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There are 20 living Kentucky Derby winners. Here's where they all are now.

Jon Hale and Ben Roberts, Lexington Herald-Leader on

Published in Horse Racing

A club of 20 star horses awaits the winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Those are the living winners of the Run for the Roses, led by 31-year old Silver Charm. Many of them are located in Central Kentucky, including three retired from their stud careers to Old Friends Farm in Georgetown.

The club lost one member in the last year with the death of 2017 winner Always Dreaming in December.

Here’s a look at the current status of each of those living Derby champions.

Mystik Dan

— Birthday: March 4, 2021

— Status: Still in training

Last year’s Derby winner, trained by Lexington’s Kenny McPeek, is still looking for his first win since the 2024 Derby. Mystik Dan finished second in the Preakness and eighth in the Belmont. In his first race after the Triple Crown, he finished sixth in the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December. He then finished ninth in his 4-year-old debut in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January. Mystik Dan’s next chance for a win will come on Derby Day in the Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Mage

— Birthdate: April 18, 2020

— Status: Airdrie Stud, Midway, Ky.

Only the third horse to win the Kentucky Derby after not racing as a 2-year-old — Justify (2018) and Apollo (1882) were the others — Mage retired from racing in November 2023. He never won another race after his Derby victory, finishing third in the Preakness, second in the Haskell and seventh in the Travers. His first foal was born in January. Mage’s 2025 stud fee is listed at $25,000.

Rich Strike

— Birthdate: April 25, 2019

— Status: Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Stillwater, N.Y.

The shock winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby — his 80-1 odds made him the second-longest shot ever to win the race — Rich Strike retired from racing in November 2023 without winning another race. Rich Strike skipped a Triple Crown attempt after winning the Derby, bypassing the Preakness only to finish sixth in the Belmont Stakes. From there, he was fourth in the Travers Stakes, second in the Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill — his first run against older horses — fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, and sixth in the Clark Stakes, also at Churchill. He finished fifth in his final race, the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill, on May 5, 2023.

Rich Strike finished his career with two wins in 13 career races: the Derby and a maiden race at Churchill Downs during his 2-year-old season. Only Donerail — at 91-1 in 1913 — has won the Kentucky Derby at longer odds. Rich Strike began his stud career in Pennsylvania before being sold to an ownership group that includes his former trainer Eric Reed. The new owners moved him to New York in March.

Mandaloun

— Birthdate: March 18, 2018

— Status: Juddmonte Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Mandaloun was named the winner of the 2022 Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit, who failed a drug test after the race, leading to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s three-year ban from Churchill Downs. Mandaloun was trained by Louisville native Brad Cox, who scored his first career Derby victory via DQ and went on to guide Mandaloun to three consecutive wins following that race. After a ninth-place finish in the lucrative Saudi Cup in February 2022, the son of Into Mischief finished fourth in both the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs and the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar before being officially retired from racing in September 2022. He’s currently at Juddmonte with a listed stud fee of $15,000. His Derby rival, Medina Spirit, died in December 2021 following a workout at Santa Anita Park.

Authentic

— Birthdate: May 5, 2017

— Status: Spendthrift Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Authentic won the 2020 Kentucky Derby, which was run in September at a nearly empty Churchill Downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trained by Bob Baffert, he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland two months later, ending his career with six victories and two runner-up finishes in eight races. Authentic now stands stud for $15,000 at Spendthrift Farm, where his father, Into Mischief, is the star stallion (at $250,000 this season) and the reigning six-time leading sire in North America. Authentic’s first crop of foals included Rodriguez, who will race in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Country House

— Birthdate: May 8, 2016

— Status: Darby Dan Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Country House was moved to first place in the 2019 Kentucky Derby — at 65-1 odds, the third-biggest long-shot winner in the race’s history — following a lengthy stewards’ review that led to the disqualification of Maximum Security. Country House — a son of Lookin At Lucky — missed the Preakness due to a virus and ultimately never raced again following a series of ailments, including laminitis. He was officially retired from racing in February 2020 and is now at Darby Dan Farm with a $5,000 stud fee for this year. His most successful progeny to date is 3-year-old Bridle a Butterfly, who won the William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. Maximum Security is also retired and stands at Ashford Stud in Versailles for $5,000.

