2025 Kentucky Derby Photos
Date: 4/26/2025
Saturday morning a week before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs was busy and the track was listed as fast but appeared damp. Conditions were overcast during training hours with temperatures in the low 50's. Five Derby entrants and four Oaks entrants recorded timed works.
- Sovereignty rules in the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) - Saturday at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty came six wide in the mud to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 1 1/2 lengths over favorite Journalism with Baeza third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
- Kentucky Derby Undercard Stakes Results- There were 7 other graded stakes on the card with the Derby, including the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) won by Spirit of St Louis, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) won by Simply in Front, the Derby City Distaff (G1) won by Kopion, the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) won by Mindframe, the American Turf (G2) won by Zulu Kingdom, the Pat Day Mile (G2) won by Macho Music, and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) won by Think Big. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
- Good Cheer wins the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) - Friday at Churchill Downs, favorite Good Cheer rallied to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by a 2 1/4 lengths in the mud over Drexel Hill and Bless the Broken. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
- Kentucky Oaks Undercard Stakes Results - There were 6 other stakes on the card today with the Oaks, including the La Troienne (G1) won by Raging Sea, the Alysheba (G2) won by Fierceness, the Eight Belles (G2) won by Look Forward, the Edgewood Stakes (G2) won by Nitrogen, and the Modesty (G3) won by She Feels Pretty. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Analysis - Our annual analysis of the top contenders to try and select a winner by matching each to the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner using many of the more popular angles and statistical trends. This year there is tie for first, but the favorite isn't up there!
- 2025 Thurby Results - Thursday before the Kentucky Derby is known as Thurby and there were three stakes on the card today: the Opening Verse, Kentucky Juvenile, and St Matthews Stake
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Thursday 5/1 at Churchill Downs busy again with lots of Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses out for a gallop, including Citizen Bull, Final Gambit, and Luxor Cafe. Photos and comments for 13 Derby horses, 4 Oaks fillies, plus Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Wednesday 4/30 at Churchill Downs was busy with many Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses on the track, including American Promise, Journalism, and Tiztastic. Photos and comments for 13 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Tuesday 4/29 at Churchill Downs was warmer and saw many Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses on the track, including Rodriguez, Final Gambit, and Sandman. Photos and comments for 11 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Monday 4/28 at Churchill Downs saw two Kentucky Derby horses on the track with timed works, Citizen Bull and Coal Battle. Photos and comments for 9 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Sunday 4/27 at Churchill Downs saw six Kentucky Derby horses on the track with timed works, including East Avenue, Rodriguez, and Publisher. Photos and comments for 11 Derby and 5 Oaks horses.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Friday 4/25 at Churchill Downs saw many Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses on the track with several timed works, including Journalism, Tenma, and Burnham Square. Thorpedo Anna also made an appearance. Photos and comments for 10 Derby and 6 Oaks horses.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Entries - On Saturday the post positions were drawn for the 151st Kentucky Derby and a full field of 20 3-year-old colts plus one also-eligible, with 3-1 morning line favorite Journalism drawing post 8. Get the horses, post positions, and free past performances here.
- 2025 Kentucky Oaks Entries - On Saturday the post positions were drawn for the 151st Longines Kentucky Oaks and a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies, with 6-5 morning line favorite Good Cheer drawing post 11. Get the horses, post positions, and free past performances here.
Video for this morning's work can be viewed here on YouTube. Videos of individual horses in timed works can be found here.
Below are photos and comments for 13 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
Kentucky Derby
Admire Daytona - UAE Derby (G2) winner jogged in the one-mile chute then galloped Saturday morning. The colt is scheduled to have a published workout Tuesday.
Baeza – is the also-eligible for the Derby. He turned in a steady gallop under exercise rider Frankie Herrate. "You might remember," trainer John Shirreffs noted to a bystander, "Frankie galloped Giacomo here for me in 2005. If we don't make it, we'll work him here Monday. Then we've got to look at the Preakness."
