The 151st Kentucky Derby misplaced two starters this week as Rodriguez and Grande scratched due to hoof bruises. With the addition of Baeza, Saturday’s Run for the Roses will go off with a subject of 19.
The scratches took the highest two runners within the Wooden Memorial out of the Kentucky Derby and halved the possibilities for coach Bob Baffert to saddle a seventh winner of the race.
When Medina Spirit was stripped of the Kentucky Derby victory in 2021 after failing a drug check, Baffert served a suspension that stored him out of the earlier three races. He returned this yr with Rodriguez and Citizen Bull, final yr’s high 2-year-old.
Rodriguez probably wasn’t going to be the betting favourite for the Kentucky Derby regardless of Rodriguez’s main prep victory on the Wooden and the Baffert connection.
Journalism was established because the morning-line favourite on the post-position draw one week in the past. Journalism additionally had the backing of bettors, at the very least via Friday night time. At 3-1 within the morning line, Journalism was at 7-2 with the betting public.
Journalism involves Churchill Downs because the Santa Anita Derby winner.
Different winners of main prep races on the Kentucky Derby embody the Arkansas Derby’s Sandman, Blue Grass Stakes’ Burnham Sq., Fountain of Youth Stakes’ Sovereignty, Louisiana Derby’s Tiztastic, Insurgent Stakes’ Coal Battle and UAE Derby’s Admire Daytona.
Just like the Wooden Memorial, the Florida Derby’s winner will not be in Saturday’s lineup. Tappan Road is out of motion resulting from a leg harm.
The winner will obtain $3.1 million of the race’s $5 million purse and the mantle of the 2025 Triple Crown candidate.
Put up time for the Kentucky Derby is 5:57 p.m. CDT Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. Showers are anticipated at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
NBC Sports activities begins televised protection of the Kentucky Derby at 11 a.m. Saturday on USA Community. NBC takes over the protection at 1:30 p.m. The Kentucky Derby additionally will probably be streamed dwell by way of Peacock.
The sector for the Kentucky Derby, with publish place and morning-line odds/betting odds (as of Friday night time), consists of:
Citizen Bull works out on Thursday, Could 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 1: Citizen Bull 20-1/14-1
The Eclipse Award winner as 2024’s Champion 2-12 months-Outdated Colt got here into the yr off victories within the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Citizen Bull’s 3-year-old marketing campaign began with a virtually wire-to-wire win within the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. However the further furlong of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5 proved a tough check, and Citizen Bull got here in fourth – 9.75 lengths behind winner Journalism. Coach: Bob Baffert, who saddled Kentucky Derby winners Silver Attraction in 1997, Actual Quiet in 1998, Conflict Emblem in 2002, American Pharoah in 2015, Justify in 2018 and Genuine in 2020. Jockey: Martin Garcia. File: 6-4-0-1. Earnings: $1,451,000. Pedigree: No Joke by Into Mischief.
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Neoequos works out on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 2: Neoequos 30-1/49-1
The colt has campaigned solely at Gulfstream Park and moved as much as graded-stakes occasions his final two occasions out. Neoequos posted third-place finishes on the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1 and the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29. He was a head off the lead coming into the stretch within the former and led by a head coming into the stretch within the latter. Coach: Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey: Luis Saez. File: 7-2-2-2. Earnings: $291,050. Pedigree: Daring Birdie by Neolithic.
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Last Gambit works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 3: Last Gambit 30-1/15-1
The colt broke his maiden his third outing on Feb. 15 at Turfway Park on Feb. 15, then got here again 5 weeks in a while the identical monitor to stamp his ticket to the Kentucky Derby by successful the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks. Fifth in a five-horse jumble coming into the stretch, Last Gambit ran off to a 3.5-length victory. Coach: Brad Cox, who saddled Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun in 2021. Jockey: Luan Machado. File: 4-2-1-1. Earnings: $520,639. Pedigree: Pachinko by Not This Time.
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American Promise works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. )(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel
Put up Place 4: American Promise 30-1/12-1
The son of Triple Crown winner Justify took six races as a 3-year-old to interrupt his maiden. As a 3-year-old, American Promise ran the seventh on the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes and fifth on the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes earlier than getting his second win on the Virginia Derby on March 15. Coach: D. Wayne Lukas, who saddle Kentucky Derby winners Successful Colours in 1988, Thunder Gulch in 1995, Grindstone in 1996 and Charismatic in 1999. Jockey: Nik Juarez. File: 9-2-1-1. Earnings: $444,874. Pedigree: Tapella by Justify, which gained the Kentucky Derby in 2018.
