In the weeks leading up to the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3, the USRacing handicappers will lay out $100 worth of betting options on selected races.
Trainer Wayne Catalano is pulling out all the stops to get Built enough points to lock down a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Built is currently tied for ninth with Chancer McPatrick with 35 points on the 2025 Kentucky Derby leaderboard. The 100 points to the winner here would certainly clinch a spot.
Catalano, taking no chances, will add blinkers for the first time. The hood should put Built on his toes right from the start following a third-place effort in the Risen Star Stakes (G2), where he challenged the front-running Magnitude rounding the final turn and was handily rebuffed.
Perhaps the most significant addition is jockey Jose Ortiz, who is wrapping up a sensational Fair Grounds meet. This is his first ride on the colt, and he should be right at home in his fourth straight start at the track.
Trainer Brad Cox won this race last year with Catching Freedom. He bids for the repeat with the duo of John Hancock and Instant Replay.
The strategy for John Hancock, the 7-2 favorite, is straightforward: break cleanly from the rail and dictate the pace. Those are the tactics employed in winning both starts: a maiden race and the Sam F. Davis Stakes, both at Tampa Bay Downs.
John Hancock’s effort in the Sam F. Davis was flattered when runner-up Owen Almighty returned to capture the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He is the speed of the speed, so expect jockey Flavien Prat to take no prisoners right from the break.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas punched his 2025 Kentucky Derby ticket last weekend when American Promise won the Virginia Derby.
Lukas, 89 years young, could be headed to Louisville with a 1-2 punch if Caldera comes through. The gray colt, 5-1 on the morning line, just missed in his stakes debut, the Sunland Derby, to Bob Baffert’s Getaway Car. The talented but underappreciated Tyler Gaffalione will ride for the first time.
A $1 million yearling purchase, Yinzer (12-1) makes his stakes debut for trainer Steve Asmussen. He broke his maiden on the Risen Star undercard, and admittedly, this is a significant hike in class.
On the plus side, this is his home track, and the son of Twirling Candy is bred to go a classic distance.
Front-end speed is his game. If John Hancock doesn’t break well, look for Yinzer to dictate the early fractions eagerly.
$15 win, $15 place, #6 BUILT (total $30)
$5 exacta box, #1 JOHN HANCOCK/#5 CALDERA/#6 BUILT (total $30)
$1 trifecta box, #1 JOHN HANCOCK/#4 YINZER/#5 CALDERA/#6 BUILT (total $24)
$1 exacta wheel, #6 BUILT /ALL (total $9)
$1 exacta wheel, ALL/#6 BUILT (total $9)
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.