Burnham Square – worked five furlongs in :59.40 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. up for trainer Ian Wilkes. Working at 7:15 over a track rated as good, Burnham Square produced fractions of :12.40, :24.40, :36, :59.40 and out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven-eighths in 1:26.20. "I let him out a little bit at the eighth pole and he got his last eighth in 11 and 1," said Hernandez, winner of Derby 150 last year on Mystik Dan. "The track was good," Wilkes said. "It was probably a tick faster, but he did it well in hand and had a strong gallop out. We just have to keep him on the ground now. He's ready."
Citizen Bull – galloped twice around under exercise rider Humberto Gomez. Trainer Bob Baffert intends to give him a timed work on Monday. Regular rider Martin Garcia will be aboard Citizen Bull, who has four wins in six starts and more than $1.4 million in earnings.
East Avenue - schooled in the paddock then galloped under exercise rider Stephen Dolan for trainer Brendan Walsh. The Blue Grass (G1) runner-up is slated to breeze Sunday with jockey Manny Franco in the saddle.
Grande – who had drilled five furlongs in 1:01 Friday morning at Keeneland, was sent back to the track at Churchill Downs Saturday by conditioner Todd Pletcher. "He's a high energy colt and we've got to keep him busy," the seven-time Eclipse Award winner noted. "He'll just gallop a mile." Grande, who most recently ran second in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, will be handled by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in Derby 151. The veteran reinsman was aboard the Kentucky-bred for victories in a straight maiden test and an allowance race at Gulfstream Park this year.
Journalism – likely Kentucky Derby favorite was scheduled to turn in his final major prep for the Run for the Roses Saturday morning, but when the day dawned trainer Michael McCarthy said "That track out there is a little wetter than I'd like it to be. We'll wait until tomorrow." Journalism, a striking colt by super sire Curlin, is headed to America's most famous race with four straight victories under his belt, the most recent one the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5. So instead of his Saturday work, the bay took exercise rider Marc Witkowski for a 1 1/4 mile spin around Churchill in a good gallop. Sunday will be a different story.
Publisher – galloped Saturday and is scheduled to work on Sunday.
Render Judgment – breezed five furlongs in :59 under jockey Julien Leparoux who has the call in the "Run for the Roses."
Rodriguez – galloped twice around under exercise rider Eric Garcia. Trainer Bob Baffert intends to give him a timed work on Sunday. Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who was aboard Rodriguez for his tally in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in his most recent outing on April 5, has the call back for Derby 151.
Sandman – galloped a mile during the 7:15-7:30 training window under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse.
Sovereignty – with exercise partner Javier Cardona, took a tour of the paddock, then galloped a mile and one half around the big Churchill oval. Regular rider Junior Alvarado is slated to handle the homebred come Derby Day. Trainer Bill Mott said, "I don't have a problem with the racetrack; I just decided to wait until tomorrow (to work)." Mott previously indicated that his Into Mischief colt, owned and bred by the folks of Godolphin, was going to turn in his final Derby drill Saturday morning, but checked to Plan B for his double stakes winner on an overcast and chilly morning in Louisville.
Tiztastic – galloped Saturday and is scheduled to work on Sunday.
Kentucky Oaks
Anna's Promise completed her final move prior to the Oaks with a five-furlong move in 1:00.40, working to the outside of the John Ortiz-trained Covert Law. Anna's Promise worked during the 7:15 a.m. training session reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders and breezed through quarter-mile splits of :12.80, :24.80 and :36.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60.
Bless the Broken galloped at 7:15 under Genis Bracho for trainer Will Walden. Bless the Broken arrived from Keeneland before noon Friday morning.
La Cara visited the starting gate and then galloped a mile and half under Kevin Donnis for trainer Mark Casse during the 7:15-7:30 training window.
Quickick galloped a mile and a half under Rafael Rustrian during the 7:15-7:30 training window for trainer Tom Amoss.
