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Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Kentucky Derby 2025: Rain to change odds; here's the new favourite horses at Churchill Downs
The weather forecast for the Kentucky Derby 2025 has taken a turn, with AccuWeather now predicting a 71% chance of rain for the first Saturday in May. While early clouds may give way to some sun, scattered showers are still likely throughout the day. The National Weather Service echoes a similar outlook, calling for rain and unseasonably high temperatures. This change in weather has affected the odds for the race as well. Also Read: Kentucky Derby 2025 weather forecast: Will rain cancel the 151st race? Are umbrellas allowed inside facility? If you are looking to fine-tune your Kentucky Derby bets in light of the rainy forecast, it's worth considering which horses have experience running on wet tracks. Below is a list of contenders with proven performance in the mud or rain, organised by their program numbers and morning-line odds to help guide your wagering strategy, as reported by the Courier-Journal. Also Read: Kentucky Derby 2025: List of horses at Churchill Downs and how much they cost their owners Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey: Luis Saez Neoequos has had a mixed record on sloppy tracks, making him a wildcard in wet conditions. In his debut last July at Gulfstream Park, he failed to finish after being bumped at the start and unseating his rider. However, he redeemed himself on January 23 at the same track, cruising to a 3½-length win in an allowance race run under similar rainy conditions. Trainer: Brad Cox Jockey: Luan Machado It took Final Gambit three chances to break his maiden, but it is to be noted that it did so in rainy conditions on February 15 on an all-weather track at Turfway Park. The Derby will be his first test on dirt, but assistant trainer Tessa Walden isn't worried. After his strong performance in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks, Walden expressed confidence as she said, 'He's got the maturity now to handle something different." Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Nik Juarez American Promise, the son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, picked up his first win on a muddy track at Oaklawn on December 29. Champion of the Virginia Derby has performed in rainy conditions only once other time in his nine-year career. On September 27, he ran the sloppy tracks at Churchill, where he came in eighth position. Trainer: Whit Beckman Jockey: Joe Ramos Flying Mohawk has seen wet conditions early in his career, but the Kentucky Derby will be his first attempt on dirt. He showed promise with a second-place finish on a firm turf track at Kentucky Downs on September 1, but struggled on a softer surface later that month, finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes on yielding turf at Aqueduct. Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Publisher is set to become just the 13th maiden to run in the Kentucky Derby since 1937. Though he hasn't won yet, the son of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah has placed in five of his seven starts, including solid performances in tough conditions—finishing third on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs and second in the mud at Oaklawn. Trainer: Lonnie Briley Jockey: Juan Vargas Coal Battle, the first graded-stakes winner for trainer Briley in over 30 years, has shown strong form on wet tracks. He broke his maiden last July on a sloppy surface at Evangeline and kicked off a four-race winning streak in November with a 2½-length victory in the mud at Delta Downs.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Neoequos trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
Neoequos trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse Show Caption Hide Caption Kentucky Derby 2025 contender Neoequos trains at Churchill Downs Watch Kentucky Derby 2025 contender Neoequos train on April 28 at Churchill Downs. Trainer is Saffie Joseph Jr. Horse is 2-2-2 in seven starts. Neoequos will enter the Kentucky Derby off a third-place finish in the Florida Derby on March 29 Neoequos will try to become the first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby since Silver Charm in 1997 Neoequos 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. Neoequos will enter the Kentucky Derby off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park. He currently ranks 17th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 40. Color: Bay. Bred in: Florida. Sire: Neolithic. Dam: Bold Birdie, by Birdstone. Price tag: $22,000 at 2023 Ocala Breeders' October Yearling Sale. Owners: C2 Racing Stable (Clint and Mark Cornett); Ian Parsard; Shining Stables; Stefania Farms. This is the second Derby for C2 Racing Stable, which finished 16th with White Abarrio in 2022. It's the first Derby for the others. Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. He's 0 for 3 in the Derby, best finish coming with Ny Traffic (eighth) in 2020. Jockey: Luis Saez. He's 0 for 11 in the Derby, best finish coming with Essential Quality (third) in 2021. Record: 2-2-2 in seven starts. Career earnings: $291,050. Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 40 (No. 17). Last race: Third in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park. Running style: At or near the front early. Notes: All seven of Neoequos' races have come at Gulfstream Park. He finished third in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 1 before matching that result in the Florida Derby. … Neolithic, the sire of Neoequos, earned $2.2 million over his career but was distance-challenged and never won a race longer than 1 1/16 miles. … Six Florida-breds have won the Kentucky Derby, the last being Silver Charm in 1997. What they're saying: 'The distance (of the Kentucky Derby) is still a question mark, but he keeps running well enough and fast enough on the figures to keep going and try,' Joseph said. 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; jfrakes@ Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ. More horse racing: Here's how Journalism, likely Kentucky Derby favorite, got his name from a former editor
