Kentucky Derby 2025 Horses, race time, odds, post positions, payout, field and everything else you need to know
The 151st Kentucky Derby is nearly here. On Saturday, 20 horses will take the track at Churchill Downs looking to win horse racing's most prestigious event.
Journalism enters the event as the favorite, but that hasn't been a major indicator of success at the event in recent years. Can Journalism live up to the hype, or will another horse in the field etch a name for itself at the event?
With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Kentucky Derby ahead of the race.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 3. The race has traditionally taken place the first Saturday in May, though it didn't start that way. From 1875-1931, the race usually occurred in the middle of the month. That changed in 1932, when the event started being held the first Saturday in May.
That schedule has remained consistent since 1932, though did change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Derby was scheduled for the first Saturday in May originally, but had to be moved to Sept. 5 due to the pandemic.
Coverage of the 2025 Kentucky Derby will begin much earlier in the day, but the post time for the race is 6:57 p.m. ET. That time is not exact and will move based on how quickly and easily the horses get set up in their posts.
The Kentucky Derby is always held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race has been held at the track since its inception. Churchill Downs is named after John and Henry Churchill, who leased the land for the racetrack.
The track is currently operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Below is the field, post positions and odds for each horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Citizen Bull holds post position No. 1. Baeza is in post No. 19.
Citizen Bull (20-1)
Neoequos (30-1)
Final Gambit (30-1)
American Promise (30-1)
Admire Daytona (30-1)
Luxor Cafe (15-1)
Journalism (3-1)
Burnham Square (12-1)
Flying Mohawk (30-1)
East Avenue (20-1)
Publisher (20-1)
Tiztastic (20-1)
Render Judgment (30-1)
Coal Battle (30-1)
Sandman (6-1)
Sovereignty (5-1)
Chunk of Gold (30-1)
Owen Almighty (30-1)
Baeza (12-1)
*Grande — who was originally slated to start in the ninth post — was scratched Friday due to a foot bruise. His replacement has yet to be named.
Journalism enters the event as the favorite at 3-1. The morning-line favorite hasn't won the event since 2018, however. The last morning-line favorite to win the Kentucky Derby was Justify.
Post position matters quite a bit at the Kentucky Derby. Horses in the earlier post positions have traditionally performed better than horses in the later post positions at the event. The fifth post position has resulted in the most wins at the Kentucky Derby, with 10 horses winning from that slot during the race's history.
No horse has ever won the race from the No. 17 post, though horses have won the Kentucky Derby from the 18th, 19th and 20th posts in the past.
Louisville is expected to be hit with storms throughout the week. On the actual day of the Kentucky Derby, it's supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 67 degrees in Louisville. While rain isn't likely on the day of the race, the track will be hit with a lot of precipitation early in the week, which could affect the outcome of the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
The winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby will receive roughly $3.1 million. That's what 2024 winner Mystik Dan won last year.
In total, the event has a purse of $5 million. The horse that finishes in second place will win roughly $1 million.
The total purse at the event used to be about $3 million, but that changed in 2024, when it shot up to $5 million total.
Controversial trainer Bob Baffert is allowed to return for the 2025 Kentucky Derby after serving a three-year ban from the race. Baffert was banned from the event after 2021 winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned steroid.
Medina Spirit was stripped of its win following a second positive test, leading to Baffert's suspension. Mandaloun was named the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Baffert — who has a lengthy history of his horses failing drug tests — originally had two horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby: Citizen Bull and Rodriguez. However, Rodriguez was announced as a scratch on Thursday afternoon due to a foot bruise. Rodriguez will be replaced by Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, now set to race out of the 20th pole position. Baeza is the half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage.
Late country music star Toby Keith owned racehorses for two decades prior to his 2024 death from stomach cancer. He owned a "thoroughbred breeding and racing operation" called Dream Walkin Farms, according to WLKY News.
Render Judgment — which sits in the No. 15 post — is owned by Keith's operation. In the leadup to the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Keith's estate tweeted about Render Judgment's inclusion in the field, saying it "was Toby's dream" to have one of his horses run in the Kentucky Derby.
While the race won't begin until 6:57 p.m. ET, coverage of the Kentucky Derby will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Peacock will also stream early coverage, which starts at noon ET.
This year will mark the 25th time the Kentucky Derby has aired on NBC.
