10 horses to watch for the 2021 Kentucky Derby

After a 2020 Triple Crown season defined by scheduling oddities, empty grandstands and the absence of a transcendent 3-year-old champion, the racing world just wants a little normalcy from the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

The country’s most targeted race will return to its familiar spot on the first Saturday in May with fans in the stands. So that’s a start. Now, it’s time to look at the contenders we’ll be talking about over the next three weeks as post time draws near for race.

Essential Quality

We know how difficult it can be for a 2-year-old champion to carry his form into Triple Crown season, but this Brad Cox trainee has yet to take a false step. He passed his greatest test in the April 3 Blue Grass Stakes when he caught front-running Highly Motivated to win by a neck in a terrific race.

Cox is the hottest trainer in the sport. Jockey Luis Saez is one of the country’s most consistent winners. Essential Quality has already won at Churchill Downs, where he broke his maiden. It’s hard to find a reason why this undefeated gray colt should not be the favorite on May 1.

Concert Tour

Bob Baffert had to pull one potential favorite off the Derby trail when Life is Good suffered a horribly timed ankle chip last month. The Hall of Fame trainer always seems to have another bullet to fire, however, and this year it’s undefeated Concert Tour, who looked sensational winning the March 13 Rebel Stakes.

Concert Tour will face one more test in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby before pointing toward Churchill Downs. Baffert has used the Oaklawn Park prep as a Derby springboard before, and he’s already compared Concert Tour to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Rock Your World

This mighty physical specimen went right to the lead in the Santa Anita Derby and had no trouble putting away Baffert-trained Medina Spirit. He took an unusual path to Derby contention, winning his first two races on turf before trainer John Sadler shifted him to dirt for his major prep. He’s another undefeated colt who seems to be peaking right on time.

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