Truth be told, there’s no denying that Journalism will be the horse to beat in the $5 million 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Journalism left trainer Bob Baffert’s talented duo of Citizen Bull and Barnes in the dust, was forced to check in the stretch, but still edged Baeza in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday (April 5).
The emphatic victory moved Journalism to No. 1 in the final US Racing 2025 Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 10, while longtime leader Citizen Bull dropped to No. 6.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism is on a roll. He’ll bring a four-race winning streak into the 151st Derby, and he’s beaten Baffert’s best not only on Saturday but in the San Felipe (G2) as well, including Barnes, Mellencamp, and Rodriguez, who won the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday.
With Citizen Bull finishing fourth of five on Saturday, he’s out of the top 5, but don’t discount his 2025 Kentucky Derby chances. Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman moved up to No. 2, followed by Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Sovereignty and Florida Derby winner Tappan Street.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, went gate-to-wire in winning the Wood at Aqueduct and soars in at No. 5 as much-heralded Barnes (fifth and last on Saturday) is out of the Kentucky Derby picture and out of the Top 10.
“I thought he showed a lot of poise being down inside,” McCarthy said of Journalism after the Santa Anita Derby. “He had to kind of bide his time and wait for a seam to get through. ... He is amenable to whatever [jockey] Umberto [Rispoli] asks of him.”
Burnham Square is also new in the Top 10, who nosed out East Avenue in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Tuesday. The win catapulted the gelding trained by Ian Wilkes to No. 1 on the 2025 Kentucky Derby points leaderboard (130) and to No. 8 in our Top 10.
Captain Cook, who finished fourth in the Wood, dropped out of the Top 10 and did not earn enough points to make the Derby field, limited to 20 starters based on qualifying points.
The final Derby prep is Saturday, the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, but there are no horses that could earn enough points to get into the field for the Run for the Roses. The Lexington awards 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
Convinced he’s the real deal as he looks to become first to win Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby since Justify in 2018 ... This will be McCarthy’s second Derby starter (Endlessly ran ninth in 2024) ... Pedigree: Curlin-Mopotism, by Uncle Mo … Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 … Derby points: 122.5 (3rd) … Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 5-1.
If closers get a quick pace in the Derby, Sandman should be in serious contention in the stretch ... Won Arkansas Derby with perfectly timed run under Jose Ortiz ... Ran second in Southwest and third in Rebel, with closing runs coming up short ... Pedigree: Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 129 (2nd) ... Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 9-1.
Another closer to make this Derby even more interesting ... A solid second to Tappan Street in Florida Derby does little to deter his chances in Louisville ... Showed his talent with a final run to edge River Thames in Fountain of Youth ... Franco, who replaced the injured Junior Alvarado, was aboard for first time in Florida Derby ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini … Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3... Derby points: 110 (7th) … Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 9-1.
Victory over Sovereignty in Florida Derby puts Cox into the Derby ... Purchased for $1 million at Saratoga select yearling sale ... Owned by WinStar Farm, CHC, Cold Press Racing ... Brings a 3-2-1-0 resume to Louisville ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Virginia Key, by Distorted Humor ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 110 (6th) ... Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 14-1.
Traveled well cross-country for gate to wire Wood win at the Big A ... Second in Robert B. Lewis to stablemate Citizen Bull and third to Journalism, Barnes in San Felipe ... Gives Baffert a second Derby starter as he aims at record-setting seventh win ... Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan ... Purchased for $485,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale ... Pedigree: Authentic-Kayala, by Cherokee Run ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 121.5 (4th) ... Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 62-1.
Let’s regroup. After months as No. 1 on the list, 2-year-old champion did not run well in Santa Anita Derby (fourth of five) ... Still, don’t out a huge rebound in the Derby for this front-runner .... Only two BC Juvenile winners have gone on to win the Derby ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 … Derby points: 71.25 (11th) … Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 8-1.
Louisiana Derby winner gives Asmussen a solid chance to end 0-for-26 record in the Run for the Roses ... “Maybe he’s the one to get us over the hump,’’ the trainer said last month ... Hall of Famer Rosario won 2013 Derby aboard Orb ... Pedigree: Tiz the Law-Keesha, by Tapit ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 119 (5th) ... Derby future wager odds: 22-1.
Oh-so-close win over East Avenue in challenging Blue Grass field puts him in Derby and allows gelding to finish atop leaderboard with 130 points ... Defeated Tappan Street in Holy Bull on Feb. 1 ... Owners: Whitman Thoroughbreds ... Pedigree: Liam’s Map-Linda, by Scat Daddy) ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 130 (1st) ... Derby future wager odds: 31-1.
Settled in at Churchill Downs, colt worked 4 furlongs in 48.40 on April 8 ... Smarty Jones and Rebel winner lost for first time on dirt, but ran a credible third in Arkansas Derby ... Mystik Dan, third in 2024 Arkansas Derby, went on to win the Kentucky Derby ... Pedigree: Coal Front-Wolfblade, by Midshipman … Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 95 (9th) … Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 25-1.
A credible third in Blue Grass earned him 25 points and enough (50 total) to make the Derby field for Pletcher ... A tough loss to Sovereignty in Fountain of Youth in earlier race gives colt a decent resume ... Oritz was aboard for first time, replacing John Velazquez ... Pedigree: Maclean's Music-Proportionality, by Discreet Cat ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 3 ... Derby points: 50 (16th) ... Kentucky Derby future wager odds: 49-1.
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.