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change.
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Derby 2025: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners
Al Wasl Storm Trainer/jockey Owen Burrows/David Probert, stall 13 One of two runners in the green and white silks of Ahmad al Shaikh, whose twin passions in racing appear to be having runners in the Derby and paying as little as possible to buy them. It is a hard approach to knock, however, as Khalifa Sat, at 150-1, and Hoo Ya Mal, at 50-1, reached the frame in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Advertisement In terms of value at least, the owner has excelled himself here, having paid €7,000 for the son of an obscure stallion Affinisea (so obscure that even his trainer admits he had to look him up when al Shaikh's latest purchase turned up on his doorstep). That said, a realistic view of his form – unraced at two, three runs since April, one minor win – gives him next to no chance of success, so each-way backers hoping for lightning to strike a third time are relying on the fact that, like his high-achieving predecessors, he can't read the form book. Damysus John & Thady Gosden/James Doyle, stall 15 One of the least experienced in the field with three outings in the book and it showed behind Pride Of Arras in the Dante at York last time. He took a few strides to go through the gears, edging left, before running on to finish second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. He did not see a racecourse until December and the rough edges in the Dante offer encouragement there is significant improvement to come,. Definitely an unusual profile for a potential Derby winner – maiden win on the all-weather in December, then two defeats at the start of his three-year-old season – but the talent is probably there if this unique test does not prove to be a step too far at this early stage of his career. Delacroix Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore, stall 14 Effectively confirmed as favourite when Ryan Moore plumped for the ride on Wednesday from three Aidan O'Brien options and there was a lot to like about the way he put nearly three lengths between himself and the runner-up in Leopardstown's Derby Trial last month. He had solid, progressive form in his juvenile season too, culminating in defeat by a nose in the Group One Futurity at Doncaster, and the 12-furlong trip should be right up his street. The Leopardstown trial has not highlighted a Derby winner since 2002, however, and it was his seventh race, which leaves less room for improvement than most of his opponents Whether the pluses and minuses make him a genuine 3-1 shot is the first question every punter needs to consider. There are tempting options at better odds, and with more room scope for improvement, if they decide against it. Green Storm Charlie Johnston/Billy Loughnane, stall eight The other half ofal Shaikh's two-pronged attack and his second-string behind Al Wasl Storm according to the betting, although since both are priced in three figures the concept of a first string is perhaps irrelevant. In typical al Shaikh fashion, he cost relative peanuts, having been knocked down for €12,000 as a yearling (Damysus cost nearly 50 times as much). He has already repaid that several times over after finishing one-and-a-half lengths behind Tennessee Storm in a French Group One event last October. Likely to be remembered only as the first Derby ride for the 19-year-old Billy Loughnane, the fastest-rising young star in the weighing room. Lambourn Aidan O'Brien/Wayne Lordan, stall 10 The third-string in his trainer's challenge for a record-extending 11th Derby according to the betting, but since only three of O'Brien's winners set off as the clear favourite, that is perhaps not quite the red flag it may seem. Rain would be in his favour as he stayed on strongly to win the Chester Vase over an extended 12 furlongs last time out and also has winning form on soft ground, albeit in a weak event at the remote French racing outpost of Craon. Likely to be staying on most strongly in the closing stages, though the obvious concern is that a lack of tactical speed early in the race will leave him with too much to do. Lazy Griff Charlie Johnston/Christophe Soumillon, stall three Finished just over a length behind the winner when second in the Chester Vase last month, which is a near-facsimile of the profile Wings Of Eagles brought before his 40-1 Derby victory in 2017. Adayar, in 2021, was another recent winner who was beaten in his trial and with jockey Christophe Soumillon flying in can catch the eye of each-way punters. Any rain will be in his favour. Midak Francis-Henri Graffard/Mickael Barzalona, stall four This year's race is being run in memory of Aga Khan IV, who died in February and whose five Derby winners as an owner included Shergar, whose 10-length winning margin in 1981 remains the record. This late arrival will carry the same green and red colours to the start. It is clearly asking a lot for him to bring them back again in similar style, but he remains unbeaten after three starts and showed a fine turn of foot to