Fierceness and Sierra Leone are the early favorites at the 2024 Kentucky Derby

Jimmy Fallon awards instrumentality a caller car!

NBC Sports'Bernstein said Sierra Leone "presents a superb counterpoint to Fierceness."

The horse, trained by Chad Brown, "is nan fastest of nan late-closing horses successful this race, pinch his triumph successful nan Blue Grass Stakes serving arsenic evidence," Bernstein wrote successful his analysis.

Sierra Leone astatine Churchill Downs connected May 1.Andy Lyons / Getty Images

But "his fastest title successful nan Blue Grass was not moreover adjacent to nan title turned successful by Fierceness successful nan Florida Derby," Bernstein noted.

Read much successful Bernstein's full analysis.

Jay Croucher, NBC Sports

Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports

Jay Croucher, NBC Sports and Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports

Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick talk their strategies for determining horses to slice astatine nan Kentucky Derby and which horses person affirmative outlooks.

Country prima Wynonna Judd garnered cheers from attendees aft her capacity of nan nationalist anthem.

She previously described being capable to execute astatine nan Kentucky Derby arsenic a "full circle moment."

Former MLB outfielder Jayson Werth nervously paced nan halls of Churchill Downs connected Saturday, waiting for nan 12th title erstwhile his Dornoch runs for nan roses.

Werth, a personnel of nan 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, owns astir 10% of nan Kentucky Derby entrant racing from nan No. 1 post.

“It’s surreal: We benignant of sewage into this arsenic a hobby, and it’s turned into a passion,” Werth recently told The Associated Press. “I’ve sewage a passion for nan athletics for illustration I would’ve ne'er thought, and I want to stock it pinch nan world.”

Werth enjoyed a highly productive 15-year profession pinch nan Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals.

Gun Pilot pulled distant to triumph astatine nan Churchill Downs Stakes, adding to nan long-winning resume of trainer Steve Asmussen.

Gun Pilot covered nan 7 furlongs successful 1:21.95.

A $2 triumph stake connected nan 5-1 changeable brought a payout of $12.68.

Wynonna Judd is group to execute nan nationalist anthem.

The state euphony star, who was calved successful Ashland, Kentucky, shared her excitement astir nan capacity connected Instagram successful April.

"Kentucky, I’m coming HOME!" she wrote successful nan caption of her post. "Couldn’t beryllium much excited to denote I’ll beryllium performing nan nationalist anthem astatine this year’s 150th @kentuckyderby !!! From going to nan racetrack arsenic a small woman to now singing nan Star-Spangled Banner during this MILESTONE year, it’s specified a afloat circle moment."

In nan week starring up to nan performance, she besides shared an image of herself wearing a fascinator while posing pinch a equine connected some Instagram and X.

The way conditions could person a awesome effect connected today's race. Earlier it was sloppy and muddy but has now dried retired and nary rainfall is expected. Prepare for a accelerated track.

Emmy Award-winning character Sheryl Lee Ralph apparently almost didn't person a chapeau for Derby weekend.

In a post connected X connected Friday, nan "Abbott Elementary" prima said Smokey Robinson’s "beautiful woman Frances" gave her a chapeau truthful she didn't person to spell hatless for nan large event.

"Look what she gave me," Lee says successful nan video. "They [the Robinsons] made maine Derby-perfect."

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce appears to beryllium having a blast during Derby weekend.

Last night, he was spotted astatine nan Sports Illustrated Revel astatine nan Races hanging retired pinch The Chainsmokers.

Travis Kelce attends Sports Illustrated Revel astatine nan Races astatine Ice House successful Louisville, Ky., connected Friday.Sarah Anne Cohen / Getty Images

But this Swiftie wants to know: Is Taylor coming?

Looks for illustration astir apt not, arsenic Kelce rolled up connected Saturday without nan superstar by his side.

Travis Kelce enjoys a title astatine nan 150th moving of nan Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Ky., connected May 4, 2024.Leandro Lozada / AFP-Getty Images

NBC is nan broadcasting location for nan Derby, meaning there's a batch of firm synergy.

Among nan NBC Universal properties that person a beingness this weekend? A Minion, from nan celebrated "Despicable Me" franchise. ("Despicable Me 4" rolls retired successful theaters successful July.) The Minions' charismatic relationship promoted nan Derby pinch a post, featuring an image of nan yellowish animation character. "The likelihood conscionable sewage odder," nan caption read.

Universal Pictures besides had a Minion "on-site astatine nan Derby to interact pinch attendees," which NBC's "TODAY" show documented connected its Instagram page.

Every year, nan Derby draws successful a batch of A-listers (a operation of celebrities, athletes and musicians) who flock to Kentucky to drawback nan title and cheque retired nan parties.

Among nan biggest parties? The Barnstable Brown Gala, which took spot connected Friday. Hosted by Louisville autochthonal Patricia Barnstable Brown, nan gala raises money for glucosuria investigation and support for nan University of Kentucky’s Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. This year's impermanent database reportedly included Kid Rock, Aaron Rodgers, Tracy Morgan, Josh Groban, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Smokey Robinson, Jack Harlow and galore others. On Saturday, post-race, location will besides beryllium a Winner’s Party astatine nan Kentucky Derby Museum.

USA Today and nan Louisville Courier Journal rounded up a database of nan biggest parties here.

Saturday's reddish carpet besides drew successful large names for illustration influencer Alix Earle, musicians Jack Harlow and Thomas Rhett Akins.