Take Charge Milady galloped twice around for trainer Ken McPeek.
Tenma worked 4f in 48.40, out 5f in 1:01 under jockey Martin Garvia. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "[Martin is] good; he can really work one. For a while there, I thought he had a clock in his head. I told him I wanted him to go in :48 (for the half mile) today, so let's see how he does." Tenma will be one of the favorites for this 151st edition of the Oaks and Baffert has named California's leading rider, Juan Hernandez, to do the driving that afternoon.
Photos courtesy of Amber Chalfin of Downthestretchphotos.com.
2025 Triple Crown quick links:
- Preakness Entries - A field of only 9 was entered for the Preakness with Journalism the favorite at 8-5 from post 2 and Sandman second choice at 4-1 from post 8. Check out the horses with post positions, odds, and free past performances.
- Sovereignty rules in the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) - Saturday at Churchill Downs, Sovereignty came six wide in the mud to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 1 1/2 lengths over favorite Journalism with Baeza third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
- Kentucky Derby Undercard Stakes Results- There were 7 other graded stakes on the card with the Derby, including the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) won by Spirit of St Louis, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) won by Simply in Front, the Derby City Distaff (G1) won by Kopion, the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) won by Mindframe, the American Turf (G2) won by Zulu Kingdom, the Pat Day Mile (G2) won by Macho Music, and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) won by Think Big. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
- Good Cheer wins the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) - Friday at Churchill Downs, favorite Good Cheer rallied to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by a 2 1/4 lengths in the mud over Drexel Hill and Bless the Broken. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
- Kentucky Oaks Undercard Stakes Results - There were 6 other stakes on the card today with the Oaks, including the La Troienne (G1) won by Raging Sea, the Alysheba (G2) won by Fierceness, the Eight Belles (G2) won by Look Forward, the Edgewood Stakes (G2) won by Nitrogen, and the Modesty (G3) won by She Feels Pretty. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
- 2025 Thurby Results - Thursday before the Kentucky Derby is known and Thurby and there were three stakes on the card today: the Opening Verse, Kentucky Juvenile, and St Matthews Stakes won by Brilliant Berti, Pinky Finger, and Fort Bragg on Thurby. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Entries - On Saturday the post positions were drawn for the 151st Kentucky Derby and a full field of 20 3-year-old colts plus one also-eligible, with 3-1 morning line favorite Journalism drawing post 8. Get the horses, post positions, and free past performances here.
- 2025 Kentucky Oaks Entries - On Saturday the post positions were drawn for the 151st Longines Kentucky Oaks and a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies, with 6-5 morning line favorite Good Cheer drawing post 11. Get the horses, post positions, and free past performances here.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Analysis - Our annual analysis of the top contenders to try and select a winner by matching each to the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner using many of the more popular angles and statistical trends. This year there is tie for first, but the favorite isn't up there!
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Thursday 5/1 at Churchill Downs busy again with lots of Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses out for a gallop, including Citizen Bull, Final Gambit, and Luxor Cafe. Photos and comments for 13 Derby horses, 4 Oaks fillies, plus Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Wednesday 4/30 at Churchill Downs was busy with many Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses on the track, including American Promise, Journalism, and Tiztastic. Photos and comments for 13 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Tuesday 4/29 at Churchill Downs was warmer and saw many Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses on the track, including Rodriguez, Final Gambit, and Sandman. Photos and comments for 11 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Monday 4/28 at Churchill Downs saw two Kentucky Derby horses on the track with timed works, Citizen Bull and Coal Battle. Photos and comments for 9 Derby horses and 6 Oaks fillies.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Sunday 4/27 at Churchill Downs saw six Kentucky Derby horses on the track with timed works, including East Avenue, Rodriguez, and Publisher. Photos and comments for 11 Derby and 5 Oaks horses.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Saturday 4/26 at Churchill Downs saw five Kentucky Derby and six Oaks horses on the track with timed works, including Journalism, Sovereignty, and La Cara. Photos and comments for 13 Derby and 6 Oaks horses.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby Photos - Friday 4/25 at Churchill Downs saw many Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses on the track with several timed works, including Journalism, Tenma, and Burnham Square. Thorpedo Anna also made an appearance. Photos and comments for 10 Derby and 6 Oaks horses.
