Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders, Final Vegas Odds and Projections for Top Horses

Erik BeastonMay 3, 2025

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday from the historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, with the very best horses in racing poised to kick off their pursuit of a Triple Crown title.

Journalism enters the race the clear favorite, thanks to his high-stamina racing style, but the cerebral approach of Sandman and Sovereignty make them intriguing options to speed to the front late and emerge victoriously.

Which horses join them in this year's field and what are the current odds for 2025 Run for the Roses?

TOP NEWS

Find out with this preview.

Citizen Bull (Trainer: Bob Baffert, Jockey: Martin Garcia) (12-1)
Neoequos (Saffie Joseph Jr., Flavien Pratt) (40-1)
Final Gambit (Brad Cox, Luan Machado) (16-1)
Rodriguez (Baffert, Mike Smith) (SCRATCHED)
American Promise (D. Wayne Lukas, Nik Jaurez) (11-1)
Admire Daytona (Yukihiro Kato, Christophe Lemaire) (40-1)
Luxor Cafe (Noriyuki Hori, Joao Moreira) (8-1)
Journalism (Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli) (7-2)
Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes, Brian Hernandez Jr.) (18-1)
Grande (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez) (SCRATCHED)
Flying Mohawk (Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos) (26-1)
East Avenue (Brendan Walsh, Manny Franco) (40-1)
Publisher (Steve Asmussen, Irad Ortiz Jr.) (32-1)
Tiztastic (Asmussen, Joel Rosario) (23-1)
Render Judgment (Kenny McPeak, Julien Leparoux) (18-1)
Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley, Juan Vargas) (25-1)
Sandman (Mark Casse, Jose Ortiz) (5-1)
Sovereignty (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado) (9-1)
Chunk of Gold (Ethan West, Jareth Loveberry) (27-1)
Owen Almighty (Brian Lynch, Javier Castellano) (40-1)
Baeza (John A. Shirreffs, Hector Isaac Barrios) (15-1)

Odds via KentuckyDerby.com

Projections for Top Horses

If Journalism performs up to his potential, he should win this year's race. As race fans know, that is a mighty "if."

The favorite is 3-0-1 in four starts and the most complete runner in the field. The three-year-old colt previously relied on his closing speed to be the difference between victory and defeat but has developed into a more cerebral runner who can dictate the pace of the race or hang back, let it come to him, and surge late for the win.

He enters the race fresh off a victory at San Anita and his stamina, combined with an ability to sustain his speed throughout, attribute to his status as the favorite to win this year's event. But not the only potential victor in this talented, deep field.

Sandman, the product of sire Tapit's stamina and dam Distorted Humor's speed, can steal the show and earn a trip to the Winner's Circle. The roan colt previously exploded out of the gate with early sprints. In recent races, though, he has flashed greater discipline, incorporating a more measured running style.

He has proven the ability to settle into the race and make the necessary moves late to be in a position to win.

A reason victory at the Arkansas Derby has the horse with a name inspired by Metallica's "Enter Sandman" ready exit light and enter immortality with a win on the biggest stage in horse racing.

D. Wayne Lukas' American Promise is a quality longshot who could find himself contending late.

Projections