The Grade 3 Virginia Derby was the lone road to Kentucky Derby 2025 points race last weekend and American Promise pressed the pace and was much the best in a surprising result. In this report, I will recap the Virginia Derby, update the Derby points standings, and share my latest exceptional 11 Derby contenders.
The Grade 2 LA Derby and Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks are the next two Kentucky Derby points races on Saturday, March 22.
LA Derby field: 1 – John Hancock (7-2), 2 – Chunk of Gold (8-1), 3 – Toztastic (8-1), 4 – Yinzer (12-1), 5 – Caldera (5-1), 6 – Built (4-1), 7 – Vassimo (12-1), 8 – Furio (12-1), 9 – Instant Replay (6-1), 10 – Hypnus (10-1).
Jeff Ruby field: 1 – Calling Card (20-1), 2 – Charlie’s to Blame (15-1), 3 – California Burrito (7-2), 4 – Final Gambit (6-1), 5 – Flying Mohawk (15-1), 6 – Baby Max (5-1), 7 – Giocoso (30-1), 8 – Innovator (15-1), 9 – Poster (3-1), 10 – Maximum Promise (5-1), 11 – Curvino (20-1), 12 – He’s Not Joking (15-1), Also-Eligible: 13 – Candytown (20-1)
In other Kentucky Derby news, Bob Baffert trainees Gaming, Madaket Road, and Rodriguez worked earlier this week at Santa Anita as they prepare for possible Derby points race starts.
Gaming had a brief illness and missed the Virginia Derby (G3) last weekend. He fired a 5f bullet in 59 (1/76) on March 17, and Rebel Stakes (G2) runner-up Madaket Road drilled a half-mile bullet in 46.40 (1/83) on March 16. San Felipe (G2) show finisher Rodriguez went an easy half-mile in 48.60 (24/79) on March 17.
Baeza, a $1.2 million McKinzie colt exiting a visually impressive maiden dirt route win at Santa Anita, worked a strong 6f in 1:10.40 (1/1) at the Great Race Place on March 15. John Shirreffs has chosen the SA Derby (G1) as his next ambitious start. He is a sibling to Kentucky Derby 2023 winner Mage and last year’s Belmont Stakes and Haskell hero Dornoch. Shirreffs might also run his improving maiden Westwood in the SA Derby. He returned from a layoff and landed the show second time out Feb. 14 (Baeza 1st), and was clearly second best behind Baffert favorite Voldemort on March 14.
Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby hero Owen Almighty will make his next start in the Blue Grass (G1) on April 5. Jose Ortiz will ride him at Keeneland. Others targeting the Blue Grass include Fountain of Youth (G2) runner-up River Thames and last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) hero East Avenue.
Kentucky Derby 2025 Points Race Recaps
Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs (3-15-25): This new Kentucky Derby prep race was contested at 1 1/8 miles around one turn. Sunland Derby winner and strong favorite Getaway Car made the lead as expected and American Promise pressed from second. The latter put away the chalk, took the lead with three furlongs to go, and kicked well clear to win by 7 3/4 lengths. Render Judgment staked from third and completed the exacta, and late runner Omaha Omaha rallied from last of 7 to land the show. Getaway Car was another neck back in fourth, and Studlydoright, Rapture, and Authentic Gallop also ran. Nik Juarez rode the winner for Wayne Lukas. Fractions: 23.12, 45.20, 1:08.39, 1:33.02, 1:46.41 (new track record).
Kentucky Derby 2025 Points Race Results
Iroquois (10-5-3-2-1) – Sept. 14 – Winner: Jonathan’s Way ($4.52)
Champagne (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 5 – Winner: Chancer McPatrick ($3.10)
American Pharoah (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 5 – Citizen Bull ($8.60)
Breeders’ Futurity (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 5 – East Avenue ($7.56)
Street Sense (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 27 – Winner: Sovereignty ($4.86)
BC Juvenile (30-15-9-6-3) – Nov. 1 – Winner: Citizen Bull ($33.80)
Ky Jockey Club (10-5-3-2-1) – Nov. 30 – Winner: First Resort ($14.66)
Remsen (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 7 – Winner: Poster ($11.60)
Springboard Mile (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 13 – Winner: Coal Battle ($15.80)
Los Al Futurity (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 14 – Winner: Journalism ($7.60)
Gun Runner (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 21 – Winner: Built ($9.80)
Jerome (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 4 – Winner: Cyclone State ($8.10)
Smarty Jones (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 4 – Winner: Coal Battle ($11.00)
Lecomte (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 18 – Winner: Disco Time ($5.80)
Southwest (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 25 – Winner: Speed King ($30.60)
Holy Bull (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 1 – Winner: Burnham Square ($10.60)
Robert Lewis (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 1 – Winner: Citizen Bull ($3.80)
Withers (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 1 – Winner: Captain Cook ($4.90)
Sam F. Davis (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 8 – Winner: John Hancock ($7.00)
Risen Star (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 15 – Winner: Magnitude ($88.40)
Sunland Derby (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 16 – Winner: Getaway Car ($4.40)
John Battaglia Memorial (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 22 – Winner: California Burrito ($9.42)
Rebel (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 23 – Winner: Coal Battle ($25.80)
Fountain of Youth (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1 – Winner: Sovereignty ($8.40)
Gotham (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1 – Winner: Flood Zone ($37.60)
San Felipe (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1 – Winner: Journalism ($8.20)
Tampa Bay Derby (50-25-15-10-5) – March 8 – Winner: Owen Almighty ($7.80)
Virginia Derby (50-25-15-10-5) – March 15 – Winner: American Promise ($16.80)
Upcoming Derby Points Races Races:
Jeff Ruby Steaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 22
Louisiana Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 22
Arkansas Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 29
Florida Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 29
Blue Grass (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5
SA Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5
UAE Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5
Wood Memorial (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5
Lexington (20-10-6-4-2) – April 12
Top 28 Kentucky Derby 2025 Points Leaders (thru 3-19-25)
Coal Battle (70 points)
Owen Almighty (65 points)
Citizen Bull, Sovereignty (60 points)
American Promise (55 points)
Flood Zone (50 points)
Journalism (47.5 points)
Getaway Car (36 points)
Chancer McPatrick, Built (35 points)
Madaket Road (31 points)
Burnham Square (30 points)
Sandman, Render Judgment (29 points)
Omaha Omaha (26 points)
Speed King, Chunk of Gold, River Thames, Sand Devil (25 points)
Hill Road (24 points)
Rodriguez (21.25 points)
Captain Cook, John Hancock, California Burrito (20 points)
Tiztastic (19 points)
Barnes (18.75 points)
Gaming (18 points)
Poster (16 points)
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven” Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders (3-19-25)
1 – Sovereignty (Into Mischief – Crowned, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bill Mott – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: Bill Mott’s colt continues to top my list and he goes next in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 29. The Fountain of Youth (G2) hero breezed 5f in 1:01.80 (4/12) at Payson Park on March 15 and will have one more work prior to his next start.