Justify

— Birthdate: March 28, 2015

— Status: Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

Justify won the 2018 Kentucky Derby in just his fourth career start and ultimately delivered the Triple Crown for trainer Bob Baffert before being retired after the Belmont Stakes, winning all six of his races. He is the only Triple Crown winner to have an undefeated record on the track. The son of Scat Daddy resides at Ashford Stud, and Coolmore has a listed stud fee of $250,000. To date, Justify’s sons have yet to find success in the Derby. He has sired three horses that made the field but none finished better than 16th. His latest progeny in the race, American Promise, will look to reverse that trend Saturday. The most recent Derby winner to sire a Derby winner was Unbridled, who won the 1990 race and was the father of Grindstone, the 1996 Derby winner.

Nyquist

— Birthdate: March 10, 2013

— Status: Darley, Lexington, Ky.

Nyquist was just the seventh undefeated horse to win the Kentucky Derby in the previous 100 years when he took the roses in 2016. His perfect record and Triple Crown bid ended two weeks later with a third-place finish in the Preakness, and he ultimately never won again. The son of Uncle Mo stands for $175,000 at Darley and has already produced five horses with more than $1 million in career earnings.

American Pharoah

— Birthdate: Feb. 2, 2012

— Status: Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

One of the most-celebrated thoroughbreds in recent memory, American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby in 2015 and later became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, wrapping up his career with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. The son of Pioneerof the Nile moved to nearby Ashford Stud two days after that victory and had an initial stud fee of $200,000 for his first breeding season. Pharoah, who was trained by Bob Baffert, has a $45,000 stud fee for 2025. Ten years after his Triple Crown win, American Pharoah produced his first Derby starters this year with Luxor Cafe and Publisher.

California Chrome

— Birthdate: Feb. 18, 2011

 

— Status: Arrow Stud, Hokkaido, Japan

The first California-bred to win the Kentucky Derby in more than 50 years, California Chrome took the 2014 race as the favorite and went on to a career that featured seven Grade 1 victories and American Horse of the Year honors in 2014 and 2016. The son of Lucky Pulpit started his stud career at Taylor Made Farm in Jessamine County, and his first offspring was born in 2018. The following year, a deal was made that sent California Chrome to stand stud in Japan, though he will return to the United States and live in retirement at Taylor Made when his stallion career is finished. His 2025 stud fee is $13,333.

Orb

— Birthdate: Feb. 24, 2010

— Status: Haras Cuatro Piedras, Uruguay

Orb won the 2013 Kentucky Derby for his fifth consecutive victory before finishing fourth in the Preakness to end his Triple Crown hopes. The son of Malibu Moon never won again and was retired later that year. Orb, who was trained by Shug McGaughey, began his stallion career at Claiborne Farm in Bourbon County — where he had been born and raised — and was sold to a group of Uruguayan breeders in 2021. The 13-year-old horse is currently standing stud at Haras Cuatro Piedras in Progreso, Uruguay.

I’ll Have Another

— Birthdate: April 1, 2009

— Status: Retired, Old Friends, Georgetown, Ky.

I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2012 but was scratched before the Belmont Stakes and retired before running another race. The son of Flower Alley began his stallion career in Japan before returning to the United States for the 2019 breeding season. I’ll Have Another was reacquired by his former owners — Paul and Zillah Reddam — in 2020 so he could remain in California. He retired to Old Friends Farm in Georgetown in March 2024.

Animal Kingdom

— Birthdate: March 20, 2008

— Status: Jbba Shizunai Stallion Station, Hokkaido, Japan

Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and raced into his 5-year-old season, winning the Dubai World Cup at that age. The son of the Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux began his stallion career later that year in Australia and has spent much of his post-racing career at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Animal Kingdom, who has sired a few Grade 1 winners, started a stallion run in Japan in 2020 and is still living there, now 17 years old. He’s listed with a stud fee of 300,000 yen for 2023. (That’s about $2,000 in American dollars.)

