)
- Calf Roper (11th)
- Prince Pat (20th)
1936 – James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons
- Teufel (8th)
- Merry Pete (10th)
- Granville (DNF)
1946 – James W. Smith
- Lord Boswell (4th)
- Knockdown (5th)
- Perfect Bahram (9th)
1983 – D. Wayne Lukas
- Merchandise (5th)
- Balboa Native (9th)
- Total Departure (20th)
1987 – D. Wayne Lukas
- On the Line (10th)
- War (13th)
- Capote (DNF)
1990 – D. Wayne Lukas
- Land Rush (7th)
- Power Launch (10th)
- Real Cash (11th)
1995 – D. Wayne Lukas:
- Thunder Gulch (1st)
- Timber Country (3rd)
- f-Serena’s Song (16th)
1996 – D. Wayne Lukas:
- Grindstone (1st)
- Prince of Thieves (3rd)
- Editor’s Note (6th)
- Victory Speech (10th)
- Honour and Glory (18th)
1999 – Bob Baffert:
- Prime Timber (4th)
- f-Excellent Meeting (5th)
- General Challenge (11th)
2000 – D. Wayne Lukas:
- Exchange Rate (12th)
- High Yield (15th)
- Commendable (17th)
2000 – Todd Pletcher:
- Impeachment (3rd)
- More Than Ready (4th)
- Tripp (11th)
- Graeme Hall (19th)
2005 – Todd Pletcher:
- Flower Alley (9th)
- Coin Silver (12th)
- Identity (19th)
2005 – Nick Zito:
- Bellamy Road (7th)
- Andromeda’s Hero (8th)
- High Fly (10th)
- Noble Causeway (14th)
- Sun King (15th)
2006 – Bob Baffert:
- Point Determined (9th)
- Sinister Minister (16th)
- Bob and John (17th)
2007 – Todd Pletcher:
- Circular Quay (6th)
- Any Given Saturday (8th)
- Sam P. (9th)
- Scat Daddy (18th)
- Cowtown Cat (20th)
2010 – Todd Pletcher:
- Super Saver (1st)
- Mission Impazible (9th)
- f-Devil May Care (10th)
- Discreetly Mine (13th)
2013 – Todd Pletcher:
- Revolutionary (3rd)
- Charming Kitten (9th)
- Overanalyze (11th)
- Palace Malice (12th)
- Verrazano (14th)
2014 – Mike Maker:
- General a Rod (11th)
- Harry’s Holiday (16th)
- Vicar’s in Trouble (19th)
2014 – Todd Pletcher:
- Danza (3rd)
- We Miss Artie (10th)
- Intense Holiday (12th)
- Vinceremos (17th)
2015 – Todd Pletcher
- Materiality (6th)
- Itsaknockout (9th)
- Carpe Diem (10th)
2017 – Steve Asmussen:
- Lookin At Lee (2nd)
- Hence (11th)
- Untrapped (12th)
2017 – Todd Pletcher:
- Always Dreaming (1st)
- Tapwrit (6th)
- Patch (14th)
2018 – Todd Pletcher:
- Audible (3rd)
- Red wine (9th)
- Noble Indy (17th)
- Magnum Moon (19th)
2019 – Bob Baffert:
- Improbable (4th)
- Game Winner (5th)
- Roadster (15th)
2021 – Todd Pletcher:
- Known Agenda (8th)
- Sainthood (10th)
- Bourbonic (12th)
- Dynamic One (17th)
2022 – Brad Cox:
- Tawny Port (7th)
- Zozos (10th)
- Cyberknife (18th)
2022 – Todd Pletcher:
- Mo Donegal (5th)
- Charge It (17th)
- Pioneer of Medina (19th)
2023 – Brad Cox:
- Angel of Empire (3rd)
- Hit Show (5th)
- Verifying (16th)
- Jace’s Road (17th)
Note: f- designates filly
This story has been updated to reflect that Todd Pletcher’s horse River Thames and Bob Baffert’s horse Madaket Road are no longer in consideration to run in the Kentucky Derby.
How to watch 2025 Kentucky Derby
Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.
You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.
What time is the Kentucky Derby?
Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.