quicken clear in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud in May – the same race Pour Moi, the last French-trained Derby winner and with Mickael Barzalona in the saddle to boot, used as their stepping stone to Epsom immortality in 2011. New Ground Henri Devin/Alexis Pouchin, stall 17 The powerful Juddmonte operation stumped up £75k to add Henri Devin's colt to the field so he has clearly been showing a good deal more at home than he has on the track. He has finished a close third – at Longchamp and Chantilly – on his two outings this year. In the first of those, he was less than a length behind Andre Fabre's Cualificar, who finished a half-length behind the winner (and from a much wider draw) in the French Derby at Chantilly last Sunday. The 12-furlong trip is also likely to see further improvement. The case in his favour is based on ifs, buts and maybes and he will do well to reach the fourth place required to get his entry fee back. Nightime Dancer Richard Hannon/Jamie Spencer, stall nine Set off as an unfancied 9-1 shot for the Lingfield Derby Trial – which looks below-par this year – and was beaten nearly four lengths behind Aidan O'Brien's Puppet Master, who was taken out of this race before the final declarations. Has masses of stamina in his pedigree but rather less of the speed a Derby winner needs to go with it. The St Leger already looks a more convincing option even if he is up to running in Group One company (and the jury is out on that too). Nightwalker John & Thady Gosden/Tom Marquand, stall five Finished fifth of 11 in the Dante Stakes at York last month, three-and-a-half lengths behind Pride Of Arras and two-and-a-quarter behind his stable companion, Damysus. Since that was his fifth start there is no obvious reason why he should improve past either of those colts, who have fewer miles on the clock. Bare form does not tell the whole story as he fell out of the stalls and was well off the pace before making eye-catching progress. He joined Damysus on a jaunt down the hill and around Tattenham Corner on gallops morning last week and handled the track well. He seems sure to improve for the mile-and-a-half trip and a top-four finish may not be beyond him. Advertisement Uttoxeter: 2.00 Miss Goldfire 2.30 Ernest Gray 3.00 Lost Connections 3.30 Baltray 4.00 Hecouldbetheone 4.33 Auntie Maggie 5.05 Crystal Mer. Hamilton: 2.12 Blue Nguru 2.42 Betweenthesticks 3.12 Sea Legend 3.42 Korker 4.12 Yermanthere 4.43 Sir Garfield (nap) 5.17 Arch Legend. Lingfield: 2.20 Dubai Harbour 2.50 Blewburton 3.20 Keybaar 3.50 Gallant 4.25 Touchwood 4.55 Maid In Chelsea. Chelmsford City: 5.00 Eclipser 5.35 Nifty 6.05 Smokey Malone 6.35 Hot Dancer 7.07 Danza Parigina 7.42 Maxident 8.17 Ornately (nb) 8.47 City Captain. Ffos Las: 6.15 Reina Del Mar 6.45 Unspeakable 7.20 Gavin 7.55 Ferret Jeeter 8.30 You Say Nothing 9.00 Twist Of Fatecatch. Pride Of Arras Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan, stall 16 A skim through the list of Derby winners of the past 25 years may suggest the days when a small owner-breeder could mix it with the big guns from Godolphin, Coolmore and Juddmonte are long gone. This year's Dante Stakes winner, though, may beg to differ. David and Vimy Aykroyd have four mares at their Yorkshire stud farm and their once-raced colt by up-and-coming sire New Bay was an 18-1 shot for his trial at York. He showed all the attributes you would look for in a Derby winner – tactical speed, balance, a turn of foot and a willingness to quicken between horses – on the way to victory. His best days are ahead of him with two runs in the book. Soft ground could be a concern – though the same is true for many of his rivals – but he stayed on well on Knavesmire, should get the trip and is a must for any shortlist. Rogue Impact James Owen/Luke Morris, stall one As ever, there is a scattering of runners ithat are seemingly there mainly to give their owners a day out. While James Owen is very much one of the trainers of the moment, with a number of decent winners on the Flat and over jumps since taking out a licence three seasons ago, this syndicate-owned runner seems to fall squarely into that category. Well beaten in the Lingfield Trial and the slimmest hope of any on that form. Last of six in what looked a poor renewal of that race last time and while a repeat of his winning form in a maiden in April should be enough to finish in front of Al Wasl Storm – who was a length-and-a-quarter away in second – the other 18 runners will be more of a problem. Ruling Court Charlie Appleby/William Buick, stall seven A Classic winner already in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month and the form of that race received a significant boost when City Of Gold, the runner-up, ran away with the Irish equivalent a couple of weeks ago. That is more than enough to send him to Epsom at the top of the ratings – Timeform has him 4lb clear – but the obvious question is whether his stamina will stretch to another half-mile. The recent record of Guineas winners in the Derby is distinctly mixed with the past three – Dawn Approach, Saxon Warrior and Kameko – all beaten after setting off