Super Saver

— Birthdate: March 18, 2007

— Status: Turkish Jockey Club Izmit Stallion Complex, Izmit, Turkey

Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby as a homebred for WinStar Farm and started his stallion career there the following year. The son of Maria’s Mon was acquired by the Turkish Jockey Club in 2019 and is currently living there. As part of the deal that sent Super Saver to Turkey, he will return to the United States for retirement when his career as a stallion is finished.

Mine That Bird

— Birthdate: May 10, 2006

— Status: Retired, New Mexico

The ninth and most recent gelding to win the Kentucky Derby, Mine That Bird prevailed at 50-1 odds and is the fourth longest shot to take the roses. The son of Birdstone never won again in nine starts after the Derby, though he did finish second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes later that spring. The gelding was originally retired to co-owner Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, N.M. Allen sold his ranch in 2020, and the Derby champ then became a pony for young racehorses at HV Ranch in Texas. He spent a month at the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2024 then returned to New Mexico.

Big Brown

— Birthdate: April 10, 2005

— Status: Retired, Old Friends, Georgetown, Ky.

The nearly-5-length winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby also won the Preakness before failing to finish in the Belmont Stakes — the only loss of his eight-race career — and retiring later that year. The son of Boundary began his time as a stallion in 2009 at Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County with a stud fee of $65,000, and he was moved to New York in 2015. He retired to Old Friends Farm in Georgetown in October. Big Brown was the damsire of Mage, the 2023 Derby winner.

Street Sense

— Birthdate: Feb. 23, 2004

— Status: Darley, Lexington, Ky.

Street Sense was the 2-year-old champion in 2006 and the Kentucky Derby winner in 2007 before being retired at the end of his 3-year-old campaign. (He’s also the last Blue Grass Stakes starter to win the Derby, finishing second in that race before his trip to Louisville.) The son of Street Cry was sold to Darley Stud while still in training and remains an impressive stallion at 21 years old. His current stud fee is $50,000, and he’s sired 13 Grade 1 winners. One of his current 3-year-olds, La Cara, was the morning-line odds favorite for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks after winning the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland last month.

Giacomo

— Birthdate: Feb. 16, 2002

— Status: Oakhurst Equine Veterinary Services, Newberg, Ore.

Another surprise winner among living Kentucky Derby champions, Giacomo upset the 2005 field at 50-1 odds and retired at the end of 2006 with three victories in 16 career races. The son of Holy Bull first stood at stud at Adena Springs in Woodford County — the operation later moved to Bourbon County — with an initial fee of $12,500 and remains a stallion today, though he moved to Oregon several years ago. His most recent listed stud fee was $1,500.

Smarty Jones

— Birthdate: Feb. 28, 2001

— Status: Equistar Training and Breeding, Annville, Pa.

Smarty Jones was undefeated when he won the Kentucky Derby and then the Preakness in 2004 before getting caught in the stretch by Birdstone and finishing second in the Belmont Stakes, the final race of his career. The son of Elusive Quality was just the second Pennsylvania-bred to win the Derby, and he began his stallion career at Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County. Smarty Jones went back to Pennsylvania after several years at Three Chimneys, later returned to Kentucky to stand stud at Calumet Farm, spent some time as a stallion in Uruguay, and has now returned once again to his home state, where he has a listed stud fee of $3,500 and lives near Hershey, Pa.

Silver Charm

— Birthdate: Feb. 22, 1994

— Status: Retired, Old Friends, Georgetown, Ky.

Silver Charm was the first Kentucky Derby winner for Bob Baffert, and he nearly won the Triple Crown in 1997, losing the Belmont Stakes to Touch Gold by less than 1 length. The son of Silver Buck had 12 wins and seven second-place finishes in 24 career starts, racing until he was 5 years old. One of six Florida-breds to win the Kentucky Derby, he started his stud career at Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County and was purchased by the Japanese Breeders Association in 2004, beginning a run as a stallion in Japan shortly thereafter. He was retired from stud duty in 2014 and has lived at Old Friends in Georgetown ever since. Silver Charm is now 31 years old and the oldest surviving Kentucky Derby winner. He was named to the Racing Hall of Fame in 2007 and remains one of only three surviving Derby winners with that honor. Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify are the others.


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