Eight Kentucky Derby alumni racing in the 2019 Breeders' Cup

Oct 23, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A total of eight past Kentucky Derby starters will go postward at Santa Anita during Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Saturday, November 2. Five of the alums raced in the Derby this spring, with three of the sophomores taking aim at the biggest prize of the weekend.  

• Code of Honor
• War of Will
• Tax
• Vino Rosso
• Bolo
• Firenze Fire
• Whitmore
• Improbable

RELATED: Breeders' Cup Pre-Entries

2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) second Code of Honor punched his ticket to the main event when elevated to first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park most recently. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the standout sophomore is among the ones to beat in the marquee event. 

War of Will competed in all three legs of the 2019 Triple Crown, winning the Preakness Stakes (G1) for conditioner Mark Casse. The War Front colt was a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby in May, and he comes in off a game third in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). 

Jim Dandy winner Tax has not raced since the summer and is training up to the Classic for Danny Gargan. The gelded son of Arch, who checked in 14th in the Run for the Roses in the spring, could be an intriguing longshot at a big price. 

Vino Rosso, who finished ninth in the 2018 Kentucky Derby (G1), won the Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in May and finished first before being disqualified to second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup for Todd Pletcher.

Bolo is a veteran from the 2015 Kentucky Derby when he finished well back for Carla Gaines. The gelded son of Temple City was unraced for 23 months before returning this April, and he earned his way into the Mile with a wire-to-wire victory in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) on the Santa Anita lawn.

2018 Kentucky Derby entrant Firenze Fire has evolved into one of the top one-turn horses in training following his Run for the Roses last campaign. The Jason Servis charge recorded a nose second in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park last time out, and a forward move on November 2nd will give the millionaire a chance at another lucrative payday with palatable odds. 

Whitmore went unplaced in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, but has become a leading sprinter over the past few seasons. The gelded son of Pleasantly Perfect was runner-up in the race in 2018 at Churchill Downs, and he was a closing second in the Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in his latest venture. (It should also be noted that Whitmore is cross-entered in the Dirt Mile).

Improbable was fourth as the favorite in the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1), and he will cut back to one mile following a close fourth-place result in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Trained by Bob Baffert, this talented son of City Zip was a debut winner at Santa Anita, and he is also perfect from a pair of tries at the distance.