Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

On Saturday, 20 horses will head to the gates at Churchill Downs, but only one will emerge victorious as the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, which will kick off this year's Triple Crown schedule.

It's the most exciting time of the year for horse racing, and this year, it's taking place as scheduled. In 2020, the Derby was postponed to September, which made it the second of the three Triple Crown events to occur. It's now returned to its typical date on the first Saturday in May.

While Essential Quality is the favorite to win the Run for the Roses, there are a number of talented entrants in this year's field. Perhaps another mount with strong odds will be victorious or a long shot pulls off an upset.

Here is this year's full Kentucky Derby field, along with a closer look at the top contenders.

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1. Known Agenda (6-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2. Like the King (50-1)
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke

3. Brooklyn Strong (50-1)
Trainer: Daniel Velazquez
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

4. Keepmeinmind (50-1)
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Jockey: David Cohen

5. Sainthood (50-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

6. O Besos (20-1)
Trainer: Greg Foley
Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza

7. Mandaloun (15-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

8. Medina Spirit (15-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez

9. Hot Rod Charlie (8-1)
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Flavien Prat

10. Midnight Bourbon (20-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Mike Smith

11. Dynamic One (20-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

12. Helium (50-1)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

13. Hidden Stash (50-1)
Trainer: Victoria Oliver
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

14. Essential Quality (2-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez

15. Rock Your World (5-1)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Joel Rosario

16. King Fury (20-1)
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

17. Highly Motivated (10-1)
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Javier Castellano

18. Superstock (30-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

19. Soup and Sandwich (30-1)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

20. Bourbonic (30-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Odds via Vegas Insider

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Quite a bit of history could be made if Essential Quality lives up to expectations and races to victory in this year's Run for the Roses.

Having won each of his first five career races, the colt will be looking to become the 10th undefeated horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He's picked up some impressive victories on the way, winning at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November and the Southwest Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes this year.

His trainer, Brad H. Cox, has never previously entered a horse in the Kentucky Derby, but he has two in this year's field, as Mandaloun will also be running. If either horse wins, he would become the first Louisville-born trainer to win the race.

Jockey Luis Saez will be looking to win his first Kentucky Derby, as he's never finished better than seventh (which he did with Brody's Cause in 2016). However, he did cross the line first in 2019 on Maximum Security, who was then disqualified for interference. So, Saez will be trying to get redemption in his first Derby ride since then.

Essential Quality has a lot of hype after his impressive past performances, and now it's time for him to live up to it.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Rock Your World will be starting from the No. 15 post on Saturday, which means he'll be alongside Essential Quality (starting in No. 14). And like the favorite, he also has an undefeated record.

Although Rock Your World hasn't raced as much, he owns three career victories, including the Pasadena Stakes and Santa Anita Derby earlier this year. He also has a strong pedigree, as he's a son of Candy Ride, who won six races and finished his career with an undefeated record.

Trainer John Sadler has saddled four horses in the Kentucky Derby previously, but he's never won the race and hasn't had a colt in the field since 2014.

"I've learned you don't go back without a contender. You want to go back with a good shot," he said, per Brad Free of the Daily Racing Form. "I wouldn't be going just for the trip. I'm going with a better horse."

And Sadler will have an experienced jockey to hand, as Joel Rosario won the Kentucky Derby in 2013 with Orb. It'll be the first time the 36-year-old has ridden Rock Your World since the colt's racing debut in January.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Trainer Todd Pletcher has four horses in this year's Kentucky Derby field, but Known Agenda is the one with the best odds to win. The colt has competed in six races and won each of his past two, including the Florida Derby last month.

Known Agenda will be starting from the No. 1 post, which is not a spot trainers typically want their horses to start. But as Pletcher noted, Known Agenda raced on the inside during his impressive showing at the Florida Derby.

"He got into the first turn and down the backside, and he was able to advance and improve his position in there and show that he can handle being inside," he said, per Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier Journal. "He didn't do that so much as a two-year-old in the Remsen before we put blinkers on him. But it's just not an ideal post to start."

Pletcher is a two-time Derby winner, notching victories with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will be on board but has never won the Kentucky Derby (his best showing was a fourth-place finish with Improbable in 2019), but he owns 11 career Breeders' Cup victories and claimed the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Creator.