KENTUCKY DERBY: Top 10 Contenders (Week of 1/20/25)

The Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park is the lone Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race on Saturday, but the result could produce a bunch of 3-year-olds moving into position to Run for the Roses.

Two of the 10 entries in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest – Gaming and Patch Adams – are among the usracing.com Derby Top 10 in the latest list leading contenders. Gaming, the 2- 1 favorite in the Southwest, is No. 8 in the Top 10; Patch Adams, the 5-2 second choice, is No. 5.

Barnes, Citizen Bull remain 1-2 in usracing.com Derby Top 10

Six-time Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert has three of the colts in the Top 10 as Barnes and Citizen Bull remain 1-2.

Journalism, who owns a win over Gaming in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), is No. 3 as West Coast-based horses dominate the early top contenders.

In addition to Patch Adams, the other newcomers this week are Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Disco Time at No. 6 and Sovereignty at No. 10.

Off the list are Chancer McPatrick due to a slight ankle issue that required surgery and could delay his progress, Cyclone State and Guns Loaded.

The road to the Derby features a trio of point qualifiers on Feb. 1 – the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, and the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. All three offer 20-10-6-3-2 points to the top five finishers on a sliding scale.

Jockeys listed are from the horse’s most recent race.

usracing.com Kentucky Derby Top 10 Contenders:

1. BARNES (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez)

Barnes posted a solid workout on Jan. 20 at Santa Anita – 4 furlongs in 47.60 seconds, third fastest of 69 at the distance ... Won 7-furlong San Vicente by 5 ½ lengths on Jan. 4 to improve to 2-0 ... Purchased for $3.2 million by Amr Zedan. ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-All American Dream, by American Pharoah ... Next start: Rebel Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Feb. 22 … Derby points: 0 ... Derby future wager odds: 6-1 (pool 3)

2. CITIZEN BULL (Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia)

Voted Eclipse Award winner as 2-year-old champion on Thursday (Jan. 24) ... Capped 3-for-4 campaign by winning the American Pharoah and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile ...  Worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.00 at Santa Anita on Jan. 23 ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor ... Next start: Robert B. Lewis, Santa Anita, Feb. 1 ... Derby points: 40 (1st) ... Derby future wager odds: 17-1

3. JOURNALISM (Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli)

Los Alamitos Futurity win over Gaming and Getaway Car gives trainer a top contender in the early going ... Worked 4 furlongs in 49.80 at Santa Anita on Jan. 23 ... Pedigree: Curlin-Mopotism, by Uncle Mo ... Next start: Robert B. Lewis, Santa Anita, Feb. 1 ... Derby points 10 (12th) ... Derby future wager odds: 20-1

4. EAST AVENUE (Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione)

Remains a top contender as BC Juvenile has to be a toss after colt stumbled badly at the start and finished ninth of 10 ... Worked 5 furlongs in 59.40 at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 17, fastest of 44 at the distance ... Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro-Dance Music, by Ghostzapper ... Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15 ... Derby points: 10 (9th) ... Derby future wager odds: 15-1.

5. PATCH ADAMS (Brad Cox, Flavien Prat)

Huge maiden win at second asking – by 10 ½ lengths at 7 furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30 ... Owners: CHC Inc., WinStar Farm ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Well Humored, by Distorted Humor ... Next start: Southwest Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Jan. 25 ... Derby points: 0 ... Derby future wager odds: 12-1

6. DISCO TIME (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux)

Other than the cool name, his rally to beat Built by a neck in the Lecomte puts him in the Top 10 ... Plus, he’s 3-0 with his first two wins at Churchill Downs ... Owners: Juddmonte Farms ... Pedigree: Not This Time-Disco Chick, by Jump Start ... Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15 ... Derby points: 20 (3^rd) ... Derby future wager odds: 21-1

7. JONATHAN’S WAY (Phil Bauer, Joel Rosario)

Runner-up in the Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 30, this Ohio-bred has been working steadily for his 3-year-old debut next month ... Covered 5 furlongs in 1:03.20 at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 20 ... Also failed to fire in BC Juvenile (seventh), but owns a win in the 1-mile Iroquois at Churchill Downs ... Pedigree: Vekoma-Female Drama, by Indian Charlie ... Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15 ... Derby points 15 (7th) ... Derby future wager odds: 49-1

8. GAMING (Bob Baffert, Flavien Prat)

Favorite in Saturday’s $1 million Southwest Stakes, he’s finished in the top 3 in his three final 2-year-old races – third in the Los Alamitos Futurity, second in the BC Juvenile, and first in the Del Mar Futurity ... Worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 at Santa Anita on Jan. 18 ... Pedigree: Game Winner-So Stylish, by Johannesburg ... Next start: Southwest, Oaklawn Park, Jan. 25 ... Derby points 18 (5th) ... Derby future wager odds: 38-1

9. COAL BATTLE (Lonnie Briley, Juan Vargas)

After a four-length win the Smarty Jones, it appears this could be quite a run for the roses for 72-year-old trainer still seeking a first graded stakes win ... Colt already has two Derby prep wins and has won four of six starts ... Worked 4 furlongs in 52.20 at Delta Downs on Jan. 15 ... Pedigree: Coal Front-Wolfblade, by Midshipman ... Next start: Rebel, Oaklawn Park, Feb. 22 ... Derby points 20 (2nd) ... Derby future wager odds: 48-1

10. SOVEREIGNTY (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado)

From last to first for a five-length win in the Street Sense – at Churchill Downs and at 1 1/16 miles merits this spot ... Most recent workout was 4 furlongs in 49.20 at Payson Park on Jan. 15 ... Bred and owned by Godolphin ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini ... Next start: TBD ... Derby points 10 (13^th) ...  Derby future wager odds: 21-1.

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.