Only one horse can claim immortality by winning the Kentucky Derby, but many follow varied paths afterward. Sierra Leone, for example, turned a Derby loss into a Breeders’ Cup Classic win and later triumphed in the Whitney Stakes. Meanwhile, Final Gambit, a long-shot Derby contender, showed promise on synthetic and turf surfaces but failed to secure a top finish in subsequent races like the Belmont and Saratoga Derbies.

This weekend marks a historic shift as the 2024 Kentucky Derby will be run on turf for the first time, relocated to Colonial Downs in Virginia after the Arlington Million’s venue changes. Mystik Dan, the 2024 Derby winner, returns under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. but is not the favorite; that distinction goes to Integration, who narrowly missed a recent Grade I victory. The race will test whether the Derby winner can adapt to the grassy surface, with post positions and jockey strategies playing key roles in the anticipated 5:54 PM ET start.