logo
Kentucky Derby 2025 preview: Coal Battle

Kentucky Derby 2025 preview: Coal Battle

NBC Sports02-05-2025

Coal Battle, trained by 72-year-old Lonnie Briley and ridden by Juan Vargas, is a "phenomenal horse" and Drew Dinsick likes the "great story" as an underdog pick to possibly win the 151st Kentucky Derby.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Panthers WR Xavier Legette may be taking another sport by storm
Panthers WR Xavier Legette may be taking another sport by storm

USA Today

time30-05-2025

  • USA Today

Panthers WR Xavier Legette may be taking another sport by storm

Panthers WR Xavier Legette may be taking another sport by storm The legend of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette continues to grow. On Wednesday, the second-year pass catcher attended Game 5 of the NHL's Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and the hometown Carolina Hurricanes. Legette, thanks to Bleacher Report, was mic'd up for the occasion—and he did not disappoint. Check it out: Legette's fun-filled offseason also featured a stop at Churchill Downs, where he served as a correspondent for the NFL during the 151st Kentucky Derby. Needless to say, his lovable personality and passion for horses made him one of the stars in Louisville earlier this month. Oh, and he might have won over the crowd at the Lenovo Center as well . . . Unfortunately for Legette and the Caniacs, the Hurricanes dropped the game and the series in a 5-3 loss. But hey, at least some kind of Panther—albeit the one from Miami—came out with a win. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

The 9 Horses Competing in the 2025 Preakness Stakes
The 9 Horses Competing in the 2025 Preakness Stakes

Forbes

time15-05-2025

  • Forbes

The 9 Horses Competing in the 2025 Preakness Stakes

Sovereignty #18, ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, pushes ahead of Journalism #8 to win the 151st ... More running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by) Nine horses have traveled to Maryland to celebrate the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17, at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. With two-thirds of the Preakness field fresh to the Triple Crown in 2025 not having run in the Kentucky Derby, only Journalism, Sandman and American Promise are familiar names for fans of the 151stKentucky Derby. The Preakness Stakes is the second race in horse racing's Triple Crown, coming just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes. The race is contested on the dirt track of Pimlico. The 7:01 p.m. Eastern post time for the Preakness could have featured up to 14 3-year-olds, but this year's field is set at nine qualified horses. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, though, isn't one of those thoroughbreds, with trainer Bill Mott skipping the Baltimore race in favor of additional rest time ahead of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York on June 7. The starting gate with the pack of eight horses during the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes at ... More Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2024, in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) With the milestone year for the Preakness, it also marks the last race before Pimlico undergoes a major rebuild that will push at least the 2026 running of the Preakness to another track. But with all eyes on the 2025 running, let's explore the nine horses in the field in order of starting position. Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Flavien Prat Sire: Not This Time Odds: 6-1 Goal Oriented has only run two races. The horse has won them both, sure, but neither were a stakes race. The biggest win in the career of Goal Oriented was an allowance optional claiming race on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy Jockey: Umberto Rispoli Sire: Curlin Odds: 8-5 The favorite going into the Kentucky Derby, Journalism finished second, getting passed by Sovereignty on the sloppy track in Louisville. Journalism is again positioned as the favorite in a Triple Crown contest. Trainer: D. Waye Lukas Jockey: Nik Juarez Sire: Justify Odds: 15-1 The son of Triple Crown winner Justify was just 16th in the Kentucky Derby, but the crowded field may have hampered the horse's chances. Jockey Nik Juarez is a native of nearby Westminster, Maryland. Trainer: Jamie A. Osborne Jockey: Saffie Osborne Sire: Honor A.P. Odds: 12-1 Bred in the United Kingdom, but with his last five starts in Dubai, Heart of Honor has plenty of racing history already in his career. Trainer Jamie Osborne has his daughter, Saffie Osborne, as the jockey for the Preakness. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 03: Burnham Square and Journalism head to the first turn during the 151st ... More running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 03, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by) Trainer: Michael E. Gorham Jockey: Raul Mena Sire: Improbable Odds: 20-1 Having won four of his last five races, Pay Billy isn't just a clever name in that the horse got into the field thanks to a $60,000 purchase earning him an automatic bid. While trainer Michael Gorham has won more than 1,400 races since starting his career in 1985, he's never had a horse run the Preakness. Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Sire: Maclean's Music Odds: 9-2 While qualified for the Kentucky Derby, River Thames was held out to give the horse more time to prepare for the Preakness. The horse also has the speed to keep up with Derby winner Sovereignty, getting edged by the winner in a March 1 race. Trainer Todd Pletcher, 0-10 at the Preakness, is looking for his first middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Trainer: Mark E. Casse Jockey: John Velazquez Sire: Tapit Odds: 4-1 The Arkansas Derby winner, who was bought for $1.2 million, placed seventh at the Kentucky Derby earlier in May. Now one of the favorites for the Preakness, the ownership group is hoping to play 'Enter Sandman,' the Metallica song the horse is named after, all night after the Preakness. Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen Jockey: Jose Ortiz Sire: American Pharoah Odds: 5-1 Son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Clever Again has only raced three times. Still, the last two starts were impressive victories. Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh Jockey: Luis Saez Sire: Nyquist Odds: 20-1 Gosger's sire, Nyquist, was third in the 2016 Preakness, but this young racer will be making just his fourth start when he goes into the starting gate last at the Preakness. NBC has the rights to the Preakness and plans to air coverage during the day on Saturday, first on CNBC. Coverage switches to NBC and the company's Peacock streaming service at 4 p.m. Eastern, roughly three hours before the race.

Alvarado banned and fined $62,000 for overuse of whip in Kentucky Derby win
Alvarado banned and fined $62,000 for overuse of whip in Kentucky Derby win

Yahoo

time12-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Alvarado banned and fined $62,000 for overuse of whip in Kentucky Derby win

Junior Alvarado, who rode Sovereignty to victory at last weekend's Kentucky Derby, has been fined and banned for overuse of his whip during the race. The jockey was found to have used the whip 'more than the permitted amount' the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) said on Saturday. Under HISA regulations, jockeys are allowed to strike their horse six times during a race; Alvarado used the whip on Sovereignty eight times. It was his second such offense in the last 180 days, meaning his fine was doubled to $62,000 – 20% of his winnings from the Kentucky Derby. Related: Sovereignty overtakes Journalism down stretch to win 151st Kentucky Derby Alvarado was also banned for two Kentucky racing days, on 29 and 30 May. The jockey can appeal his punishment, but has yet to make a statement. The 38-year-old Alvarado rode Sovereignty to a thrilling victory in last weekend's race, pulling away from the heavy favorite Journalism down the final stretch. Sovereignty will not compete in this month's Preakness Stakes, the second leg of US horse racing's Triple Crown.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store