Almost every year there is a Cinderella story in the Kentucky Derby — a horse that was purchased for almost nothing, but has clawed his way up through the ranks to be competitive. On average, a racehorse costs about $75,000. To

In terms of Kentucky Derby winners, Fusaichi Pegasus claims the most expensive title. He was purchased as a yearling for $4 million! The next most expensive purchases were Winning Colors ($575,000), Alysheba ($500,000) and Justify ($500,000). On the other end of the scale, the least expensive Derby winners (since 1990) are Mine That Bird ($9,500), Real Quiet ($17,000), War Emblem ($20,000) and Funny Cide ($22,000).

Let’s take a look at this year’s potential field. In order of Derby points earned, here are the sales prices for this year’s Kentucky Derby contenders. As yearlings, Messier sold for $470,000, Tawny Port commanded a $430,000, followed by Cyberknife, who sold for $400,000. Taiba is the highest priced horse in the race, selling for $1.7 million as a two year old.

1. Epicenter – $260,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale 
2. Zandon – $170,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale 
3. White Abarrio – $7,500 as a newly-turned yearling at the OBS Winter Mixed sale, then $40,000 as a 2-year-old at OBS March
4. Mo Donegal – $250,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale 
5. Tiz The Bomb – $330,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select sale
6. Cyberknife – $400,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select sale
7. Crown Pride – foaled in Japan and not sold at public auction
8. Taiba – $140,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall sale, then $1.7 million as a 2-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select sale
9. Simplification – Reserve Not Attained (RNA) for $50,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale
10. Smile Happy – $175,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale, then $185,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select sale
11. Tawny Port – $430,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale 
12. Barber Road – $15,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale
13. Un Ojo – Homebred, but sold in utero for $40,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed sale
14. Early Voting – $200,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale Morello – $140,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale, then $200,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select sale, then $250,000 as a 2-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale
15. Messier – $470,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select sale
16. Zozos – a homebred, but his dam was purchased as a yearling for $57,000 at Keeneland September, raced to earnings of $233,593, and Munnings’ stud fee $25,000 in 2018 when he was conceived
17. Summer Is Tomorrow – $25,000 as a weanling at Keeneland November, then RNA for $14,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September, then $169,743 as a 2-year-old at the Arqana Deauville breeze up sale
18. Charge It – Homebred, but owner bought dam for $2.2 million as a yearling at Keeneland September, raced her to one win, and his sire Tapit stood for $300,000 in 2018
19. Happy Jack – Homebred (no bids as a weanling at the 2019 Keeneland November sale); owner purchased dam for $100,000 at 2015 Keeneland November sale, and sire Oxbow stood for $20,000 in 2018
20. Pioneer of Medina (hoping for a late defection in order to make the field) – homebred, was an RNA for $485,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale
21. In Due Time (hoping for two defections in order to make the field) – $9,500 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale, then $35,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale, then $95,000 as a 2-year-old at OBS April
22. Ethereal Road (hoping for three defections in order to make the field) – $90,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland September sale
23.  Rich Strike (hoping for four defections in order to make the field) – claimed for $30,000 out of his second career start.

The bargain horses this year would be Rich Strike, claimed for $30,000, White Abarrio, who sold for $7,500 as a yearling $40,000 as a two year old, and Barber Road, who sold for $15,000 as a weanling.

So, the question is, will the cost of the racehorse determine the outcome?