- Kentucky Derby Winners and Auction Prices - Bigger may seem better, but in the case of Kentucky Derby horses who sold at auction, less is more. Here is a look at how (badly) high priced auction purchases have done in the Kentucky Derby and the auction prices for this year's top Derby horses.
- Derby Weather Forecasts - up to 15 days in advance
- Kentucky Derby Points List - this is what determines which horses can get in the Kentucky Derby field.
- 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby - All the point earning races on the Triple Crown Trail leading up to the Kentucky Derby with results and winners updated as they are run.
- Kentucky Derby Tickets - See what is for sale on Ebay. Includes tickets and parking.
- 2025 Kentucky Derby And Oaks Security - New enhanced stricter rules with no onsite parking were enforced in 2018, and are in effect again this year. Be sure to read the rules if you are attending. There will still be magnetic wand searches of all patrons and many things are no longer allowed. Check here to make sure you don't bring anything they will confiscate.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager - This year there were 6 pools starting in November of 2024 plus a single pool for the Oaks.
- Kentucky Derby Prep Races - What races should a horse prep in to win the Kentucky Derby? Some races may seem obvious, but have not produced a Derby winner in many years. Find out which races are the best preps here.
- Derby prep race charts - free from DRF
- Kentucky Derby Traditions - Find out all about the big Derby Traditions: the rose garland, the trophy, the Twin Spires, mint juleps, singing "My Old Kentucy Home", fancy hats, celebrities and the annual Derby glasses.
- Fillies in the Kentucky Derby - a look at the 39 fillies who have contested the Run for the Roses and how they did. So far there have been 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 5 thirds.
- Kentucky Derby official site - lots of good info and the latest news here
- Louisville Courier Journal coverage - one of your best news sources for the Derby
- Blood Horse Triple Crown Mania - lots of good info here
- DRF Kentucky Derby Special - Lots of good info like past winners preps, contenders, past performances, and latest news.
- Review: Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments - Commemorative DVD from Churchill Downs with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info. Definitely recommended for any racing fan!
- Review: Churchill Downs - America's Most Historic Racetrack by Kimberly Gatto. An entertaining and informative account of the history of the track and it's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, with lots of photos. Definitely recommended.
- Review: Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide - A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Glasses and Shot Glasses edited by Judy Marchman
- Triple Crown Trivia Quiz - test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others.
- Buy advance tickets for the Derby and Oaks - from Churchill Downs and save $5 over the gate price on general admission
- Kentucky Derby Tickets on Ebay
- Triple Crown Trivia Quiz - test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others.
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Admire Daytona - UAE Derby (G2) winner jogged in the one-mile chute then galloped Saturday morning. The colt is scheduled to have a published workout Tuesday.
Baeza – is the also-eligible for the Derby. He turned in a steady gallop under exercise rider Frankie Herrate. "You might remember," trainer John Shirreffs noted to a bystander, "Frankie galloped Giacomo here for me in 2005. If we don't make it, we'll work him here Monday. Then we've got to look at the Preakness."
Burnham Square – worked five furlongs in :59.40 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. up for trainer Ian Wilkes. Working at 7:15 over a track rated as good, Burnham Square produced fractions of :12.40, :24.40, :36, :59.40 and out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven-eighths in 1:26.20. "I let him out a little bit at the eighth pole and he got his last eighth in 11 and 1," said Hernandez, winner of Derby 150 last year on Mystik Dan. "The track was good," Wilkes said. "It was probably a tick faster, but he did it well in hand and had a strong gallop out. We just have to keep him on the ground now. He's ready."
