Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders, Lineup and Pedigree for All Entries in the Field

The 2025 Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 3, and the eyes of the sporting world will be on Churchill Downs for the annual horse racing extravaganza.

Who are the horses competing for the right to etch their name in the history books and kick off their pursuit of the Triple Crown?

Find out with this preview, including their pedigrees and the favorites to contend for victory.

Lineup and Pedigree

1. Citizen Bull (Sire: Into Mischief, Dam: No Joke)
2. Neoequos (Neolithic, Bold Birdie)
3. Final Gambit (Not This Time, Pachiko)
4. Rodriguez (Authentic, Cayala)
5. American Promise (Justify, Tapella)
6. Admire Daytona (Drefong, Ice Pastel)
7. Luxor Café (American Pharoah, Mary's Follies)
8. Journalism (Curlin, Mopotism)
9. Burnham Square (Liam's Map, Linda)
10. Grande (Curlin, Journey Home)
11. Flying Mohawk (Karakontie, Bonbons Fleur)
12. East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro, Dance Music)
13. Publisher (American Pharoah, Indian Pride)
14. Tiztastic (Tiz the Law, Keesha)
15. Render Judgment (Blame, Barbara Gordon)
16. Coal Battle (Coal Front, Wolfblade)
17. Sandman (Tapit, Distorted Music)
18. Sovereignty (Into Mischief, Crowned)
19. Chunk of God (Perservationist, Play for Gold)
20. Owen Almighty (Speightstown, Temper's Rising)
21. Baeza (McKinzie, Puca)

The Contenders

According to the race's official website, Journalism is the 3-1 favorite. His four-race winning streak and great resiliency at Santa Anita, coming from behind to secure the win, only enhance why he enters this year's spring classic as the favorite to earn a victory.

He has demonstrated an ability to settle into the race early on and go on a late run, pushing him ahead of the competition and into the winner's circle. That ability suits a track like Churchill Downs and makes him uniquely suited to be one of the horses racing for the championship Saturday afternoon.

But he will not be the only one.

American Promise, trained by the great D. Wayne Lukas, won the Virginia Derby and is versatile enough to come from any position in the race and make a charge toward the finish line.

Legendary trainers Bob Baffert's Citizen Bull dominated the Road to the Kentucky Derby series while Brad H.Cox's Final Gambit has the pedigree and training to surprise the field and pull off an upset victory.