Kentucky Derby 2023 Report: Derby defections

By Jarrod Horak

Kentucky Derby 2023 post positions were drawn on Monday, May 1. A total of 23 horses including three also-eligibles threw their hat in the ring, and in a crazy turn of events, all three alternates are now in the race. 

Practical Move was the first defection. He spiked a temperature and scratched on Thursday. Shortly after that development, it was reported that Lord Miles and Continuar would not run either, and those scratches allowed Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero, and King Russell into the body of the field. 

Lord Miles is out because his trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was suspended by Churchill Downs after the sudden deaths of two of his horses over the past few days at the Louisville, Kentucky track. Continuar’s connections were not happy with his fitness level and decided not to run in the Derby.  

I will be back tomorrow with more Derby developments.  

Grade 1 Kentucky Derby – Churchill Downs Race 12 – Saturday, May 6, 2023

1 – Hit Show (30-1)

2 – Verifying (15-1)

3 – Two Phil’s (12-1)

4 – Confidence Game (20-1)

5 – Tapit Trice (5-1)

6 – Kingsbarns (12-1)

7 – Reincarnate (50-1)

8 – Mage (15-1)

9 – Skinner (20-1)

10 – Practical Move – SCRATCHED

11 – Disarm (30-1)

12 – Jace’s Road (15-1)

13 – Sun Thunder (50-1)

14 – Angel of Empire (8-1)

15 – Forte (3-1)

16 – Raise Cain (50-1)

17 – Derma Sotogake (10-1)

18 – Rocket Can (30-1)

19 – Lord Miles – SCRATCHED

20 – Continuar (50-1) – SCRATCHED

21 – Cyclone Mischief (30-1) – DRAWS IN

22 – Mandarin Hero (22-1) – DRAWS IN      

23 – King Russell (50-1) – DRAWS IN