Tiztastic trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse

USA Today

03-05-2025

Tiztastic trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
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Watch 2025 Kentucky Derby contender Tiztastic work at Churchil Downs
Tiztastic is trained by Steve Asmussen. The horse is 3-1-2 in eight starts. Jockey Joel Rosario is slated to ride.
Tiztastic enters the Kentucky Derby off a win in the Louisiana Derby on March 22 at Fair Grounds
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is still looking for his first Kentucky Derby victory
Tiztastic 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.
Tiztastic will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 22 at Fair Grounds. He currently ranks fifth on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 119.
Color: Dark bay.
Bred in: Kentucky.
Sire: Tiz the Law.
Dam: Keesha, by Tapit.
Price tag: $335,000 at 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell); Mrs. John Magnier; Michael Tabor; Derrick Smith. Winchell is 0 for 12 in the Derby, his best finishing coming with Epicenter (second) in 2022. Magnier, Tabor and Smith have teamed on several Derby horses, including 2024 runner-up Sierra Leone.
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: Joel Rosario. He's 1 for 13 in the Derby, winning with Orb in 2013.
Record: 3-1-2 in eight starts.
Career earnings: $1,549,800
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 119 (No. 5).
Last race: Won Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 22 at Fair Grounds by 2 ¼ lengths over Chunk of Gold.
Running style: Closer.
Notes: Tiztastic got his first two victories on the turf at Kentucky Downs last fall before joining the Kentucky Derby trail. He finished in the money in two stakes races at Churchill Downs — second in the Grade 3 Street Sense on Oct. 27 and third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 30. He's never finished worse than fifth in eight career starts. … Asmussen's 26 career starters in the Kentucky Derby is the most of any trainer without a victory. He's won the Preakness twice (Curlin, Rachel Alexandra) and the Belmont once (Creator). … Tiztastic is from the first crop of Tiz the Law, who finished second as the favorite in the 2020 Kentucky Derby.
What they're saying: 'The horse is getting good at the right time,' Asmussen said. 'Had a lot of confidence in him going into the Louisiana Derby because he was simply acting faster than he had previous to that. Proved to be true.'
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.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [e-mail]. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
More horse racing: Set for second Kentucky Derby, St. Xavier grad Whit Beckman hopes for better racing luck