The 2025 Kentucky Derby is set to take place this weekend at Churchill Downs. Here is your guide to the Horses, Jockeys, Trainers, & Owners.
As the iconic twin spires of Churchill Downs cast their shadows over a buzzing Saturday night, the excitement for the 2025 Kentucky Derby reached new heights. The field of 20 was drawn, and at the heart of it all stands Journalism, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, ready to chase history from post position 8.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism enters the $5 million, Grade 1 classic unbeaten in his last four starts. With a commanding win in the Santa Anita Derby and a reputation for stalking the pace before pouncing down the stretch, the son of Curlin has emerged as the horse to beat.
The 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 3, with post time set for 6:57 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast live on NBC.
Didn’t you hear? It’s Derby Week! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/1rdtjm7mVP
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 28, 2025
Sovereignty, Sandman Headline the Chase
Sovereignty, the Florida Derby runner-up trained by Bill Mott, is the second choice on the morning line at 5-1, drawing post 18. Known for his powerful late runs, Sovereignty will rely on Junior Alvarado’s hands and a hot early pace to set up his closing kick.
Close behind is Sandman, another deep closer who claimed victory in the Arkansas Derby. Trained by Mark Casse and piloted by Jose Ortiz, Sandman starts from post 17 at 6-1 odds, hoping to replicate his late-running magic on racing’s biggest stage.
The Return of Baffert and the Battle of Speed
Legendary trainer Bob Baffert makes his Derby return with two front-running colts: Citizen Bull (20-1), breaking from the rail, and Rodriguez (12-1), positioned in post 4. Baffert, chasing redemption after Medina Spirit’s disqualification in 2021, will lean on veteran jockey Mike Smith to navigate Rodriguez to the front early.
Longshots with Dreams of Glory
The Derby is where dreams come alive, and longshots like Burnham Square (12-1), Grande (20-1), and Final Gambit (30-1) aim to surprise.
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Burnham Square, guided by Brian Hernandez Jr., was impressive in the Blue Grass Stakes and draws well at post 9.
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Grande, with three-time Derby winner John Velazquez, showed grit in the Wood Memorial.
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Final Gambit, despite being untested on dirt, brings intrigue after a strong finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
Burnham Square galloped out looking like he would have been happy to do more. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/SX6XT4xMh0
— Nicole Russo (@DRFRusso) April 26, 2025
Full 2025 Kentucky Derby Field: Horses, Trainers, Jockeys, Odds
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citizen Bull | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 20-1 |
| 2 | Neoequos | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Flavien Prat | 30-1 |
| 3 | Final Gambit | Brad Cox | Luan Machado | 30-1 |
| 4 | Rodriguez | Bob Baffert | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 5 | American Promise | D. Wayne Lukas | Nik Juarez | 30-1 |
| 6 | Admire Daytona | Yukihiro Kato | Christophe Lemaire | 30-1 |
| 7 | Luxor Café | Noriyuki Hori | Joao Moreira | 15-1 |
| 8 | Journalism | Michael McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli | 3-1 |
| 9 | Burnham Square | Ian Wilkes | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 12-1 |
| 10 | Grande | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 20-1 |
| 11 | Flying Mohawk | Whit Beckman | Joe Ramos | 30-1 |
| 12 | East Avenue | Brendan Walsh | Manny Franco | 20-1 |
| 13 | Publisher | Steve Asmussen | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 20-1 |
| 14 | Tiztastic | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario | 20-1 |
| 15 | Render Judgment | Kenny McPeek | Julien Leparoux | 30-1 |
| 16 | Coal Battle | Lonnie Briley | Juan Vargas | 30-1 |
| 17 | Sandman | Mark Casse | Jose Ortiz | 6-1 |
| 18 | Sovereignty | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | 5-1 |
| 19 | Chunk of Gold | Ethan West | Jareth Loveberry | 30-1 |
| 20 | Owen Almighty | Brian Lynch | Javier Castellano | 30-1 |
Also Eligible:
| 21 | Baeza | John Shirreffs | Flavien Prat | 12-1 |
Post Positions for the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. pic.twitter.com/CGyJn9rmy2
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 26, 2025
2025 Kentucky Derby Jockey Records at Churchill Downs
| Jockey | Horse | Derby |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Alvarado | Sovereignty | 5: 0-0-0 |
| Javier Castellano | Owen Almighty | 16: 1-0-1 |
| Manny Franco | East Avenue | 5: 0-1-0 |
| Martin Garcia | Citizen Bull | 4: 0-0-1 |
| Brian Hernandez Jr. | Burnham Square | 5: 1-0-0 |
| Nik Juarez | American Promise | 0: 0-0-0 |
| Christophe Lemaire | Admire Daytona | 2: 0-0-0 |
| Julien Leparoux | Render Judgment | 14: 0-0-0 |
| Jareth Loveberry | Chunk of Gold | 1: 0-1-0 |
| Luan Machado | Final Gambit | 0: 0-0-0 |
| Joao Moreira | Luxor Cafe | 0: 0-0-0 |
| Irad Ortiz Jr. | Publisher | 8: 0-0-0 |
| Jose Ortiz | Sandman | 9: 0-1-1 |
| Flavien Prat | Baeza, Neoequos* | 7: 1-1-3 |
| Joe Ramos | Flying Mohawk | 0: 0-0-0 |
| Umberto Rispoli | Journalism | 2: 0-0-0 |
| Joel Rosario | Tiztastic | 13: 1-1-0 |
| Mike Smith | Rodriguez | 28: 2-4-1 |
| Juan Vargas | Coal Battle | 0: 0-0-0 |
| John Velazquez | Grande | 26: 3-2-0 |
A Race Rich in History and Hope
With a full field of 20, ranging from decorated champions to rising stars, the 2025 Kentucky Derby is poised to deliver a spectacle. The favorite Journalism, calm yet commanding, stands as the one to beat. But with speed to his inside, closers lurking in the wings, and legends like Baffert, Smith, and Velazquez chasing glory, the path to the roses is anything but certain.
On May 3, as 20 thoroughbreds thunder down the stretch under the eyes of millions, one will etch their name in history. For now, all we know is this: the stage is set, and the magic of the Derby is ready to unfold.
