Can Emerging Market make Kentucky Derby history, win for Chad Brown?
Emerging Market has raced just twice, but trainer Chad Brown believes the horse can give him his first Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs.
Chad Brown isn’t one to suffer from “Kentucky Derby Fever. ” To wit, he’s twice won the Preakness — Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022 — with horses who had qualified for the Kentucky Derby but skipped it. So it may come as a surprise to see Brown in this year’s Kentucky Derby with a horse, Emerging Market , who has raced just twice in his career.
Or maybe it’s a sign of Brown’s confidence in his undefeated colt. “I’ve been beaten in this race by horses that weren’t nearly as good as Emerging Market, plain and simple,” Brown said. “They’re not this caliber.
So why sit out when there’s a chance another long shot can win? ” Emerging Market may not have the extensive résumé of a Renegade or Commandment or Further Ado , but he shouldn’t be overlooked for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs — even if history is against him. Only one horse ever has won the Kentucky Derby after entering the race with just two career starts, and you have to go back to 1883 (Leonatus) to find him.
Buy tickets here for Kentucky Derby 152 Since 1937 — the first year complete records are available on the topic — only six horses have even tried the Kentucky Derby off two career starts. The most recent was Japan’s T O Password in 2024. He finished fifth.