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Admire Daytona works out on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 5: Admire Daytona 30-1/41-1
After operating all his races at Tokyo, together with getting crushed by Luxor Café twice, the colt traveled to earn a spot within the Kentucky Derby by way of the Euro/Mideast Highway by successful the 9.5-furlong UAE Derby on April 5. Coach: Yukihiro Kato. Jockey: Christophe Lemaire. File: 6-2-2-0. Earnings: $672,047. Pedigree: Ice Pastel by Drefong.
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Luxor Café works out on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 6: Luxor Café 15-1/11-1
The son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah involves the US from Japan 3-for-3 as a 3-year-old and on a four-race successful streak. Luxor Café earned a return journey house by ending atop the four-race Japan Highway to the Kentucky Derby, closing with a 5-length victory within the Fukuryu Stakes on March 29. Coach: Noriyuki Hori. Jockey: Joao Moreira. File: 6-4-1-0. Earnings: $379,057. Pedigree: Mary’s Follies by American Pharoah, which gained the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
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Journalism works out on Thursday, Could 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 7: Journalism 3-1/7-2
Journalism completed third in his first race on Oct. 27. After that, the California colt discovered his velocity to reel off 4 victories, together with two this yr – the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1 and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Journalism had closed his 2-year-old marketing campaign with a 3.5-length victory within the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Coach: Michael W. McCarthy. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. File: 5-4-0-1. Earnings: $638,880. Pedigree: Mopotism by Curlin.
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Burnham Sq. works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 8: Burnham Sq. 12-1/15-1
The gelding bounced again from his solely out-of-money end to win the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 at Keeneland. Among the many horses Burham Sq. ran previous down the stretch to win by a nostril had been East Avenue and Owen Almighty. Burnham Sq.’s stretch run as the favourite within the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes had netted solely a fourth-place end on March 1 at Gulfstream Park. Burnham Sq. began his 3-year-old marketing campaign by beating favourite Tappan Road by 1.75 lengths on the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 1. Coach: Ian R. Wilkes. Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in 2024. File: 6-3-1-1. Earnings: $977,755. Pedigree: Linda by Liam’s Map.
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Flying Mohawk works out on Thursday, Could 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 9: Flying Mohawk 30-1/32-1
The colt wanted 4 races to get his first win as a 2-year-old in a schedule that included a nasty fade from the entrance to a fifth-place end on the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes. As a 3-year-old, Flying Mohawk gained on the Truthful Grounds on Jan. 30 earlier than a second-place run on the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 22 by 3.5 lengths to Last Gambit. Coach: Whitworth Beckman. Jockey: Joe Ramos. File: 6-2-2-0. Earnings: $295,800. Pedigree: Bonbons Fleur by Karakontie.
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East Avenue works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 10: East Avenue 20-1/37-1
The colt gained his first two occasions out, together with the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. However the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile featured a stumbling begin and a ninth-place end on Nov. 1. East Avenue light badly to a Tenth-place end on the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15. East Avenue discovered a complete totally different gear for the Grade 1 Blue Stakes on April 8, although, and practically pulled out a wire-to-wire win earlier than being nosed out by Burnham Sq.. Coach: Brendan Walsh. Jockey: Manny Franco. File: 5-2-1-0. Earnings: $654,395. Pedigree: Dance Music by Medaglia D’Oro.
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Writer works out on Thursday, Could 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 11: Writer 20-1/28-1
The son of Triple Winner American Pharoah has not gained but, though the colt has progressed via his 3-year-old season. A sixth-place exhibiting on the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25 was adopted by a powerful stretch run for fourth on the Grade 2 Insurgent Stakes on Feb. 23 and a second-place run on the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby – 2.5 lengths behind Sandman Coach: Steven Asmussen. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. File: 7-0-2-3. Earnings: $407,756. Pedigree: Indian Delight by American Pharoah, which gained the Kentucky Derby in 2015.
