2025 Kentucky Derby: Top Contenders, Derby Winners, Odds, and Betting Predictions

Kentucky Derby: May 3, 2025 6:57 ET @ Churchill Downs

Mark your calendars because this is going to be one helluva day in horse racing-the Kentucky Derby returns on May 3, 2025! The historic Churchill Downs in Louisville will roar to life for the 151st running of this legendary 1¼-mile contest that begins the grueling Triple Crown series. With the jaw-dropping purse of $5 million on the line, there will be lots of action on NBC live, with the main race going off at 6:57 Eastern Time.

Kentucky Derby Winners

Post  Horse                       Time

2024 Mystik Dan                2:03.34

2023 Mage                         2:01:57

2022 Rich Strike                 2:02:61

2021 Mandaloun                2:01.02

2020 Authentic                   2:00.61

2019 Country House          2:03.98

2018 Justify                        2:04.20

2017 Always Dreaming      2:03.59

2016 Nyquist                      2:01.31

2015 American Pharoah    2:03.02

2014 California Chrome     2:03.66

2013 Orb                            2:02.89

Meet the Contenders

The remainder of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” featuring 36 races taking place throughout North America, Japan, and Europe, has determined the 20 horses for this year’s event. These competitors include some spectacular ones:

Journalism: Trained by Michael McCarthy, this bay colt arrives at the Derby as the morning-line favorite at 3-1 odds. He boasts a four-race winning streak that includes a victory in the Santa Anita Derby and a solid pedigree, along with a record of relatively steady performances.

Sandman: Guided by trainer Mark Casse and riding Jose Ortiz on horseback, Sandman has shot quickly into prominence after an unforgettable victory in the Arkansas Derby. He’s now 6-1 odds and an out-and-out serious player in the contest.

Sovereignty: Trained by legend Bill Mott, a Hall of Fame inductee, won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and came back strong for a second in the Florida Derby. He is one of the favorites to win here at 5-1.

Burnham Square: He is quite a strong contender for the Derby and has already made a big impression by winning the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes that positions him as a serious threat for the upcoming race.

Baeza: A promising colt based in the U.S. under the care of trainer John Shirreffs and is progressing quite fast. With a star-studded pedigree as the half-brother of champions Mage and Dornoch, he has shown early flashes of brilliance with a commanding maiden win at Santa Anita. Classy and tough enough to get the Derby distance, his pedigree indicates that he has every chance of excelling in the Derby.

Luxor Cafe: By winning the Hyacinth Stakes, this American Pharoah colt secured his Derby credential. Although bred for shorter turf races, his blistering turn of foot arguably makes him a Derby contender.

2025 Kentucky Derby

Post   Horse                      Odds   Trainer                   Jockey

1         Citizen Bull              20-1     Bob Baffert             Martin Garcia

2         Neoequos                30-1     Saffie Joseph         Luis Saez

3         Final Gambit           30-1     Brad Cox                Luan Machado

5         American Promise   30-1     D Wayne Lucas      Nik Juarez

6         Admire Daytona       30-1     Yukihiro Kato         Cristophe Lemaire

7         Luxor Cafe               15-1     Noriyuki Hori          Joao Moreira

8         Journalism               3-1       Michael McCarthy  Umberto Rispoli

9         Burnham Square     12-1     Ian Wilkes               Brian Hernandez Jr.

11       Flying Mohawk         30-1     Whit Beckman        Joe Ramos

12       East Avenue            20-1     Brendan Walsh       Manny Franco

13       Publisher                 30-1     Steve Asmussen     Irad Ortiz

14       Tiztastic                   20-1     Steve Asmussen     Joel Rosario

15       Render Judgement 30-1      Ken McPeek           Julien Leparoux

16       Coal Battle              30-1      Lonnie Briley          Juan Vargas

17       Sandman                6-1       Mark Casse             Jose Ortiz

18       Sovereignty             5-1       Bill Mott                   Jose Alvarado

19       Chunk of Gold         30-1     Ethan West             Jareth Loveberry

20       Owen Almighty        30-1     Brian Lynch           Javier Castellano

21       Baeza                     12-1     John Shirreffs          Flavien Prat

Bet Suggestions:

1st      – Journalism (Post 8, 3-1)

2nd     – Sovereignty (Post 18, 5-1)

3rd      – Sandman (Post 17, 6-1)

4th      – Baeza (Post 21, 12-1)