Kentucky Derby 2025 Post Positions, Updated Picks and Predictions After Draw

As we inch closer to the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, there appears to be one strong favorite and several contenders in a talented 20-horse field. The sons of two Triple Crown-winning thoroughbreds will try to etch a place in history, while a familiar face will return to Churchill Downs.

The first jewel of this year's Triple Crown promises to bring plenty of intrigue and excitement, both for fans in attendance and those watching at home.

Here's a look at everything you need to know, including scheduling information, post-draw results and updated odds.

2025 Kentucky Derby

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Sovereignty runs on the track during the morning training in preparation for the 151th Kentucky Derby

When: Saturday, May 3

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY

Post Time: 6:57 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: NBC, USA Network, NBC Sports App and Peacock

Prize Pool: $5 million ($3.1 million to winner)

Post Positions and Updated Odds

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Rodriguez

1. Citizen Bull 20-1

2. Neoequos 30-1

3. Final Gambit 30-1

4. Rodriguez 12-1

5. American Promise 30-1

6. Admire Daytona 30-1

7. Luxor Café 15-1

8. Journalism 3-1

9. Burnham Square 12-1

10. Grande 20-1

11. Flying Mohawk 30-1

12. East Avenue 20-1

13. Publisher 20-1

14. Tiztastic 20-1

15. Render Judgment 30-1

16. Coal Battle 30-1

17. Sandman 6-1

18. Sovereignty 5-1

19. Chunk of Gold 30-1

20. Owen Almighty 30-1

21. Baeza - Also Eligible

*Odds via Twinspires.com.

Preview and Prediction

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Luxor Cafe runs on the track during the morning training in preparation for the 151th Kentucky Derby

Fans will likely find two storylines dominating Derby talk this week. One is the return of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who served a three-year suspension following Medina Spirit's positive drug test in 2021.

It’s nice to be back here and back at the old barn,” Baffert said, per Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier Journal. “Horses all shipped well. They look great out there. The track’s in good shape.”

Baffert is set to have two horses in the field, Citizen Bull and Rodriguez.

Two other horses are noteworthy for being the sons of 2015 Triple-Crown winner American Pharoah—Luxor Café, trained by Noriyuki Hori and Publisher, trained by Steve Asmussen. However, they aren't the only sons of a Triple-Crown winner in the field.

2018 Triple-Crown winner Justify has one son in the field, American Promise, trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

According to Brooks Holton of the Louisville Courier Journal, this will mark the first time the offspring of two Triple-Crown winners have been in the same Kentucky Derby field since 1952.

None of these horses are the favorite, however. That continues to be Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy. The three-year-old has won four straight races, including the Los Alamitos Futurity, San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby.

Journalism also drew favorably at Saturday's post draw, taking the No. 8 gate, a spot that has produced nine Derby winners.

While there is plenty of speed in the 2025 field, McCarthy believes Journalism is equipped to handle it.

"There’s always plenty of early speed in the Derby,” McCarthy said, per Frakes. “but we have a fast horse, too.”

Track conditions could come into play, as the Weather.com forecast calls for rain most of this week. However, conditions should be dry on Saturday evening, which could mean a soft track but not an outright soggy one.

For now, we'll continue to back the favorite.

Projected Finish

1. Journalism
2. Rodriguez
3. Burnham Square