3 Storylines for The Kentucky Derby 2023

The Kentucky Derby often needs very little selling to bettors from around the world, as the prestigious Grade 1 is the opening Triple Crown race of the season. That will be the case once again in 2023, as this year’s crop of talented three-year-olds on the dirt will be looking to put their names among some of the biggest legends that we have ever seen in the history of horse racing.

One of the key selling points to the Derby is the storylines that could play out in front of own very eyes. That will certainly be the case once again on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs this year.

So if you are thinking of betting on the Kentucky Derby you should pay attention to these.

Can Forte Make History?

There has been little doubt surrounding the most exciting three-year-old in the United States on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Forte rubber stamped his clear Derby credentials in November, as he landed the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. However, only two former winners of that race have gone on to land success at Churchill Downs.

Meanwhile, only Timber Country can match the feats of Nyquist and Street Sense of winning a Triple Crown race after landing the Juvenile. However, there is something extremely special about Todd Pletcher’s Forte.

He landed the G2 Fountain of Youth on his return earlier this year, before he defied all expectations to win from an extremely wide draw in the G1 Florida Derby at the start of April. We could see something very special from the three-year-old at Churchill Downs.

Japan’s Derby Dream

Only one horse has come close to reaching the same RPR figure as Forte this season, and that is the Japanese raider, Derma Sotogake. The three-year-old has already moved to the stables in Kentucky after landing vital Derby qualifying points on Dubai World Cup night.

However, it was the manner of the performance that could be difficult to overlook. His run scored a 120 figure, which is just one shy of the recorded rating boasted by Forte after winning the Florida Derby. However, the Japanese runner stretched clear of the field coming into the closing stages of the G2 UAE Derby, as he finished over five lengths clear of Dura Erede.

There could be even more to come from this talented Japanese runner, as he looks to become the first runner from the nation to ever land victory in an American Triple Crown race.

Baffert’s Runners

The 2023 Kentucky Derby will be the final edition of the race in which Bob Baffert isn’t allowed to make entries. The Hall of Famer is still serving the ban following Medina Spirit’s failed drug test after landing victory in 2021. However, he is still likely to have a number of runners in the field, albeit running from different yards.

His most solid contender for a long time was Arabian Knight, but it was eventually determined that the three-year-old would be bypassing the Triple Crown race. Still, Baffert will continue to make headlines in the lead up to the Derby. One of his strong chances looks set to come in the form of Practical Move. Now with Tim Yakteen, the three-year-old produced an excellent effort to land the G1 Santa Anita Derby from Mandarin Hero and Skinner.

He also holds victories over Geaux Rocket Ride and Carmel Road in graded company. Reincarnate is another former Baffert runner now under the care of Yakteen. The three-year-old appears to be a solid contender to line-up at Churchill Downs in May after finishing in top three places in the G1 Arkansas Derby and G2 Rebel Stakes this year.