Citizen Bull – galloped twice around under exercise rider Humberto Gomez. Trainer Bob Baffert intends to give him a timed work on Monday. Regular rider Martin Garcia will be aboard Citizen Bull, who has four wins in six starts and more than $1.4 million in earnings.
East Avenue - schooled in the paddock then galloped under exercise rider Stephen Dolan for trainer Brendan Walsh. The Blue Grass (G1) runner-up is slated to breeze Sunday with jockey Manny Franco in the saddle.
Grande – who had drilled five furlongs in 1:01 Friday morning at Keeneland, was sent back to the track at Churchill Downs Saturday by conditioner Todd Pletcher. "He's a high energy colt and we've got to keep him busy," the seven-time Eclipse Award winner noted. "He'll just gallop a mile." Grande, who most recently ran second in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, will be handled by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in Derby 151. The veteran reinsman was aboard the Kentucky-bred for victories in a straight maiden test and an allowance race at Gulfstream Park this year.
Journalism – likely Kentucky Derby favorite was scheduled to turn in his final major prep for the Run for the Roses Saturday morning, but when the day dawned trainer Michael McCarthy said "That track out there is a little wetter than I'd like it to be. We'll wait until tomorrow." Journalism, a striking colt by super sire Curlin, is headed to America's most famous race with four straight victories under his belt, the most recent one the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5. So instead of his Saturday work, the bay took exercise rider Marc Witkowski for a 1 1/4 mile spin around Churchill in a good gallop. Sunday will be a different story.
Publisher – galloped Saturday and is scheduled to work on Sunday.
Render Judgment – breezed five furlongs in :59 under jockey Julien Leparoux who has the call in the "Run for the Roses."
Rodriguez – galloped twice around under exercise rider Eric Garcia. Trainer Bob Baffert intends to give him a timed work on Sunday. Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who was aboard Rodriguez for his tally in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in his most recent outing on April 5, has the call back for Derby 151.
Sandman – galloped a mile during the 7:15-7:30 training window under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse.
Sovereignty – with exercise partner Javier Cardona, took a tour of the paddock, then galloped a mile and one half around the big Churchill oval. Regular rider Junior Alvarado is slated to handle the homebred come Derby Day. Trainer Bill Mott said, "I don't have a problem with the racetrack; I just decided to wait until tomorrow (to work)." Mott previously indicated that his Into Mischief colt, owned and bred by the folks of Godolphin, was going to turn in his final Derby drill Saturday morning, but checked to Plan B for his double stakes winner on an overcast and chilly morning in Louisville.
Tiztastic – galloped Saturday and is scheduled to work on Sunday.
Anna's Promise completed her final move prior to the Oaks with a five-furlong move in 1:00.40, working to the outside of the John Ortiz-trained Covert Law. Anna's Promise worked during the 7:15 a.m. training session reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders and breezed through quarter-mile splits of :12.80, :24.80 and :36.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60.
Bless the Broken galloped at 7:15 under Genis Bracho for trainer Will Walden. Bless the Broken arrived from Keeneland before noon Friday morning.
La Cara visited the starting gate and then galloped a mile and half under Kevin Donnis for trainer Mark Casse during the 7:15-7:30 training window.
Quickick galloped a mile and a half under Rafael Rustrian during the 7:15-7:30 training window for trainer Tom Amoss.
Take Charge Milady galloped twice around for trainer Ken McPeek.
Tenma worked 4f in 48.40, out 5f in 1:01 under jockey Martin Garvia. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "[Martin is] good; he can really work one. For a while there, I thought he had a clock in his head. I told him I wanted him to go in :48 (for the half mile) today, so let's see how he does." Tenma will be one of the favorites for this 151st edition of the Oaks and Baffert has named California's leading rider, Juan Hernandez, to do the driving that afternoon.