2025 Kentucky Derby Horses: Full Field Analysis, Expert Rankings & More

Excitement is building for the 151st Run for the Roses, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 3. An overflow field of 21 Kentucky Derby horses has been assembled following the post position draw.

Robert Criscola has ranked all 21 contenders following the revelation of the Kentucky Derby odds. See who he thinks will be getting their picture taken in the Churchill Downs winner's circle just after 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.

🐴 2025 Kentucky Derby horses

A maximum of 20 horses can participate in the first jewel of the 2025 Triple Crown for three-year-old thoroughbreds. The final field and Kentucky Derby post positions were determined on April 26, with 21 horses entering. Check out our Kentucky Derby 2025 horse profiles below:

Who is running in the 2025 Kentucky Derby?

No. 8 Journalism (3-1) is clearly the one to beat on the speed figures he earned in consecutive romps at Santa Anita. He's faced more than four rivals only once in five lifetime starts, but he's defeated some good stock in Barnes, Getaway Car, Baeza, Citizen Bull, and Rodriguez in the process.

• Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy
• Jockey: Umberto Rispoli 
• Earnings: $600,000

No. 7 Luxor Cafe (15-1) got here through the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, crushing the competition in the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama when last seen. Internationally-acclaimed jockey Joao Moreira sees fit to make his first Kentucky Derby start with this son of American Pharoah. 

• Trainer: Hori Noriyuki
• Jockey: Joao Moreira
• Earnings: $128,341

No. 19 Chunk of Gold (30-1) has rallied into second in each of his last two starts, including the Louisiana Derby. He seems to relish going long, and being by Preservationist, he should continue to mature by the start.

• Trainer: Ethan W. West
• Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
• Earnings: $324,400

No. 16 Coal Battle (30-1) may not "wow" you on speed figures, but he's clearly got a nose for the wire. He's won more races (five) than any horse in the Derby field and took the Grade II Rebel Stakes two starts ago.

• Trainer: Lonnie Briley
• Jockey: Juan P. Vargas
• Earnings: $1,169,500

No. 21 Baeza (12-1) needs a scratch from the body of the field by 9:00 a.m. ET on Friday in order to be able to run in the Kentucky Derby. The late-blooming son of McKinzie gave Journalism all he could handle in the Santa Anita Derby last time out. He is reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat's preference.

• Trainer: John A. Shireffs
• Jockey: Hector Isaac
• Earnings: $100,000

No. 10 Grande (20-1) is the lightest-raced colt in the Kentucky Derby field, as his runner-up result in the Wood Memorial last time out was just his third lifetime try. Three-time Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez gets a leg-up from two-time Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher here.

• Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
• Jockey: Dylan Davis
• Earnings: $140,000

No. 18 Sovereignty (5-1) overcame a layoff to take the Fountain of Youth Stakes two-back before coming up flat behind Tappan Street in the Florida Derby. Recent works are slow and sire Into Mischief is not a noted distance influence; tread with caution at this price.

• Trainer: William I. Mott
• Jockey: Manuel Franco
• Earnings: $548,800

No. 4 Rodriguez (12-1) could be dangerous if left unchecked up front under Hall of Fame pilot Mike Smith, who rides for Bob Baffert, but there appears to be a surplus of pace signed on for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The Wood Memorial hasn't produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Fusaichi Pegasus (2000).

• Trainer: Bob Baffert
• Jockey: Mike E. Smith
• Earnings: $476,000

No. 9 Burnham Square (12-1) took what looked to be a loaded rendition of the Blue Grass Stakes on paper, but the race didn't come back all that fast as there were some curiously poor performances there. He was buried by Sovereignty two starts ago. 

• Trainer: Ian R. Wilkes
• Jockey: Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr.
• Earnings: $927,425

No. 17 Sandman (6-1) is a strong candidate to come away last from the starting gate, which will likely put him in a disadvantageous position. His closing kick is solid, but he's a little dressed up after rallying into a meteoric Arkansas Derby tempo. 

• Trainer: Mark E. Casse
• Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
• Earnings: $1,117,995

No. 13 Publisher (30-1) is in the Derby field despite failing to win even a single race through seven starts. He frequently picks up minor awards, and was also helped by the frantic pace in the Arkansas Derby.

• Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
• Jockey: Flavien Prat
• Earnings: $355,000

No. 14 Tiztastic (20-1) upset the Louisiana Derby last time out, good for his first dirt win in six tries. It's fair to wonder if he'll replicate that effort though, based on his overall body of work.

• Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
• Jockey: Joel Rosario
• Earnings: $1,395,800

No. 6 Admire Daytona (30-1) is not nearly as well-regarded as last year's UAE Derby winner Forever Young. This Japanese colt was beaten by Luxor Cafe in both prior meetings. 

• Trainer: Yukihiro Kato
• Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
• Earnings: $672,047

No. 12 East Avenue (20-1) dazzled in his first two starts as a juvenile then laid an egg in consecutive starts. Can he sustain his Blue Grass bounce-back, or is this horse just a Keeneland wonder?

• Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh
• Jockey: Luan Machado
• Earnings: $612,500

No. 1 Citizen Bull (20-1) was slammed with the rail post, which hasn't won since 1986 (Ferdinand). The 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner backs into this race off an awful fourth in the Santa Anita Derby.

• Trainer: Bob Baffert
• Jockey: Martin Garcia
• Earnings: $1,436,000

No. 2 Neoequos (30-1) has been punching above his weight on the Florida road to the Derby, but added distance combined with the waters getting deeper will likely be his undoing.

• Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
• Jockey: Edgard J. Zayas
• Earnings: $153,250

No. 5 American Promise (30-1) was up the track in both the Grade III Southwest and Grade II Risen Star before beating up on a soft field in the revamped Virginia Derby; pass.

• Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
• Jockey: Nik Juarez
• Earnings: $335,000

No. 3 Final Gambit (30-1) improved dramatically to take the Jeff Ruby Steaks when last seen, but that last-out speed figure is still too slow to hang with these. Unless he's a freak of nature on conventional dirt and just hasn't had a chance to show it yet, it's unlikely he'll even hit the board.

• Trainer: Brad H. Cox
• Jockey: Luan Machado
• Earnings: $446,400

No. 11 Flying Mohawk (30-1) is another runner trying dirt for the first time and was soundly beaten by Final Gambit for his only prior stakes placing; no interest.

• Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
• Jockey: Joseph D. Ramos
• Earnings: $156,800

No. 15 Render Judgement (30-1) snuck into the Derby field due in large part to his distant second-place finish in the Virginia Derby. He would be a shocker.

• Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek
• Jockey: Sheldon Russell
• Earnings: $163,172

No. 20 Owen Almighty (30-1) was originally pointed to the Pat Day Mile on the Derby Day undercard, which is where this colt truly belongs. Nothing about his pedigree or performance lines suggests he'll relish going 10 furlongs.

• Trainer: Brian Lynch
• Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
• Earnings: $430,935

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✅ How horses qualify for the Kentucky Derby

A series of qualifying races for eligible three-year-old horses, also known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby, begins in September and runs until early April. These races are mostly held in the United States. However, there are qualifying races in Japan, the UAE, and the UK that allow for automatic bids. 

These races are part of a points system that will decide the starting field for the Kentucky Derby, with some races worth more points than others. Horses are awarded points based on their performances in these qualifying events. The Top 17 horses in the overall points standings are awarded starting spots in the Kentucky Derby, with three auto-bids rounding out the Top 20. 

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Kentucky Derby betting resources

• Kentucky Derby Win, Place, Show predictions
• Kentucky Derby AI predictions
• Kentucky Derby post positions
• How to bet on the Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Oaks predictions
• Early Kentucky Oaks predictions

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🏇 Types of Kentucky Derby horses

The Kentucky Derby isn’t open to just any horse. The “Run for the Roses” is limited to thoroughbred colts and fillies racing as three-year-olds.

Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred horses are predominantly used for racing, as they have a taller and slimmer build and are more athletic than standardbred horses, which are muscular and used in harness racing. Thoroughbred horses are able to sustain speeds over longer distances, with the Kentucky Derby raced at a 1 1/4 miles. 

Age of horses

Three-year-old horses can be considered teenagers in terms of growth, nearly fully developed but not quite at the maturity or muscle build of the four-year-old horse. Limiting the field to three-year-old horses allows for only a handful of prep races and adds an aura of mystery to the Kentucky Derby field, serving as a coming-out party for the next generation of elite race horses. 

How to pick a Kentucky Derby winner

The Kentucky Derby is famously unpredictable — but smart bettors look beyond the hype. Here are five key factors to help you separate the true contenders from the also-rans:

1. Past performance in prep races

Look at how each horse fared in major prep races like the Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby. Horses who finish strongly in these high-stakes races often carry that momentum into Churchill Downs.

🔎 Tip: A top-3 finish in a major prep race is often a strong indicator of Derby readiness.

2. Running style and pace

The Derby field is large, which makes traffic and race pace critical. Horses with tactical speed (who can stay close to the lead but avoid an early burnout) often fare best.

📉 Avoid deep closers who need a perfect setup to win — traffic jams and fast fractions don’t always cooperate.

3. Trainer and jockey experience

Proven connections matter. Trainers like Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox have consistently produced Derby contenders, while jockeys with Churchill Downs experience know how to navigate the chaos.

🧠 Seasoned Derby connections are less likely to panic if things don’t go perfectly out of the gate.

4. Post position draw

While a talented horse can overcome a bad draw, certain gates historically offer better chances. Middle posts (like 5–10) tend to offer the best combination of clean trips and strategic options.

📌 Avoid extreme inside or far outside posts unless the horse has shown adaptability in large fields.

5. Distance pedigree

The Derby is 1 1/4 miles — longer than most prep races. Horses bred for stamina are more likely to stay strong in the final furlongs.

🧬 A sprinter pedigree might shine early, but fade down the stretch.

Kentucky Derby Horses FAQs

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