Kentucky Derby: Total of 21 horses enter ahead of Wednesday draw

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A total of 21 horses were entered Wednesday morning for Saturday’s $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Post positions were to be drawn Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern during a one-hour show broadcast on NBC Sports Network.

Giant Finish, a New York-bred who was announced as an entry late Tuesday, pushed Fear the Kitten to the also-eligible list. A horse would have to scratch by 9 a.m. Friday in order for Fear the Kitten to make it into the field.

Andrew Cohen, the co-owner and breeder of Giant Finish, confirmed that Jose Espinoza would ride Giant Finish in the Derby.

Earlier Wednesday, owner Ken Ramsey confirmed that Edgar Prado would ride Charming Kitten. Charming Kitten is one of a record-tying five entries from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher.

At around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, UAE Derby winner Lines of Battle arrived from Ireland. He is expected to be released from quarantine in time to train Friday.

The 21 horses entered for the Derby, with expected riders, are: Black Onyx (Joe Bravo) Charming Kitten (Prado), Falling Sky (Luis Saez), Frac Daddy (Victor Lebron), Fear the Kitten (Alan Garcia), Giant Finish (Espinoza), Goldencents (Kevin Krigger), Golden Soul (Robby Albarado), Itsmyluckyday (Elvis Trujillo), Java’s War (Julien Leparoux), Lines of Battle (Ryan Moore), Mylute (Rosie Napravnik), Normandy Invasion (Javier Castellano), Orb (Joel Rosario), Overanalyze (Rafael Bejarano), Oxbow (Gary Stevens), Palace Malice (Mike Smith), Revolutionary (Calvin Borel), Verrazano (John Velazquez), Vyjack (Garrett Gomez), and Will Take Charge (Jon Court).

[KENTUCKY DERBY FIELD: Contender profiles and handicapping videos]