2 – Journalism (Curlin – Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: The early Kentucky Derby favorite earned a 108 BSF in his San Felipe (G2) victory on March 1. The Grade 1 SA Derby on April 5 is his next assignment and he worked a half-mile in 48.20 (23/83) at Santa Anita Park on March 16.
3 – Citizen Bull (Into Mischief – No Joke, by Distorted Humor) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: The 2-year-old champ is gearing up for his showdown with Journalism in the SA Derby (G1). The front running winner of the American Pharoah (G1), BC Juvenile (G1), and Robert Lewis (G3) worked 6f in 1:12 (3/4) at Santa Anita on March 17. His regular rider Martin Garcia flew to California for the work and was pleased with the final result.
4 – Barnes (Into Mischief – All American Dream, by American Pharoah) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: He earned the second best dirt route number in this division in a clear runner-up finish behind Journalism in the San Felipe (G2). Bob Baffert’s talented sophomore colt fired a 6f bullet in 1:11.80 (1/4) at Santa Anita on March 17. He worked in company with fast debut sprint winner Cornucopian and the latter galloped out in front. His next start has yet to be announced. Will he be as effective at a mile and an eighth and a mile and a quarter in the coming weeks and months?
5 – Sandman (Tapit – Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) – Trainer: Mark Casse – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: He is 0-for-4 in Derby points races with a third in the Street Sense (G3), a runner-up finish in the Southwest (G3), and a show finish in the Rebel Stakes (G2). He breezed 5f in 1:03.20 (10/12) at Oaklawn on March 19 and is targeting the Arkansas Derby (G1) on March 29.
6 – Captain Cook (Practical Joke – Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie) – Trainer: Rick Dutrow – Last Ranking (6)
Comments: The Withers winner is scheduled to make his next start in the Wood Memorial (G2) on April 5. He has worked five times since his last start on Feb. 1 and drilled a half-mile bullet in 47.50 (1/14) at Belmont Park (dirt training) on March 18.
7 – Coal Battle (Coal Front – Wolfblade, by Midshipman) – Trainer: Lonnie Briley – Last Ranking (7)
Comments: The 3-time Kentucky Derby points race winner is targeting the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on March 29. He has worked twice since winning the Rebel (G2) including a 5f move in 1:02 (10/23) at Oaklawn on March 14.
8 – Caldera (Liam’s Map – Send Me On My Way, by Tiznow) – Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas – Last Ranking (8)
Comments: He stepped up from a dirt route maiden win to miss by a nose in the Sunland Derby. He is entered in the LA Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 22, and he drew post 5 and is 5-1 morning line. He has worked three times since his last start at Sunland Park and fired back-to-back 5f Oaklawn bullets on March 6 and March 14.
9 – Tappan Street (Into Mischief – Virginia Key, Distorted Humor) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (9)
Comments: This one is very light on experience. He won his seven panel debut late last year and stepped up, stretched out, rallied to the lead, and ended up a clear second behind Burnham Square in the Holy Bull (G3) on Feb. 1. They purposely kept him out of the Fountain of Youth (G2) and he has been targeting the Florida Derby (G1) for several weeks. He has worked five times since the Holy Bull and drilled back-to-back 5f bullets at Payson Park on March 8 and March 15.
10 – Burnham Square (Liam’s Map, Linda, by Scat Daddy) – Trainer: Ian Wilkes – Last Ranking (10)
Comments: The one needs to show more in his next scheduled start in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 5. He went past Tappan Street in the Holy Bull (G3) and was a flat fourth in the Fountain of Youth (G2). He returned to the worktab with an easy half-mile breeze in 49.00 (15/45) at Palm Meadows on March 14.
11 – Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie – Bernadreamy, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Chad Brown – Last Ranking (11)
Comments: The plan was to run well in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and move forward in the Blue Grass (G1). He came off the bench and was a solid second in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8, and he added blinkers and showed improved positional speed that day. He was probably about 80% fit last time and I would not be surprised if he moved up in the Blue Grass.
Next Nine: (12) Owen Almighty, (13) Madaket Road, (14) Built, (15) River Thames, (16) American Promise, (17) Poster, (18) Grande, (19) East Avenue, (20) Baeza
