The top contenders for the 151st Kentucky Derby are awaiting the post-position draw Saturday, April 26 at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Derby features the top 20 point earners on the leaderboard. Japan and Europe-Middle East have their own ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby,’ which allows one horse from each region to secure a spot in the Run for the Roses.
Here are the top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as of Monday, April 21:
Five contenders for 151st Kentucky Derby
Burnham Square
- Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
- Trainer: Ian Wilkes
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Road to Derby points: 130
- Prep race results: Blue Grass Stakes (1st), Holy Bull Stakes (1st) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (4th)
- Career earnings: $977,755
- Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 15-1
Sandman
- Owners: D.J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
- Trainer: Mark Casse
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Road to Derby points: 129
- Prep race results: Arkansas Derby (1st), Southwest Stakes (2nd), Rebel Stakes (3rd), 2024 Street Sense Stakes (3rd) and Iroquois Stakes (5th)
- Career earnings: $1,254,595
- Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 8-1
Journalism
- Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Robert LaPenta
- Trainer: Michael McCarthy
- Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
- Road to Derby points: 122.5
- Prep race results: Santa Anita Derby (1st), San Felipe Stakes (1st), 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity (1st)
- Career earnings: $638,880
- Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 3-1
Rodriguez
- Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
- Jockey: Mike Smith
- Road to Derby points: 121.25
- Prep race results: Wood Memorial Stakes (1st), Robert B. Lewis Stakes (2nd) and San Felipe Stakes (3rd)
- Career earnings: $522,800
- Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 10-1
Tiztastic
- Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John (Susan) Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith
- Trainer: Steve Asmussen
- Jockey: Joel Rosario
- Road to Derby points: 119
- Prep race results: Louisiana Derby (1st), 2024 Street Sense Stakes (2nd), Southwest Stakes (3rd), 2024 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (3rd) and Rebel Stakes (5th)
- Career earnings: $1,549,800
- Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 20-1
How to watch 2025 Kentucky Derby
Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.
You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.
What time is the Kentucky Derby?
Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story atpstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
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