as favourite. If he stays, he will probably win. If he does not, he certainly won't. Sea Scout Simon & Ed Crisford/Harry Davies, stall 18 The only runner in the field with a 'C' – for previous course winner – against his name, thanks to a narrow success in the Blue Riband Trial over 10 furlongs in April and this is a track that can take some getting used to, running downhill at speed. That is pretty much the only tick in a positive box and the same was true of many previous winners of the same race (in recent years, it has guaranteed a place in the Derby lineup so there is often no reason not to run). The last Blue Riband winner to follow up was Blue Peter in 1939. Stanhope Gardens Ralph Beckett/Hector Crouch, stall two There has been plenty of attention on the trainer's prime contender, Pride Of Arras, but less of a focus on his second string, who has had an unconventional preparation but has some interesting form. The most obvious is a close second behind Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last October and it is notable that Beckett has made every effort to get him to the post, even persuading Salisbury to stage a race at an evening meeting last month that would give him much-needed prep for the Classic. Stanhope Gardens duly made short work of two opponents and there is little doubt his trainer sees him as a serious contender. Well adrift of his stable companion in the betting and the ratings, but probably close to the top of many punters' lists for each-way purposes. Tennessee Stud Joseph O'Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle, stall 12 A Group One winner as a two-year-old in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud, a race that has been won by plenty of top-class colts on the way to a glittering three-year-old career. So far so good in terms of his record at the highest level – Ruling Court, the 2,000 Guineas winner, is the only other in the field with a previous Group One success. On the downside, last season's Critérium – when Green Storm was second – had three runners and was probably the weakest in the race's history. Returned to action in Leopardstown's Derby trial, where he finished around six-and-a-half lengths behind Delacroix. He was noticeably weak in the market beforehand – the implication being that he should improve significantly for the run – but seven lengths is probably asking too much. The Lion In Winter Aidan O'Brien/Colin Keane, stall 19 The undoubted enigma of the race, not least as his trainer's Derby winners in the past two seasons have been bouncing back from disappointing runs on seasonal debuts. Unlike Auguste Rodin in 2023 and City Of Troy last year, however, The Lion In Winter has been passed over by Ryan Moore after surrendering his unbeaten record with a tame sixth behind Pride Of Arras in the Dante at York. He is bred to appreciate the step up in trip and handed Ruling Court the only defeat of his career, in the Acomb Stakes at York last August, but will struggle to get home if he again fails to settle. A draw in the widest stall may not help in that regard. Respected if only because he has the initials 'A.P.O'B' on his saddlecloth, but the Moore Factor – or rather, the lack-of-Moore Factor – has to be a concern. Tornado Alert Saeed bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy, stall 11 The racing landscape has changed significantly since Saeed bin Suroor saddled Lammtarra to win the Derby in 1995, in the earliest years of the Godolphin operation. The trainer's fortunes within the organisation have since waxed and waned, to the point where the man who won four UK trainers' championships between 1996 and 2004 is now a furlong behind Charlie Appleby, his near-neighbour in Newmarket, in the pecking order. Appleby has won two Derbys since Bin Suroor saddled his most recent runner in 2017 and having landed the Classic at the first attempt three decades ago his 24 runners since have all been beaten. Ran a fine race to finish fourth in the 2,000 Guineas and has Oisin Murphy, the reigning champion jockey, to do the steering. He took a strong hold to lead the field for the first six furlongs at Newmarket and looks more likely to appreciate a drop in trip than a step up to a mile-and-a-half. Tuscan Hills Raphael Freire/David Egan, stall six Kia Joorabchian has ploughed millions into his Amo Racing operation in recent seasons and been rewarded with a couple of placings for big outsiders in the Derby, but his only representative in this year's Classic may struggle. He is, at least, stabled in the right place for a potential winner, as his young handler has taken over at Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge stable in Newmarket after the legendary trainer's retirement at the end of last year. His form is well short of what is likely to be required as he seemed to struggle to get even the 10-furlong trip at York when finishing seventh in the Dante.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
J.K. Rowling, Piers Morgan slam ‘woke brigade,' call for cancellation of controversial boxer
J.K. Rowling is leading the charge, calling for Olympic boxer Imane Khelif to be stripped of a gold medal after a leaked report revealed the controversial champion has 'male' chromosomes. The medical test on Khelif from the 2023 World Championships comes less than two days after World Boxing ruled the boxer would need to undergo sex screening to be eligible for any future appearances in female events. Last year, the 26-year-old represented Algeria and won gold at the Paris Olympic Games. Rowling, who has long criticized biological males competing in women's sports, took to X to call the news 'a win for women because they won't be battered to death in the ring by men.' She responded to a post by someone who suggested the testing was a violation against Khelif. 'If you had any idea what physical tests women go through routinely in their lives you'd know a cheek swab is no bigger deal than flossing your teeth,' the Harry Potter creator wrote. 'Any more moronic questions, wing them over.' Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who competed against trans athlete Lia Thomas, agreed. 'A cheek swab is far from invasive — certainly less invasive than having your brain prodded through your nose like they did with COVID tests, and definitely less invasive than being punched in the face by a man.' she wrote on X. The women's sports advocate added in another post: 'To all the people that insisted Imane Khelif was a woman because his passport said so, you were wrong. We were right. Sincerely, People with functioning eyes and a shred of honesty.' TV personality Piers Morgan also confronted haters he encountered for previously calling out Khelif. 'The biology-denying woke brigade abused and shamed me for saying it was outrageous and dangerous for Khelif to be beating up women at the Olympics,' he posted on X. 'I'm ready for their apology, but won't hold my breath.' Khelif was deemed eligible to compete in France despite World Boxing having previous knowledge of the 2023 test, with IOC president Thomas Bach questioning the test's legitimacy earlier this year. The document, which was first reported by 3 Wire Sports, summarized the findings on Khelif as 'abnormal,' stating, 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.' A karyotype refers to an individual's complete set of chromosomes, with Khelif's having been reported by the International Boxing Association (IBA) as XY, the male pattern. This latest revelation contradicts the claims of IOC spokesperson Mark Adams, who had described the results as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate' during last year's Games. The president of World Boxing has apologized after Khelif was singled out in the governing body's announcement to make sex testing mandatory. Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting also won a gold medal in women's boxing, despite having been banned by the IBA in 2023. Khelif has not yet issued a public comment on the leaked medical report. Controversial boxer Khelif not intimidated by Trump, targets second Olympic gold in L.A. Controversial Olympic boxer Imane Khelif vows to fight back after gender-based lawsuit Imane Khelif's ex-training partner bizarrely claims she was 'biologically altered'
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Who is the favorite in a loaded Belmont Stakes? See the full field with odds.
For the second straight year, the Belmont Stakes field will feature the winners of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Post positions were drawn Monday evening for the 2025 Belmont Stakes, which will feature an eight-horse field Saturday night at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Journalism — the Kentucky Derby post-time favorite who finished second in that race, before then winning the Preakness Stakes — is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 157th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes. Journalism will begin Saturday's Belmont from post position No. 7 near the outside of the field. Sovereignty, last month's Kentucky Derby winner, is the second choice on the Belmont Stakes morning line at 2-1 odds. Sovereignty will begin the Belmont from post position No. 2 near the inside rail. For the second straight year, the Belmont Stakes will be run at a different track and at a different distance than normal. Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, is the usual home for the race, but that venue remains out of action due to ongoing renovations. As such, Saratoga is hosting the Belmont Stakes for a second straight year. The Belmont Stakes is normally run at a traditional distance of 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park. But, also for the second straight year, the Belmont Stakes will be contested at a shortened distance of 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga. Here's a full look at the 2025 Belmont Stakes field. Post time for the race is 7:04 p.m. EDT on Saturday. 