Trainer Nick Zito said, "I wanted Bellamy Road outside. I think we got everything we wanted." Zito also trains four other starters, Andromeda's Hero, Sun King, Noble Causeway, and High Fly. The connections of Spanish Chestnut, expected to be the pacesetter and challenge Bellamy Road early, surprisingly took post 13, inside of the favorite, when a wider post was available. Trainer Patrick Biancone said, "I'm not racing against Bellamy Road. I thought 13 is a good number." Trainer Bobby Frankel is still looking for his first Derby winner, and will send out 12-1 shot High Limit out of post 6. He said, "A lot of people would have drawn outside, but I'm a believer in saving ground; I want to save ground." The morning of the draw, High Limit went out for a breeze, half a mile in 48 1/5. Exercise rider Jose Cuevas said, "He did it himself. Real easy. I was just a passenger." Owner B. Wayne Hughes has 2 horses entered, Derby Trial winner Don't Get Mad, and Illinois Derby winner Greeley's Galaxy. Greeley's Galaxy had to be supplemented into the race for $200,000, and because of this, he was the 20th and last horse to qualify for the field. "I thought we would get them both in," said Hughes. Supplemental fees are added to the winner's share, so this year the winner will take home a record $1,639,600. Showing confidence in his decision, Hughes added, "I think you get it back if you win, and that's what I'm planning to do."
Trainer Todd Pletcher is sending out three horses, including the highly regarded Bandini, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes. Asked why he chose post 15, the first post of the auxiliary gate, Pletcher said, "I wanted to be toward to the outside. I like the auxiliary gate; it's won five out of the last ten races. I like the extra space. We wanted to stay clear of the inside traffic. Plus, if there's a scratch you go to 14 and you're in the same position." Pletcher is also sending out Coin Silver and Flower Alley.
To Bandini's left will be 20-1 shot Wilko, trying to break the Breeders' Cup Juvenile jinx. Trainer Craig Dollase said, "We're very happy with 14. He's a talented colt and we've got plenty of speed on the inside of us."
Be sure to click the link on each horse's name to view full info, stats, and a photo where available. A star next to the dosage index indicates a dual qualifier.
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Dosage | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Sort It Out | Baffert | 1.67 | Blanc | 50-1 |
| 2 | Andromeda's Hero | Zito | 2.78 | Bejarano | 50-1 |
| 3 | Sun King | Zito | 3.00 * | Prado | 15-1 |
| 4 | Noble Causeway | Zito | 2.08 | Stevens | 12-1 |
| 5 | Coin Silver | Pletcher | 1.82 | Valenzuela | 20-1 |
| 6 | High Limit | Frankel | 2.50 | Dominguez | 12-1 |
| 7 | Flower Alley | Pletcher | 1.73 | Chavez | 20-1 |
| 8 | Greater Good | Holthus | 4.00 | McKee | 20-1 |
| 9 | Greeley's Galaxy | Stute | 4.00 | Desormeaux | 15-1 |
| 10 | Giacomo | Shirreffs | 4.33 | Smith | 50-1 |
| 11 | High Fly | Zito | 2.00 | Bailey | 8-1 |
| 12 | Afleet Alex | Ritchey | 2.11 * | Rose | 9-2 |
| 13 | Spanish Chestnut | Biancone | 2.60 | Bravo | 50-1 |
| 14 | Wilko | Dollase | 7.00 | Nakatani | 20-1 |
| 15 | Bandini | Pletcher | 3.57 | Velazquez | 6-1 |
| 16 | Bellamy Road | Zito | 3.50 | Castellano | 5-2 |
| 17 | Don't Get Mad | Ellis | 2.27 | Baze | 30-1 |
| 18 | Closing Argument | McLaughlin | 4.00 | Velasquez | 30-1 |
| 19 | Going Wild | Lukas | 1.91 | Valdivia | 50-1 |
| 20 | Buzzards Bay | Mullins | 1.50 | Guidry | 20-1 |
