Oxbow was named after the geographic phenomenon called an oxbow lake Picking a horse name happens many ways — a committee of family and friends, playing off the sire or dam names, or just plain gut feeling. All names have to be approved and registered with The Jockey Club. Here's how this year's Derby horses were named.
Charming Kitten: Sired by Kitten's Joy, this horse got his name as part of a whole slew of "Kitten" horses owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
MORE: Which horse has the best chance to win?
Falling Sky: Owners James Covello and Joseph Bulger of Newtown Anner Stud bought Falling Sky as a 3-year-old, and he was already named. Trainer John Terranova said he doesn't know what prompted the name, and his sire (Lion Heart) and dam (Sea Dragoness) don't provide any clues.
Frac Daddy: His owners are in the oil business in Montana and named this horse in honor of those who are involved with fracking, which is a process of mining for oil and natural gas.
MORE: After NCAA title, Pitino now goes for Derby win
Giant Finish: His sire is Frost Giant and his mare is Apocalyptic.
Goldencents: Named after Goldencents.com, the website of some of the owners of the horse. The site sells rare coins.
MORE: How do $1,000 mint juleps taste? Just grand
Golden Soul: Owner Charles Fipke said he always uses the sire and mare names as the basis for the names of his horses so that he can remember their pedigrees. Golden Soul is by Perfect Soul out of Hollywood Gold.
Itsmyluckyday: Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said the original owner of the horse had a secretary who wanted to name the horse Itsmyluckyday. "I love it," Plesa said. "If I was going to have another child, I would name him Itsmyluckyday."
PHOTOS: SATURDAY AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY 
Fans slide through the mud in the infield
Getty Images Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![Horses run around a muddy track during the ninth race]()
Horses run around a muddy track during the ninth race
J. David Ake AP Related story Fullscreen ![Travis Stutes (left) and Nadine Deery (right) drink mint juleps and smoke cigars]()
Travis Stutes (left) and Nadine Deery (right) drink mint juleps and smoke cigars
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Horse racing fans watch as a horse is led through the paddock]()
Horse racing fans watch as a horse is led through the paddock
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens looks on after a race]()
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens looks on after a race
Rob Carr Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![Aimee Boorse drinks a mint julep]()
Aimee Boorse drinks a mint julep
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Tracy Badge covers her Derby hat with a plastic bag]()
Tracy Badge covers her Derby hat with a plastic bag
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![May 4, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; A tray of mint juleps before the 2013 Kentucky Derby]()
May 4, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; A tray of mint juleps before the 2013 Kentucky Derby
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Dilini Fernando wears a Derby hat in the paddock area]()
Dilini Fernando wears a Derby hat in the paddock area
Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![A general view of roses in the winner's circle before the 2013 Kentucky Derby]()
A general view of roses in the winner's circle before the 2013 Kentucky Derby
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Actress Kyrsten Ritter arrives]()
Actress Kyrsten Ritter arrives
Darron Cummings AP Related story Fullscreen ![Outrider horses walk through the mud on the Churchill Downs track]()
Outrider horses walk through the mud on the Churchill Downs track
David Goldman AP Related story Fullscreen ![Horses race along the muddy backstretch during an undercard race prior to the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby]()
Horses race along the muddy backstretch during an undercard race prior to the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby
Doug Pensinger Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![Hope Lach poses for a photo]()
Hope Lach poses for a photo
Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Jill Bateman is screened as part of a security checkpoint by Kentucky national guard member Richard Rayome before the 2013 Kentucky Derby]()
Jill Bateman is screened as part of a security checkpoint by Kentucky national guard member Richard Rayome before the 2013 Kentucky Derby
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Rosie Napravnik looks on after a race prior to the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby]()
Rosie Napravnik looks on after a race prior to the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby
Jamey Price Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![Aaron Schneider of New Orleans sips $1,000 mint julep at the Kentucky Derby]()
Aaron Schneider of New Orleans sips $1,000 mint julep at the Kentucky Derby
Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![April Pauly shows off her Derby hat in the infield]()
April Pauly shows off her Derby hat in the infield
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Former NFL player Warren Moon arrives to attend the 139th Kentucky Derby]()
Former NFL player Warren Moon arrives to attend the 139th Kentucky Derby
Darron Cummings AP Related story Fullscreen ![Actor Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen attend the 139th Kentucky Derby]()
Actor Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen attend the 139th Kentucky Derby
Michael Loccisano Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![A fan in a fancy hat places a bet]()
A fan in a fancy hat places a bet
Gregory Payan AP Related story Fullscreen ![Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn Birkhead attend the 139th Kentucky Derby]()
Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn Birkhead attend the 139th Kentucky Derby
Michael Loccisano Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![Joey Fatone attends the 139th Kentucky Derby]()
Joey Fatone attends the 139th Kentucky Derby
Michael Loccisano Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![Race fan Dirk Jemmott reads The Racing Form next to the betting windows before the 2013 Kentucky Derby]()
Race fan Dirk Jemmott reads The Racing Form next to the betting windows before the 2013 Kentucky Derby
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![A spectator drinks chapagne]()
A spectator drinks chapagne
Matt Slocum AP Related story Fullscreen ![Miss American 2013 Mallory Hagan]()
Miss American 2013 Mallory Hagan
Darron Cummings AP Related story Fullscreen ![Stefanie Anderson wears a Derby hat]()
Stefanie Anderson wears a Derby hat
Mark Zerof, uSA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Becky Turner drinks a mint julep]()
Becky Turner drinks a mint julep Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports
