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Kentucky Derby 2025 Field, Riders & Odds

1 – Citizen Bull – Martin Garcia (20-1)

2 – Neoequos – Luis Saez (30-1)

3 – Final Gambit – Luan Machado (30-1)

4 – Rodriguez – SCRATCHED

5 – American Promise – Nik Juarez (30-1)

6 – Admire Daytona – Christophe Lemaire (30-1)

7 – Luxor Cafe – Joao Moreira (15-1)

8 – Journalism – Umberto Rispoli (3-1)

9 – Burnham Square – Brian Hernandez, Jr. (12-1) 

10 – Grande – SCRATCHED

11 – Flying Mohawk – Joseph Ramos (30-1)

12 – East Avenue – Manny Franco (20-1)

13 – Publisher – Irad Ortiz, Jr. (20-1)

14 – Tiztastic – Joel Rosario (20-1)

15 – Render Judgment – Julien Leparoux (30-1)

16 – Coal Battle – Juan Vargas (30-1)

17 – Sandman – Jose Ortiz (6-1)

18 – Sovereignty – Junior Alvarado (5-1)

19 – Chunk of Gold – Jareth Loveberry (30-1)

20 – Owen Almighty – Javier Castellano (30-1)

21 – Baeza – Flavien Prat

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)

Jeff Ruby Steaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 22 – Winner: Final Gambit ($32.14)

Louisiana Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 22 – Winner: Tiztastic ($17.00)

Arkansas Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 29 – Winner: Sandman ($9.40)

Florida Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 29 – Winner: Tappan Street ($6.80)

SA Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5 – Winner: Journalism ($4.00)

UAE Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5 – Winner: Admire Daytona ($22.20)

Wood Memorial (100-50-25-15-10) – April 5 – Winner: Rodriguez ($9.30)

Blue Grass (100-50-25-15-10) – April 8 – Winner: Burnham Square ($10.48)

Lexington (20-10-6-4-2) – April 12  – Winner: Gosger ($10.60)

Top 19 Kentucky Derby 2025 Points Leaders (thru 5-2-25)

European – Middle East – Admire Daytona

Japan – Luxor Cafe

Burnham Square (130 points)

Sandman (129 points)

Journalism (122.5 points)

Tiztastic (119 points)

Sovereignty  (110 points)

Final Gambit (100 points)

Coal Battle (95 points)

Chunk of Gold (75 points)

Citizen Bull (71.25 points)

Owen Almighty (65 points)

East Avenue (60 points)

Publisher (60 points)

American Promise (55 points)

Flying Mohawk (50 points)

Neoequos (40 points)

Render Judgment (39 points)

Baeza (37.5 points)

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven” Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders (5-2-25)

1 – Sovereignty (Into Mischief – Crowned, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Bill Mott – Last Ranking (1)

Comments: 5f in 1:01.80 (2/22) April 27. Out 6f in 1:15.58. Solid maintenance move. He has been my top ranked Derby contender since I started my Derby list last year so I have clearly liked him all along. I have followed his career closely. He is a much better workhorse now and seems to be maturing and sitting on a quality effort if he can work out a clean closing trip from post 18. 

2 – Journalism (Curlin – Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) – Trainer: Michael McCarthy – Last Ranking (2)

Comments: 5f in 1:01.40 (18/22) under his regular pilot Rispoli April 27. Opening 3f in 37.42. Out 6f in 1:13.52 and 7f in 1:26.73. He was full of energy and went a mile in 1:41 and change. That was an outstanding final Derby work. I have covered SoCal racing for many years and have been a fan of this horse for quite some time. He has been on my Derby list since its unveiling last year, and he was only a maiden winner at that time. I have watched many of his works and he has always been very professional and has the right temperament to handle the excitement of Derby Day. Everything is pointing to a strong effort on Saturday, and he is the most likely Derby winner.   

3 – Baeza (McKinzie – Puca, by Big Brown) – Trainer: John Shirreffs – Last Ranking (21)

Comments: Got in from the AE list. He breezed an easy 5f in 1:02.00 (15/15) April 28. Final half in 48.64 and out 6f in 1:16.30. Very easy maintenance move under Flavien Prat. 

4 – Burnham Square (Liam’s Map, Linda, by Scat Daddy) – Trainer: Ian Wilkes –  Last Ranking (3)

Comments: (track upgraded to good): 5f in 59.20 (3/33) April 26. Out 6f in 1:11.91 and 7f in 1:26.33. He is a G1-winning closer with plenty of stamina in a race with pace to chase, and he seems to be on the upswing based on his pre-Derby training sessions.  