2025 Belmont Stakes post position draw The following eight horses were assigned a starting gate for Saturday's Belmont Stakes during the post position draw on Monday evening. Horses are listed with their morning-line odds, trainers, jockeys and owners, in that order. ▪ 1: Hill Road, (10-1), Chad Brown, Irad Ortiz Jr., Amo Racing USA. ▪ 2: Sovereignty, (2-1), Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, Godolphin. ▪ 3: Rodriguez, (6-1), Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. ▪ 4: Uncaged, (30-1), Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez, WinStar Farm and Repole Stable. ▪ 5: Crudo, (15-1), Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, Bobby Flay and James Ventura. ▪ 6: Baeza, (4-1), John Shirreffs, Flavien Prat, C R K Stable and Grandview Equine. ▪ 7: Journalism, (8-5), Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert V. LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier-Lessee, Derrick Smith-Lessee and Michael B. Tabor-Lessee. ▪ 8: Heart of Honor (GB), (30-1), Jamie Osborne, Saffie Osborne, Jim and Claire Limited. Half of the horses in the Belmont Stakes field have already run in a Triple Crown race this year. Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby, and his connections controversially opted to skip the Preakness Stakes. Journalism ran second in the Kentucky Derby and then won the Preakness Stakes. Baeza, who was initially an also-eligible horse for the Derby, drew into the field and charged late to finish third in the Run for the Roses. Heart of Honor (Great Britain) finished fifth in the Preakness, which was his first race in the United States. Journalism will be the only horse this year to run in all three Triple Crown events. Crudo, Hill Road, Rodriguez and Uncaged will all be making their first and only Triple Crown starts Saturday. What are the key storylines for the 2025 Belmont Stakes? ▪ Sovereignty is aiming to become the first Kentucky Derby winner to also win the Belmont Stakes since Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018. That's also the last time the Preakness Stakes winner went on to also triumph in the Belmont Stakes. The last time a horse won both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, but not the Preakness Stakes, was Thunder Gulch in 1995. That's what Sovereignty would accomplish with a win Saturday. ▪ The last time a horse won both the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, but not the Kentucky Derby, was Afleet Alex in 2005. That's what Journalism would accomplish with a win Saturday. ▪ For the first time since 2013, the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby will all be running in the Belmont Stakes. On that occasion, Derby winner Orb ran third in the Belmont, Derby runner up Golden Soul finished ninth and Derby third-place runner Revolutionary was fifth in the Belmont. ▪ Trainer Todd Pletcher — a four-time winner of the Belmont Stakes — has a quarter of this year's Belmont runners with Crudo and Uncaged. Crudo, who is part-owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, has two wins in three career starts, including in a maiden special weight race in April at Keeneland. Crudo — who is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify — will begin the Belmont from post position No. 5. Uncaged — last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes in May — is part-owned by Mike Repole, a prominent businessman who is also a major booster for the St. John's men's basketball team that's coached by Rick Pitino. Luis Saez, who won last year's Belmont Stakes aboard Dornoch and the 2021 Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality, will be the jockey for Uncaged. Uncaged will begin the Belmont from post position No. 4, right next to Pletcher's other runner, Crudo. Pletcher's victories in the Belmont have come with Rags to Riches (2007), Palace Malice (2013), Tapwrit (2017) and Mo Donegal (2022). ▪ Bob Baffert's Rodriguez was supposed to run in the Kentucky Derby, but a foot injury kept him out of both the Derby and the Preakness. Earlier this year, Rodriguez won the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. The defection of Rodriguez from the Derby is what allowed Baeza to compete in that race. Rodriguez drew post position No. 3. Baffert has already won the Belmont Stakes three times with Point Given (2001) and Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018). Baeza has post position No. 6 for Saturday's race. ▪ Hill Road offers intrigue on a number of fronts entering the Belmont. He's coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes last month, which is a traditional prep race for the Belmont. Past winners of the Peter Pan Stakes who went on to win the Belmont Stakes are Counterpoint (1951), High Gun (1954), Gallant Man (1957), Cavan (1958), Coastal (1979), Danzig Connection (1986), A.P. Indy (1992), Tonalist (2014) and, most recently, Arcangelo (2023). Known as a closer, Hill Road will begin his third start for trainer Chad Brown from post position No. 1 along the inside rail. ▪ Heart of Honor, a 30-1 shot, drew the furthest outside gate with post position No. 8. There's a distinct family connection with this horse: Trainer Jamie Osborne's daughter, Saffie, is the jockey. Saffie is looking to become the second female jockey to win the Belmont Stakes (Julie Krone with Colonial Affair in 1993). The most recent British horse to win the Belmont Stakes was Celtic Ash in 1960.
