Publisher trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
Publisher trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
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Kentucky Derby 2025 contender Publisher trains at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby 2025 contender Publisher works Wednesday at Churchill Downs. Horse is trained by Steve Asmussen. Horse is 0-2-3 in seven starts.
Publisher will enter the Kentucky Derby off a runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby on March 29
Publisher will look to become the first maiden to win the Kentucky Derby since Brokers Tip in 1933
Publisher is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.
The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Publisher will enter the Kentucky Derby off a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 29 at Oaklawn Park. He currently ranks 13th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 60.
Color: Bay.
Bred in: Kentucky.
Sire: American Pharoah.
Dam: Indian Pride, by Proud Citizen.
Price tag: $600,000 at 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.
Owners: Gus King; Estate of Brereton Jones. First Derby for King. Jones finished 15th with King Russell in 2023. As a breeder, the former Kentucky governor was 0 for 7 in the Derby, his best finish coming with Desert Wine (second) in 1983.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen. He's 0 for 26 in the Derby with a trio of runner-up finishes: Nehro (2011), Lookin At Lee (2017) and Epicenter (2022).
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. He's 0 for 8 in the Derby, best finish coming with Improbable (fourth) in 2019.
Record: 0-2-3 in seven starts.
Career earnings: $407,756
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 60 (No. 13).
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 29 at Oaklawn Park, 2 ½ lengths behind Sandman.
Running style: Closer.
Notes: Publisher will become just the 13th maiden to start in the Kentucky Derby since 1937 and first since Bodexpress (13th in 2019). Three maidens won the Derby prior to 1937: Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919) and Brokers Tip (1933). … Publisher qualified for the Derby by finishing second in the Arkansas Derby (50 points) and fourth in the Rebel Stakes (10 points). He raced twice as a 2-year-old at Churchill Downs, finishing third both times. … Jones was Kentucky's governor from 1991-95. He died in September 2023 at the age of 84 after battling an illness at his Airdrie Stud Farm in Midway, Kentucky.
What they're saying: 'The thing about Publisher that gives you unbelievable confidence is what kind of a horse he is to run,' Asmussen said. 'He is going to be the easiest horse we've ever saddled in the Derby as far as how he takes the surroundings and just his personality. He's not going to waste an ounce of energy doing anything other than running.'
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.
Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
More Kentucky Derby: Five things to know about 2025 field as draw approaches April 26
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
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