2025 Kentucky Derby odds: Betting, full field, expert analysis, jockeys, trainers, and fun facts
Legendary trainer Bob Baffert's return to the Kentucky Derby tops the list. Back at Churchill Downs for the first time in three years following his suspension due to a failed post-race drug test involving his horse, Medina Spirit, after the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Baffert returns with multiple entries (Citizen Bull, Madaket Road, Rodriguez).
Journalism is the current favorite followed by Sovereignty and Sandman, but the field features speed beyond those three thoroughbreds. Keep in mind, the favorite has won the Kentucky Derby just under 35% of the time since 1908 (40 times). In fact, the favorite has failed to secure a victory the last five years.
Because the Run for the Roses remains a race where surprises are common, and longshots often emerge victorious, lets dive into the field for 2025.
NBC Sports' horse racing analyst Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) offers his thoughts on the contenders and once post positions are drawn on April 26, he will be back offering his favorite plays.
The following is a snapshot of each horse in the field including their lineage, jockey, trainer, and career highlights on their path to the 151st Kentucky Derby.
(Horses listed in alphabetical order)
Sire: Drefong
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire | Trainer: Yukihiro Kato
Career Highlight: Won the UAE Derby
Fun Fact: Admire Daytona was the top points earner
on the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby
Sire: Justify
Jockey: Nik Juarez | Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Virginia Derby
Fun Fact: The phrase 'American Promise' is also
associated with a handful of moments leading
to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Sire: Liam's Map
Jockey: Brian T. Hernandez, Jr. | Trainer: Ian R. Wilkes
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Blue Grass Stakes
Fun Fact: Burnham Square's grandfather is 1990 Derby
winner Unbridled
Sire: Preservationist
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry | Trainer: Ethan W. West
Career Highlight: Placed second at the 2025 Louisiana Derby
Fun Fact: This is Loveberry's second Derby ride. He rode Two Phil's to a second-place finish in 2023.
Sire: Into Mischief
Jockey: Martin Garcia | Trainer: Bob Baffert
Career Highlight: Won the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Fun Fact: This will be Garcia's 5th Derby. His best
finish was third in 2015 aboard Dortmund.
Sire: Coal Front
Jockey: Juan P. Vargas | Trainer: Lonnie Briley
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Rebel Stakes
Fun Fact: Both of Coal Battle's parents, Coal Front
and Wolfblade, are descendants of Seattle Slew.
Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Jockey: Luan Machado | Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh
Career Highlight: Second in the 2025 Blue Grass Stakes
Fun Fact: Medaglia d'Oro, East Avenue's sire, raced in
all three Triple Crown races in 2002, finishing fourth in
the Kentucky Derby, eighth in the Preakness and
second in the Belmont.
Sire: Not This Time
Jockey: Luan Machado | Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Jeff Ruby Steaks
Fun Fact: The Kentucky Derby will be Final Gambit's
first race on dirt.
Sire: Karakontie
Jockey: Joseph D. Ramos | Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Career Highlight: Second in the 2025 Jeff Ruby Steaks
Fun Fact: The Kentucky Derby will be Flying Mohawk's first
race on dirt.
Sire: Curlin
Jockey: John Velazquez | Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Career Highlight: Rallied from seventh for a second-place
finish in the Wood Memorial to qualify for the Derby
Fun Fact: Pletcher and Velazquez teamed up to win the
Derby with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017.
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli | Trainer: Mike McCarthy
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Santa Anita Derby
Fun Fact: Curlin has sired winners of the Preakness,
Belmont Stakes, and Breeders' Cup Classic but not
the Kentucky Derby
Sire: American Pharaoh
Jockey: TBA | Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
Race Highlight: Won the 2025 Fukuryu Stakes
Fun Fact: Luxor Cafe won three stakes races in Japan
to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Trainer and horse
making their first starts outside of Japan.
Sire: Quality Road
Jockey: Mike E. Smith | Trainer: Bob Baffert
Career Highlight: Finished second in the Rebel Stakes
Fun Fact: Baffert's 1st of 5 Kentucky Derby wins
was with Silver Charm in 1997.
Sire: Speightstown
Jockey: TBA | Trainer: Brian Lynch
Career Highlight: Won the Tampa Bay Derby with
the 2nd fastest time in the history of the race
Fun Fact: Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode Owen Almighty at
Tampa but the ride is in question for the Derby.
Sire: American Pharoah
Jockey: Flavien Prat | Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Career Highlight: Finished second in the Arkansas Derby
Fun Fact: Asmussen is the winningest trainer of all-time
amassing over 10,000 victories as a trainer
Sire: Maclean's Music
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Career Highlight: Finished second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Fun Fact: River Thames has never run a race the length of the Kentucky Derby (1 1/4 miles).
Sire: Authentic
Jockey: Michael E. Smith | Trainer: Bob Baffert
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Wood Memorial
Fun Fact: Both of Rodriguez' victories have come in wire-to-wire fashion, and he figures to be at or near the front early in the Kentucky Derby.
Sire: Tapit
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz | Trainer: Mark Casse
Career Highlight: won the 2025 Arkansas Derby
Fun Fact: Tapit is the No. 1 active sire by lifetime Grade 1 winners, and the All-Time leading sire by earnings.
Jockey: Manuel Franco | Trainer: William I. Mott
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Fountain of Youth
Fun Fact: Mott was the trainer of Resilience who
finished sixth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Jockey: Luis Saez | Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Florida Derby
Fun Fact: Tappan Street upset Sovereignty to win the
Florida Derby.
Sire: Tiz the Law
Jockey: Joel Rosario | Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Career Highlight: Won the 2025 Louisiana Derby
Fun Fact: Asmussen's father was a jockey, and his two sons are currently jockeys.
As the Derby approaches and the Draw is announced, NBC Sports will keep you up to speed on the latest news from Churchill Downs as the best in horse racing make their final preparations in an effort to claim the coveted blanket of roses.
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