Kid Rock performs astatine nan Barnstable Brown Gala connected Friday.Stephen J. Cohen / Getty Images

According to Mary Omatiga of NBC Sports, nan fastest Kentucky Derby clip ever recorded was 1:59 2/5 successful 1973 by Secretariat.

"Secretariat’s grounds astatine nan Kentucky Derby remains unbroken. The only different Thoroughbred that has completed nan Derby nether 2 minutes was Monarchos and his jockey Jorge Chavez, who vanished nan 2001 Kentucky Derby successful 1:59.97."

NBC Sports'Bernstein collapsed down why Fierceness "cannot beryllium near disconnected anyone’s betting tickets."

Reason No. 1? "Trainer Todd Pletcher is nan winningest trainer ever successful North America, based connected purse earnings," Bernstein writes successful his analysis. "He’s a two-time Kentucky Derby winner. Plus, "Fierceness has tally faster than each his competitors successful this race."

Read much study here.

Trikari came from down astatine nan extremity to return nan title astatine 47/1 odds.

Sure, nan Kentucky Derby is mostly astir nan horses. But arsenic astir onlookers know, it's besides very overmuch a large time for hats. Today, you'll spot attendees sporting large, lavish hats that are dressed up pinch everything from ribbons to fascinators.

Kentucky Derby Museum curator Chris Goodlett told NBC News' Philadelphia connection that nan hat-wearing contented is arsenic aged arsenic nan title itself.

“The beingness of ladies successful nan grandstand added awesome splendor to nan racing scene,” Goodlett told nan outlet. “News articles successful 1875 make reference to nan dress of nan ladies, pinch circumstantial mention of hats.”

A instrumentality wears a derby chapeau astatine Churchill Downs successful 1993Bill Frakes / Getty Images file

Derbygoers astatine nan 143rd Kentucky Derby connected May 6, 2017.Michael Noble Jr. / Getty Images file

A title instrumentality sits successful nan stands astatine Churchill Downs connected Saturday successful Louisville, Ky.Brynn Anderson / AP

This year’s favorite, Fierceness, enters nan Derby pinch a peculiar way record. He has won 3 erstwhile races successful perfectly dominating fashion, by a mixed full of 31 lengths.

But his 2 different races person been full clunkers: a 20 ¼-length seventh-place decorativeness successful past fall’s Champagne Stakes and a baffling third-place decorativeness (as nan 1-5 favourite against fishy competition) successful February’s Holy Bull Stakes. Many spot Fierceness arsenic nan eventual boom-or-bust equine — 1 who either wins pinch easiness aliases loses successful a rout.

On Saturday, Fierceness’ first task will beryllium to break cleanly and found his preferred guardant position. That unsocial is nary given, because he’s breaking from nan 17th station and will request to activity his measurement toward nan wrong quickly.

Fierceness is washed extracurricular his barn during nan greeting training for nan Kentucky Derby connected Friday.Justin Casterline / Getty Images

Longshot Trikari rallied to a thrilling upset victory successful nan American Turf Stakes.

The 47-1 acheronian equine covered nan 1 1/4-mile people successful 1:43.59, came beardown precocious and roared past favourite Formidable Man successful nan last strides.

A $2 triumph wager connected Trikari returned a monster $96.34 payout.

The information of racehorses is apical of mind astatine nan 150th Derby, aft 12 horses died past year.

Churchill Downs Inc., nan track’s genitor company, said it reviewed its information protocols and manufacture standards and implemented “key enhancements” for nan 2024 races.

The updated protocols include: way maintenance, nan constitution of a information guidance committee, accrued veterinarian oversight and implemented predictive exertion to place imaginable injuries earlier they happen.

The reddish carpet astatine Churchill Downs is popping truthful far.

This weekend's arena features a 360 Glam Cam connected nan reddish carpet "for celebrities to show disconnected their Derby Day outfits and make their title picks," according to an NBC news release. (The cam is not dissimilar what you'd spot astatine large Hollywood events.)

E! News is besides reporting unrecorded from nan event, pinch Zanna Roberts Rassi giving manner insights and posting contented connected societal media successful nan hours starring up to nan event, NBC said successful its release. Rassi posted connected Instagram this week, saying she's bringing "all things FASHION, HATS, CELEBS, MINT JULIPS…. I judge they person immoderate horses racing too..??"

Mage, a 3-year-old colt astatine nan time, was crowned past year's winner, pinch a clip of 2:01:57, according to information postulation agency Equibase.

Gustavo Delgado Sr. was Mage’s trainer, and Javier Castellano was Mage’s jockey.

Javier Castellano celebrates atop Mage aft winning nan 149th Kentucky Derby successful 2023.Rob Carr / Getty Images file

It's a oversea of hats astatine nan Derby arsenic crowds battalion Churchill Downs.

1. Dornoch (20-1)

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Jockey: Luis Saez

2. Sierra Leone (3-1)

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

3. Mystik Dan (20-1)

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Since 1875, spectators person gathered astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Kentucky, to witnesser nan Run for nan Roses.

The first thought for Churchill Downs was sparked successful 1872, when Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark attended nan Epsom Derby successful England. When Clark made his measurement backmost to nan States, he sought to create a way akin to England’s that Kentucky racers could telephone home.

A fewer years later, that desire came to fruition erstwhile Churchill Downs was born. The track’s first charismatic title time came May 17, 1875, pinch 3 awesome stakes races — nan Kentucky Derby, nan Kentucky Oaks and nan Clark Handicap.

Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Ky., connected Friday.Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Who: 20 3-year-old horses

Purse: $5 million

Distance: 1¼ miles

Forecast: 79 degrees pinch a 35% chance of rain