2020 Kentucky Derby jockey assignments, facts, and trends

To win the Kentucky Derby, you need the right horse. The right jockey helps a lot, too.

An experienced jockey who knows the pressure of a big race and how their horse handles situations can make the difference between Derby glory and waiting to get lucky again with another big horse.

Below is a list of the jockeys entered in the 2020 Kentucky Derby, along with their horses, post positions, and morning line odds.

Jockey statistics and historical trends 

Keep these jockey patterns and statistics in mind while handicapping the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

Previous Derby-winning jockeys

Only two of the jockeys in this year's Derby have won the race before. Though neither is on the favorite, both are on horses in that next tier of Tiz the Law's toughest challengers.

Mike Smith (Honor A. P.) won with Giacomo (2005) and Justify (2018). Honor A. P. comes from John Shirreffs' barn, just like Giacomo did.

John Velazquez (Authentic) won with Animal Kingdom (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017). Authentic is Velazquez's first Derby mount for trainer Bob Baffert.

Jockeys who finished in the money in past Derby races

Only four other jockeys in this year's race have finished in the money in the Kentucky Derby, and each has only done so once.

Martin Garcia (Finnick the Fierce) guided Dortmund to a third-place finish in 2015.

Javier Castellano (Money Moves) finished third with Audible in 2018.

Gabriel Saez (Mr. Big News) ran second with Eight Belles in 2008.

Florent Geroux (Thousand Words) rode Gun Runner to a third-place finish in 2016.

First-time Kentucky Derby riders

Adam Beschizza (Enforceable), Samy Camacho (King Guillermo), and Luca Panici (Sole Volante) will each ride in the Kentucky Derby for the first time.

In the history of the Kentucky Derby, 43 jockeys have won the blanket of roses in their first try. However, only two have done so between 1980 and the present day: Stewart Elliott (2004, Smarty Jones) and Mario Gutierrez (2012, I'll Have Another).

That tracks closely with the recent trend of riders needing some Derby experience to get the win. Though, in the history of the Kentucky Derby, Derby-winning riders have needed an average of 2.83 Kentucky Derby starts before winning their first Derby.

The average among first-time Derby winners over the last 30 years is 5.59 starts.

Experienced Derby jockeys still seeking a win

Two of the jockeys in this year's Kentucky Derby have ridden in over 10 Derby races without winning one: Julien Leparoux (11) and Javier Castellano (13).

However, sometimes persistence pays off: five Kentucky Derby-winning jockeys have needed 10 or more Derby starts before winning their first one, including both Mike Smith and John Velazquez!

Derby start No. 26 for Smith

Assuming he goes on to break from the gate with his assigned mount, Honor A. P., Mike Smith will start in his 26th Kentucky Derby this year.

That will tie him with Willie Shoemaker for the most Kentucky Derby starts in history. Smith's first Kentucky Derby came in 1984 with Pine Circle. The combo finished sixth, behind Swale and Laffit Pincay, Jr.

Jockey with longest active Derby streak

Even though Mike Smith comes into the 2020 Kentucky Derby with the most career starts, it is John Velazquez who comes in with the longest active streak of consecutive Kentucky Derby starts.

His 21 Kentucky Derby starts include 13 in a row, dating back to 2007, when he finished sixth with Circular Quay.

Javier Castellano also has a decade-long streak. He has ridden in 10 consecutive Derby races, going back to a 13th-place finish with Discreetly Mine in 2010.

Jockeys and Derby prep races

Twenty-two of the last 30 Kentucky Derby winners have kept the same jockey who rode them in their final prep.

Only eight of the 18 horses in this year's Kentucky Derby will keep their rider from their final prep, including Tiz the Law (Manuel Franco), Honor A. P. (Mike Smith), Ny Traffic (Paco Lopez), and King Guillermo (Samy Camacho).

Marquee contenders who will get a jockey change for the Derby include Authentic (John Velazquez; his last-out rider Flavien Prat is not riding in the Derby) and Thousand Words (Florent Geroux; his last-out rider Mike Smith will ride Honor A. P. instead).

Bet the 2020 Kentucky Derby at BetAmerica!