The 151st Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs, with the crucial post position draw scheduled for Saturday, April 26, between 7:15 and 7:45 p.m. EDT.
Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism has emerged as the clear favorite heading into Derby week at 3-1 odds. The Michael W. McCarthy-trained colt has captured three consecutive graded stakes victories, with his San Felipe Stakes performance standing as the fastest prep race of the season.
Other top contenders include:
Sandman (8-1) - Impressive Arkansas Derby winner who closed strong into a blistering pace
Sovereignty (8-1) - Florida Derby runner-up who could be the second betting choice
Rodriguez (10-1) - Bob Baffert-trained Wood Memorial winner with early speed
Burnham Square (15-1) - Blue Grass Stakes winner who sits atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 130 qualifying points
Luxor Cafe, trained by Noriyuki Hori, could continue the rise of Japanese horses in the Derby after Forever Young's strong third-place finish last year. The son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is currently listed at 15-1.
The 2025 Derby field appears to have substantial early speed, with American Promise, Citizen Bull, East Avenue, Owen Almighty, and Rodriguez all showing front-running tendencies. This could set up well for closers like Sovereignty, Burnham Square, and potential longshot Chunk of Gold.
The 2024 Kentucky Derby produced one of the most exciting finishes in the race's storied history when Mystik Dan, at odds of 18-1, won in a three-way photo finish. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. guided the colt to victory by a nose over Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a blanket finish.
It was the first nose margin victory in the Derby since Grindstone in 1996 and the first three-horse photo finish since Jet Pilot's win in 1947.
Fixed-odds betting markets at Caesars Sportsbook and the Westgate Superbook will close just before Saturday's post position draw. New markets will open after the draw, though the odds are likely to be less attractive once the starting positions are known.
With the post position draw still to come and final workouts to be completed, handicappers will be watching closely for any late developments that could impact the betting picture for this year's Run for the Roses.