2025 Kentucky Derby News: River Thames Out

A bit of 2025 Kentucky Derby shuffling took place Tuesday, with River Thames declared out of the race and Built moving into the field limited to 20 starters.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, River Thames qualified 15th for the 2025 Kentucky Derby leaderboard. But Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which co-owns River Thames, said bypassing the Kentucky Derby was based on the colt having raced four times since Jan. 11.

Sandman, Coal Battle Post Workouts

The River Thames will be pointed to the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, the second leg of the Triple Crown, set for May 17. River Thames was nipped at the wire by Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2), then ran third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), less than a length behind winner Burnham Square.

Built, No. 21 on the leaderboard, moves into the field for trainer Wayne Catalano. Built took the Louisiana road to the Kentucky Derby: he won the Gun Runner, finished second in the Lecomte (G3), third in the Risen Star (G2), and fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Built, though, has not yet been confirmed as a 2025 Kentucky Derby starter by his owners.

If Built does not run, a spot opens for Neoequos, third in the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The colt is currently No. 22 on the Derby leaderboard.

Built worked 4 furlongs in 49.80 at the Downs on Tuesday.

Sandman and Coal Battle post-workouts at Churchill Downs

Arkansas Derby winner Sandman worked 4 furlongs in 49.60 for trainer Mark Casse. Regular exercise rider Froylan Garcia was aboard the son of Tapit for the breeze.

“It looked perfect,” Casse said from his Ocala, Florida base. “I asked the rider to go between 49 and 50 seconds, and he did just that.”

Coal Battle, the Rebel (G2) winner and third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby (G1), worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 at the Downs for trainer Lonnie Briley. Coal Battle breezed under assistant trainer Bethany Taylor. 

10 Kentucky Derby Contenders stabled at Churchill Downs

Currently stabled at Churchill Downs are 10 of the contenders: Japan’s Admire Daytona, Burnham Square, Coal Battle, East Avenue, Final Gambit, Flying Mohawk, Publisher, Sandman, Sovereignty, and Tiztastic.

Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street will have one more workout at Payson Park in South Florida before being vanned to Louisville. The colt, trained by Brad Cox, is co-owned by WinStar Farm.

Pletcher will still have a 2025 Kentucky Derby starter with Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Grande.

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.