Derby Day
Today is the 151st running of the ‘most exciting two minutes in sports’, the Kentucky Derby.
The Derby was first run on May 17, 1875, founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Clark was inspired by European racing events like the Epsom Derby in England and the Grand Prix de Paris in France. A chestnut colt named Aristides, ridden by African-American jockey Oliver Lewis, won that race before a crowd of about 10,000 spectators.
The Run for the Roses is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The facility is named for John and Henry Churchill, who provided the land. Speaking of Roses, the nickname I used above became a thing in 1902 after years of the winning horse being garlanded with more than 400 of the flowers.
Only 3 year old horses nominated for the Triple Crown are eligible for the Derby.
Here are the 19 horses, their jockeys and trainers, post position and odds*:
Citizen Bull (20-1)
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
- Jockey: Martin Garcia
- Notes: 2024 champion 2-year-old, won Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but faded to fourth in Santa Anita Derby. Needs to lead early.
Neoequos (30-1)
- Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
- Jockey: Luis Saez
- Notes: Longshot with limited recent success, hard to place in this field.
Final Gambit (30-1)
- Trainer: Brad Cox
- Jockey: Luan Machado
- Notes: Won Jeff Ruby Steaks on Tapeta, needs to prove himself on dirt. Considered a “wise-guy” pick by some handicappers.
American Promise (30-1)
- Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
- Jockey: Nik Juarez
- Notes: Won Virginia Derby impressively, versatile runner, sired by Triple Crown winner Justify.
Admire Daytona (30-1)
- Trainer: Yukihiro Kato
- Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
- Notes: Japanese horse, won UAE Derby. First international start, speed but faces travel challenges.
Luxor Cafe (15-1)
- Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
- Jockey: Joao Moreira
- Notes: Japanese horse, won Fukuryu Stakes, four straight wins. Sired by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, strong longshot contender.
Journalism (3-1, Favorite)
- Trainer: Michael McCarthy
- Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
- Notes: Won Los Alamitos Futurity, San Felipe, and Santa Anita Derby. Highest Brisnet Speed rating, excels in late runs.
Burnham Square (12-1)
- Trainer: Not specified in sources
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Notes: Led qualifying points with 130, won Blue Grass Stakes. Strong closer, suited for 1.25-mile distance.
Flying Mohawk (30-1)
- Trainer: Not specified
- Jockey: Not specified
- Notes: Second in Jeff Ruby Steaks, fast finish but a longshot.
East Avenue (20-1)
- Trainer: Brendan Walsh
- Jockey: Manny Franco
- Notes: Pace-setter, second in Blue Grass Stakes. May struggle with distance against rivals.
Publisher (20-1)
- Trainer: Steve Asmussen
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Notes: Second in Arkansas Derby, sired by American Pharoah. Yet to win, faces historical maiden challenge.
Tiztastic (20-1)
- Trainer: Not specified
- Jockey: Not specified
- Notes: Won Louisiana Derby, strong late runner, could gain ground late.
Render Judgment (30-1)
- Trainer: Not specified
- Jockey: Not specified
- Notes: Owned by Toby Keith’s Dream Walkin Farms, longshot with limited buzz.
Coal Battle (30-1)
- Trainer: Lonnie Briley
- Jockey: Juan Vargas
- Notes: Third in Arkansas Derby, could surprise as an underdog with a good pace.
Sandman (6-1)
- Trainer: Mark Casse
- Jockey: Not specified
- Notes: Won Arkansas Derby, rallied from far back. Some question maturity due to stretch swerving.
Sovereignty (5-1)
- Trainer: Bill Mott
- Jockey: Junior Alvarado
- Notes: Won Fountain of Youth, second in Florida Derby. Strong contender, considered “the play” by some experts.
Baeza (12-1)
- Trainer: John Shirreffs
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Notes: Late entry after Rodriguez scratch, second in Santa Anita Derby. Half-brother to 2023 winner Mage, generating buzz.
Chunk of Gold (30-1)
- Trainer: Ethan West
- Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
- Notes: Consistent, second in Louisiana Derby and Risen Star. Potential “lottery ticket” longshot.
Owen Almighty (30-1)
- Trainer: Brian Lynch
- Jockey: Javier Castellano
- Notes: Won Tampa Bay Derby, prefers to lead early. Late entry after initial bypass consideration.
There were two scratches, Rodriguez (foot bruise, originally post 4) and Grande (foot bruise, originally post 9. Baeza replaced Rodriguez in post 20.
The post time for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This time is approximate and may shift slightly depending on how quickly the horses are set up in their posts.
*The lines are what they were at time of writing. Check for the latest odds with an official site.