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Tiztastic works out on Thursday, Could 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 12: Tiztastic 20-1/19-1
The colt had run off in-the-money finishes within the Grade 3 Road Sense Stakes, Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes when he had a clunker with a fifth-place exhibiting on the Grade 2 Insurgent Stakes on Feb. 23. However on the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 22, Tiztastic handed six horses within the remaining 3.5 furlongs to win going away by 2.25 lengths. Coach: Steven Asmussen. Jockey: Joel Rosario, who rode Kentucky Derby winner Orb in 2013. File: 8-3-1-2. Earnings: $1,549,800. Pedigree: Keesha by Tiz the Regulation.
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Render Judgment works out on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 13: Render Judgment 30-1/15-1
The colt’s solely victory got here at Churchill Downs however that was six months in the past. Render Judgment might be coming off his greatest run, however that was good for under a fifth-place end on the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 8. Coach: Kenneth McPeek, who saddled Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in 2024. Jockey: Julien Leparoux. File: 7-1-2-1. Earnings: $250,671. Pedigree: Barbara Gordon by Blame.
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Coal Battle works out on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 14: Coal Battle 30-1/27-1
The colt had a four-race successful streak capped by a quick end over the ultimate 2.5 furlongs to win the Grade 2 Insurgent Stakes by 1.25 lengths on Feb. 23. Coal Battle involves the Kentucky Derby off a third-place exhibiting with a fading end on the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 29 – 7 lengths behind Sandman, with Writer in between. Coach: Lonnie Briley. Jockey: Juan Vargas. File: 8-5-0-1. Earnings: $1,188,875. Pedigree: Wolfblade by Coal Entrance.
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Sandman works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 15: Sandman 6-1/9-2
The colt enters the Kentucky Derby because the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner on March 29 after a second-place exhibiting on the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25 and the Grade 2 Insurgent Stakes on Feb. 23. All three races had been contested at Oaklawn Park. On the Arkansas Derby, Sandman opened as much as a 2.5-length victory after being challenged by Kentucky Derby entrants Writer and Coal Battle within the stretch. Coal Battle had crushed Sandman within the Insurgent Stakes. Coach: Mark E. Casse. Jockey: Jose Ortiz. File: 8-3-1-2. Earnings: $1,254,595. Pedigree: Distorted Music by Tapit.
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Sovereignty works out on Thursday, Could 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 16: Sovereignty 5-1 /9-1
The colt got here from ninth over the ultimate 2.5 furlongs to win the Grade 3 Road Sense Stakes by 5 lengths to shut his 2-year-old marketing campaign. As a 3-year-old, Sovereignty gained the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes by a neck with one other large stretch run on March 1, then got here up 1.25 lengths in need of winner Tappan Road within the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29. Coach: William Mott, who saddled Kentucky Derby winner Nation Home in 2019. Jockey: Junior Alvarado. File: 5-2-2-0. Earnings: $572,800. Pedigree: Topped by Into Mischief.
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Chunk of Gold works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 17: Chunk of Gold 30-1/28-1
After breaking his maiden in his solely 2-year-old race, Chunk of Gold’s 3-year-old marketing campaign has consisted of three second-place finishes within the Leonatus Stakes on Jan. 18, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15 and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 22, ending 2.25 lengths behind Tiztastic within the latter race. Coach: Ethan West. Jockey: Jareth Loveberry. File: 4-1-3-0. Earnings: $348,818. Pedigree: Play for Gold by Preservationist.
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Owen Almighty works out on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 18: Owen Almighty 30-1/40-1
After successful the primary two occasions out and operating second within the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes as a 2-year-old, the colt seemed like a Kentucky Derby contender in a wire-to-wire win on the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 8. Owen Almighty had the identical velocity determine on the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes one month later, however that netted solely a sixth-place end. Coach: Brian Lynch. Jockey: Javier Castellano, who rode Kentucky Derby winner Mage in 2023. File: 7-3-2-0. Earnings: $499,935. Pedigree: Tempers Rising by Speightstown.
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Baeza works out on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
Put up Place 19: Baeza 12-1/18-1
Baeza didn’t earn sufficient factors on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby to make the unique subject, however the scatch of Rodriguez opened a spot for the colt. Baeza discovered his velocity in his third race, successful by 4.75 lengths over 1 mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 14. The following outing, Baeza couldn’t maintain off Journalism down the stretch for a second-place end by three-quarters of a size within the Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Coach: John A. Shirreffs. Jockey: Flavien Prat, who rode Kentucky Derby winner Nation Home in 2019. File: 4-1-2-0. Earnings: $148,500. Pedigree: Puca by McKinzie.
