Horsemen would go anywhere to find a Kentucky Derby horse, and this year’s prospective runners come from many avenues – homebreds born as close as Kentucky or as far away as Japan; runners purchased at major North American auction houses such as Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton; and even claiming races.

Among those, War of Will’s journey has been roundabout. The colt was born in Kentucky but took a side trip to France, where bloodstock agent Justin Casse, brother of trainer Mark Casse, purchased him on behalf of owner Gary Barber.

Quality Road made a statement in April when he sired the winners of the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Oaks on the same day. Currently the nation’s leading sire by earnings, he’ll get a chance to widen his margin in emphatic fashion when Roadster is among the favorites in the Kentucky Derby and Bellafina starts as the heavy choice in the Kentucky Oaks.

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While 2019 Kentucky Derby week is in full swing at Churchill Downs, perhaps there’s already some thoughts of the 2020 Kentucky Derby, as an exceptionally strong class of freshman sires will be represented by some of their first 2-year-olds this week under the twin spires.

Champion Honor Code is expected to be represented by his first starter on Wednesday on a card that features several freshmen. One day later, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who is off to an encouraging start with his stud career, has a well-bred filly in a maiden race.

Six years after starting in the Kentucky Derby, Goldencents will have a first-crop Kentucky Derby starter in Louisiana Derby winner By My Standards.

Despite being a European champion in his own right, Noble Mission has always lived in the shadow of his brother, the unbeaten two-time European Horse of the Year Frankel.

Claiborne Farm has won the Kentucky Derby only once in its century-plus history, when the star-crossed Swale carried its famous gold silks beneath the twin spires. But that doesn’t mean the farm hasn’t had ties to other Derby winners – or that the Hancock family’s influence isn’t all over this year’s race despite its lack of ownership.

“We have a lot of interest,” said farm president Walker Hancock, the great-grandson of Arthur B. Hancock, who founded Claiborne in 1910.

Tacitus
Tapit – Close Hatches, by First Defence
Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms

A long and winding road toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby is making its way toward the finish line. Only a handful of horses in the diverse group of horses preparing to line up for the classic have won multiple graded stakes this season. Tacitus was one of those. He finished as the leader by points in this season’s series of Kentucky Derby qualifying races, and sports one of the most regal pedigrees in this class.

Unmarked Bills, a half-brother to two Kentucky Derby starters, was a moderately-successful racehorse in his own right while never reaching an elite level. A week before this year’s Kentucky Derby, he’ll get his own chance for a turn in the spotlight in his second career as he starts at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, North America’s premier eventing competition.

Roadster
Quality Road - Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost
Bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm ($525,000 purchase by Speedway Stables at Keeneland September yearling sale)

Barbara Banke makes business decisions for Stonestreet Farm with the head and not the heart, carefully curating the youngsters produced by her star-studded broodmare band. But Banke has a special place in her heart for talented fillies.

She will look on with pride as two fillies bred by Stonestreet and sold in 2017 contest the Kentucky Oaks.

And meanwhile, an exciting filly she chose not to sell in 2018 is expected to carry the Stonestreet colors at the Royal Ascot meeting in June.