5 – Sandman (Tapit – Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) – Trainer: Mark Casse –  Last Ranking (5)

Comments: 5f in 1:02.40 (20/29) at CD on April 23. 13.65 opening furlong, with a final 1/4 in 24.49 and he galloped out 6f in 1:15.40. This was just a routine maintenance move and I would not read much into it. He has faced the starter eight times with three starts this year, and should be plenty fit for a mile and a quarter.  

6 – Publisher (American Pharoah – Indian Pride, by Proud Citizen) – Trainer – Steve Asmussen – Last Ranking (8)

Comments: 4f in 49.00 (72/121) April 27. 24.25 opening 1/4 and hard held late. The G1 Arkansas Derby runner-up has been thriving at CD since arriving in April. He has worked three times and might be the most improved horse in this field. The maiden is a live longshot, just like I said in my Derby live long shots video a few days ago. I will be using him in the exotics. 

7 – Coal Battle (Coal Front – Wolfblade, by Midshipman) – Trainer: Lonnie Briley –  Last Ranking (6)

Comments: Easy 3f breeze in 36.00 (7/16) April 28. He should be plenty fit for the Derby in his 9th career start.

8 – Tiztastic (Tiz the Law – Keesha, by Tapit) – Trainer: Steve Asmussen –  Last Ranking (9)

Comments: 4f in 50.20 (112/121) April 27. Opening 1/4 in 24.53. Easy maintenance move typical of a Steve Asmussen trainee. If you like him, there is a very good chance that he will get the Derby distance.  

9 – Citizen Bull (Into Mischief – No Joke, by Distorted Humor) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (10)

Comments: 5f bullet breeze in 58.40 (1/15) April 28. 46.72 for the half and out 6f in 1:12.09 and 7f in 1:27.30. He was full of run and well within himself despite the faster than expected time. He should be all over the pace from the inside post. 

10 – East Avenue (Medaglia d’Oro – Dance Music, by Ghostzapper) – Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Last Ranking (11)

Comments: 5f in 59.40 (6/22) April 27. Out 6f in 1:12 flat. He bounced back with a good runner-up effort in the Blue Grass, and he should be all over the pace on Saturday. 

11 – Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah – Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready) – Trainer: Noriyuki Hori – Last Ranking (14)

Comments: The Japanese invader breezed an easy 5f in 1:02.40 (11/13) April 29. This was a solo move. 

Next Eight (Latest workouts): 

(12) Chunk of Gold – 5f bullet in 59.20 (1/13) at TP April 25. He is one of my live longshots, and you can watch my Derby long shots video. He looked energetic in his final major Derby move. 

(13) Final Gambit – (track upgraded to fast): 5f in 1:01 (17/33) April 26. Out 7f in 1:27.63 and finding his best stride late. 

(14) American Promise – 5f in 59.40 (4/33) April 26. Early morning work over a wet surface. Out 6f in 1:12.20. Opening 3f in 34.72. He showed speed in a 7f gate work at OP April 18. He has had 7 weeks between starts and has been fresh and keen in his workouts. He should be forwardly placed in the Derby. 

(15) Flying Mohawk –  5f in 1:00.00 (3/11) at CD April 25. In company with Ky Oaks entrant Drexel Hill. Out 6f in 1:12.71 and 7f in 1:26.34.

(16) Admire Daytona – The UAE Derby winner had a very easy and slow 4f move in 53.20 (33/33) at CD on April 22, and on April 29, he traveled 5f in 1:02.40 (11/13). In company with a Dale Romans maiden claiming winner. Out 6f in 1:16.56.   

(17) Owen Almighty – 5f in 1:01.60 (3/9) at CD April 24. He sat off his workmate and drew clear, He was out 6f in 1:13.75 and 7f in 1:27.27 and showed nice late energy and that was by design. His trainer Brian Lynch wants him to sit off what is expected to be a lively pace in the Derby. 

(18) Neoequos – 4f bullet in 48.43 (1/16) at GP on April 24. He should attend the pace from post 2 in the Derby. 

(19) Render Judgment – 5f in 59 (2/33) April 26. Out 6f in 1:12.06. He is 0-for-5 in stakes races and will be a Derby longshot. 

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Jarrod Horak

Jarrod Horak posts stakes recaps from Del Mar and Santa Anita Park, along with full card recaps and free stakes picks from Southern and/or Northern California.