LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 151st Kentucky Derby, set for May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs, will feature 20 top 3-year-old thoroughbreds competing for a $5 million purse in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, leads as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after winning four consecutive races, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The race, known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” starts at 6:57 p.m. EDT.
The field includes strong contenders like Sovereignty (5-1), trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, and Sandman (6-1), trained by Mark Casse with an unconfirmed jockey. Rodriguez (12-1), trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, and Luxor Cafe (15-1), a Japanese colt trained by Yoshito Yahagi with Ryusei Sakai, round out the top bets. Posts were drawn April 26, with Journalism in post 8 and Sandman in the historically unlucky post 17, which has never produced a Derby winner since 1930.
Journalism, owned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Robert LaPenta, and Coolmore partners, has earned $638,880 with a 5:4-0-1 record. Its stalking style and elite speed figures make it a standout. Sovereignty, owned by C2 Racing Stable and others, has wins at Churchill Downs and a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby. Sandman, owned by D. J. Stable LLC and others, won the Arkansas Derby, boosting its odds.
Citizen Bull (20-1), also trained by Baffert with Martin Garcia aboard, carries high expectations as the 2024 champion 2-year-old male but faltered in the Santa Anita Derby, finishing fourth. Its owners, including SF Racing LLC and Starlight Racing, hope for a rebound leveraging its gate-to-wire speed. American Promise (30-1), trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Nik Juarez, set a track record in the Virginia Derby but struggles in graded stakes. Luxor Cafe, owned by Susumu Fujita, dominated Japan’s Hyacinth and Fukuryu Stakes, aiming to improve on Japan’s third-place finish in 2024.
Neoequos (30-1), trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. with Flavien Prat, and Final Gambit (30-1), trained by Brad Cox with Luan Machado, face long odds but could surprise. Neoequos, bred in Florida, seeks to be the seventh Florida-bred Derby winner, while Final Gambit makes its dirt debut. Admire Daytona (30-1), trained by Yukihiro Kato and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, qualified via a nose victory in the UAE Derby.
Burnham Square (15-1), trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., is a horse not to overlook. Its late-closing style suits the Derby’s 1.25-mile distance, and Hernandez, who won in 2024 with Mystik Dan, excels at Churchill Downs. Burnham Square’s nose victory in the Blue Grass Stakes, though with a modest speed figure, signals potential to challenge favorites if it capitalizes on a fast early pace.
The Derby’s 20-horse field creates a challenging pace, with front-runners like Citizen Bull and Rodriguez likely setting a fast tempo. Experts predict a late runner, such as Burnham Square or Sovereignty, could benefit as speed horses tire in the 10-furlong race. Post position 5 has produced 10 winners, tying for the most, while post 20 also has 10 but was last successful in 2022.
Churchill Downs expects 150,000 spectators, with betting available via TwinSpires.com or in-person windows. The race, broadcast live, draws millions globally. Simone Biles will give the “Riders up!” call, and Grace Potter will sing the National Anthem. Since 2013, favorites have lost the last five Derbies, suggesting room for upsets.
The Kentucky Derby, established in 1875, is the oldest continuously running U.S. sporting event. Founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., inspired by Epsom’s Derby and France’s Grand Prix, it became North America’s premier race under Col. Matt Winn’s leadership after 1902. The 1.25-mile dirt track tests stamina, favoring horses with tactical speed and closing ability.
