Kentucky Derby 2018 Lineup: Full Race Guide for All Horses and Jockeys

On Saturday, the 144th annual Kentucky Derby will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The "Run for the Roses" is set to start at 6:46 p.m. ET. Considering the race only lasts around two minutes, you'll want to tune in earlier to fully appreciate the spectacle. With $2 million in purse money on the line and a potential shot at the Triple Crown for the winner, it's one of the biggest sporting events on the calendar.

Nicknamed "the most exciting two minutes in sports," the event is expected to draw a number of celebrities, while there are sure to be plenty of fancy outfits on show.

With 20 horses set for action, let's take some time to get to know them and their jockeys, trainers and post positions.

Kentucky Derby Posts and Notes

1. Firenze Fire 

Jockey: Paco Lopez; Trainer: Jason Servis

Notes: Firenze Fire has finished fourth in two races: the Wood Memorial and Gotham Stakes. He debuted in June 2017.

2. Free Drop Billy 

Jockey: Robby Albarado; Trainer: Dale Romans

Notes: The Albaugh Family Stable purchased Free Drop Billy at a 2016 Keeneland September sale for $200,000. He also finished second to Firenze Fire at the 2017 Sanford Stakes.

3. Promises Fulfilled 

Jockey: Corey Lanerie; Trainer: Dale Romans

Notes: Heading into the derby, Promises Fulfilled has been ridden by three jockeys over the last three races. He posted a 104 BRIS in the Fountain of Youth.

4. Flameaway 

Jockey: Jose Lezcano; Trainer: Mark Casse

Notes: Flameaway finished second in both the Blue Grass Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby. Flameaway has won on synthetic, dirt (both wet and dry) and grass.

5. Audible 

Jockey: Javier Castellano; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Notes: Audible won the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, won the 2017 Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming.

6. Good Magic 

Jockey: Jose Ortiz; Trainer: Chad Brown

Notes: Good Magic won the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) and was sired by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

7. Justify 

Jockey: Mike Smith; Trainer: Bob Baffert

Notes: Although the Kentucky Derby will be just his fourth career race, Justify has already put together an impressive resume, winning the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1).

8. Lone Sailor 

Jockey: James Graham; Trainer: Tom Amoss

Notes: Lone Sailor was purchased by GMB Racing as a yearling for $120,000. He won his maiden at Saratoga in his second-ever race after finishing fifth in his debut in a seven-horse field.

9. Hofburg 

Jockey: Jose Ortiz; Trainer: Bill Mott

Notes: Like Justify, Hofburg has only three career starts. Hofburg finished second in the $1 million Florida Derby—his first encounter with Grade 1 participants.

10. My Boy Jack 

Jockey: Kent Desormeaux; Trainer: Keith Desormeaux

Notes: At just three years old, My Boy Jack already has 10 races under his belt. His trainer, Keith Desormeaux, and his jockey, Kent Desormeaux, are brothers. 

11. Bolt d'Oro 

Jockey: Victor Espinoza; Trainer: Mick Ruis

Notes: Following a stewards' inquiry, Bolt d'Oro won the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes (Grade 2), earning 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

12. Enticed  

Jockey: Junior Alvarado; Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Notes: Enticed is the son of Medaglia d'Oro, who has won Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap and Donn Handicap (all Grade 1s).

13. Bravazo 

Jockey: Luis Contreras; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Notes: Bravazo comes into the Derby off the back of an eighth-place finish in the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, but he has posted a 3-1-1 record in eight starts.

14. Mendelssohn 

Jockey: Ryan Moore; Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Note: Mendelssohn has quite the impressive resume, too, winning the UAE Derby in Dubai and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. According to his profile on the Kentucky Derby's website, Mendelssohn is bred for dirt.

15. Instilled Regard 

Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke; Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

Notes: Purchased for $1.05 million by OXO Equine LLC, Instilled Regard earned nearly $250,000 after finishing fourth in both the Santa Anita Derby and Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

16. Magnum Moon 

Jockey: Luis Saez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Notes: Winner of the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Magnum Moon is also trained by Pletcher. Robert and Lawana Low purchased Magnum Moon from the Keeneland September Yearling sale for $380,000.

17. Solomini 

Jockey: Flavien Prat; Trainer: Bob Baffert

Notes: Solomini has finished third in the Arkansas Derby, second in the Rebel Stakes and second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. All of these tracks are on dirt and Grade 1, with Rebel Stakes being the exception.

18. Vino Rosso 

Jockey: John Velazquez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Notes: Vino Rosso won $750,000 on April 7 at Aqueduct to qualify for the Derby. The Pletcher-trained horse also finished third and fourth at the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, respectively.

19. Noble Indy 

Jockey: Florent Geroux; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Notes: The last of the four Pletcher-trained horses, Noble Indy has three wins in four starts, accounting for $640,000 in earnings. Noble Indy notably finished first at the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby Stakes at Fair Grounds.

20. Combatant

Jockey: Ricardo Santana; Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Note: Broke his maiden in his second start at Churchill Downs. 

Current Odds

1. Firenze Fire (+6600; bet $100 to win $6,600)

2. Free Drop Billy (+3300)

3. Promises Fulfilled (+4000)

4. Flameaway (+4000)

5. Audible (+550)

6. Good Magic (+900)

7. Justify (+350)

8. Lone Sailor (+5000)

9. Hofburg (+1600)

10. My Boy Jack (+2200)

11. Bolt d'Oro (+900)

12. Enticed (+2500)

13. Bravazo (+5000)

14. Mendelssohn (+400)

15. Instilled Regard (+5000)

16. Magnum Moon (+700)

17. Solomini (+2000)

18. Vino Rosso (+1400)

19. Noble Indy (+2800)

20. Combatant (+6600)

Three horses catch my eye: Instilled Regard, My Boy Jack and, of course, Justify.

Instilled Regard, though he's at 50-1 odds, has done well in 2018, placing first and fourth twice in three races. Having purchased the colt for over $1 million, OXO Equine LLC clearly believes Instilled Regard has the capability to take home the gold this Saturday.

Instilled Regard has never run a bad race, perhaps due to his trainer, Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer. 

It should also be noted that Instilled Regard lost by 11 lengths to Justify—the current favorite to win it—and is the most appealing long shot.

Speaking of Justify, you cannot say enough good things about this horse. His debut victory at the 1 ⅛-mile dirt track Santa Anita Derby makes him a prime candidate.

Justify also has four-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert on his side.

My Boy Jack is somewhere in the middle of the pack at 30-1, but he comes well equipped. Unlike Justify, My Boy Jack is the most experienced horse in the lineup, having raced 10 times, and his trainer will be making his third straight trip to the Kentucky Derby Saturday.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader's Jared Peck, Keith Desmoreaux had this to say about My Boy Jack: "Jack runs the race. And he's not going to be intimidated."

Statistics and factual information obtained from KentuckyDerby.com. All odds courtesy of OddsShark and the Kentucky Derby.