Kentucky Derby 2024 Lineup: Post Positions for All Entries of 150th Race

The lineup for the 150th Kentucky Derby is set with a 20-horse field set to run for the roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

History will be made as the race clears another milestone, but it could also be made if the early favorite comes through. Fierceness has earned that distinction after a dominant showing at the Curlin Florida Derby on March 30. He will break from the No. 17 post, which is the only starting gate to not produce a winner.

In fact, the 17th post hasn't even produced a runner-up since 1988 with Forty Niner.

There are other worthy threats to the first jewel of the Triple Crown. Chad Brown-trained colt Sierra Leone is the early second choice. He's kicked off his 2024 campaign with back-to-back graded stakes wins in the Blue Grass and Risen Star Stakes.

The draw to the Derby is the unpredictability of it all, though. We are two years removed from 80-1 long shot Rich Strike pulling off the improbable.

Here's a look at the complete lineup with post positions for each entrant.

1. Dornoch (20-1)

2. Sierra Leone (3-1)

3. Mystik Dan (20-1)

4. Catching Freedom (8-1)

5. Catalytic (30-1)

6. Just Steel (20-1)

7. Honor Marie (20-1)

8. Just A Touch (10-1)

9. Encino (20-1)

10. T O Password (30-1)

11. Forever Young (10-1)

12. Track Phantom (20-1)

13. West Saratoga (50-1)

14. Endlessly (30-1)

15. Domestic Product (30-1)

16. Grand Mo the First (50-1)

17. Fierceness (5-2)

18. Stronghold (20-1)

19. Resilience (20-1)

20. Society Man (50-1)

Morning line odds via KentuckyDerby.com.

Sierra Leone

Fierceness might be the odds-on favorite, but there are multiple reasons to be weary of the hype. For one, no one has ever won while breaking out of the 17th post. There are a lot of things that can go wrong while navigating such a large field early on.

While Fierceness showed off tantalizing potential in the Florida Derby, it was preceded by a third-place finish at the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes. He only posted a 90 Equibase speed figure in that race.

Sierra Leone doesn't have the same inconsistency and has posted at least a 98 speed figure in each of his last three races. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Kentucky-bred horse become the favorite by post time.

Just A Touch

At 10-1 odds, Just A Touch is far from chalk.

He does have the bloodlines for it, though. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner, Justify, he should have the mettle to cover the 1¼-mile track.

Sierra Leone outran him down the stretch in his second-place finish at the Blue Grass Stakes, but there could be some untapped potential in the colt given his lack of experience. He didn't race as a two-year-old and is just three races in.

On one hand, there's a risk to picking a horse with so little experience in a race as big as this one. On the other, there's a good chance we haven't seen his best racing. He might just use the spotlight of the Derby to show another gear.

Catching Freedom

Catching Freedom shouldn't be discounted. It's possible he's been lost in the shuffle as he hasn't been raced in the last five weeks. Instead, the Brad Cox trainee has been given some time off since winning the Louisiana Derby on March 23.

He's been a consistent runner in three starts this year. He maintained a busy schedule to kick off the year with a win at the Smarty Jones Stakes on New Year's Day and a third-place finish at the Risen Star Stakes on February 17.

Still, he has looked impressive in workouts under the Twin Spires. He isn't the flashy choice, but he's been remarkably consistent and has improved every time he's been run.

Given the extra rest and a competitive field, he could be a good sleeper pick to break out in the Run for the Roses.