Brought to you by AmWager
Journalism prepares for the Run for the Roses (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stables, Robert La Penta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I).
The 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses, that drew a field of 20 plus one also-eligible, will be the 12th race on the 14-race Kentucky Derby program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern). Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. with the winner receiving $3.1 million.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism has won his past four starts highlighted by the Santa Anita Derby (GI), San Felipe (GII) and Los Alamitos Futurity (GII). Umberto Rispoli, who has been aboard for those three victories, has the call Saturday from post 8.
“I’m very pleased. What’s not to like,” McCarthy said.
Second choice on the morning line at 5-1 is Godolphin’s Florida Derby (GI) runner-up Sovereignty. Trained by Bill Mott, who saddled 2019 Derby winner Country House, Sovereignty will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post 18.
Third choice on the morning line at 6-1 is D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Sandman. Trained by Mark Casse, Sandman will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 17.
Three horses are rated at 12-1 on the morning line: Burnham Square, Rodriguez and Baeza, who is an also-eligible.
Whitham Thoroughbreds’ homebred Burnham Square, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start, is trained by Ian Wilkes and will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. Hernandez won last year’s Derby on Mystik Dan and seeks to become the first rider since Victor Espinoza in 2014-2015 to win the Run for the Roses in consecutive years. Burnham Square will exit post 9.
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan’s Rodriguez comes into Derby 151 off a front-running victory in the Wood Memorial (GII).
Trained by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Rodriguez will be ridden by two-time Derby winner Mike Smith from post 4.
Baffert also will send out for the same ownership Citizen Bull (20-1), the 2-year-old champion of 2024. Martin Garcia has the mount from post 1.
Baeza is trained by John Shirreffs, who won the 2005 Derby with Giacomo. Baeza, owned by C R K Stable and Grandview Estate, finished second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start. Flavien Prat, who won the 2019 Derby on Country House, has the mount should Baeza draw in.
Five other trainers will attempt to add to their Derby laurels headed by four-time winner D. Wayne Lukas, who will send out Virginia Derby winner American Promise (30-1) for BC Stables. Nik Juarez has the mount from post 5.
Two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher will saddle Repole Stable’s Wood Memorial runner-up Grande (20-1) with three-time Derby winner John Velazquez in the saddle from post 10.
Other trainers seeking a second Derby victory are Brad Cox and Kenny McPeek.
Cox, who saddled 2021 Derby winner Mandaloun, will send out Juddmonte’s Final Gambit (30-1) from post 3. Luan Machado has the mount.
McPeek, who won last year’s Derby with Mystik Dan, trains Render Judgment (30-1) for the ownership of Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms Inc., MJM Racing and Rocket Ship Racing. The most recent trainer to win the Derby in consecutive years was Baffert in 1997 and 1998.
Two other riders will be going for a Derby double: Joel Rosario and Javier Castellano.
Rosario, who guided Orb to victory in 2013, has the call on Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Tiztastic (20-1) for trainer Steve Asmussen. Tiztastic will exit post 14.
Asmussen also will send out Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher (20-1), owned by Gus King and the Estate of Brereton Jones. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Publisher from post 13.
Castellano, winner of the 2023 Derby on Mage, has the mount on Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) winner Owen Almighty (30-1) for Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing. Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty will break from post 20.
The field for the Kentucky Derby (GI) Presented by Woodford Reserve (Race 12, post time 6:57 p.m.):
- Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 20-1)
- Neoequous (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1)
- Final Gambit (Luan Machado, Brad Cox, 30-1)
- Rodriguez (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 12-1)
- American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas, 30-1)
- Admire Daytona (JPN) (Christophe Lemaire, Yukihiro Kato, 30-1)
- Luxor Café (Joao Moreira, Noriyuki Kato, 15-1)
- Journalism (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy, 3-1)
- Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 12-1)
- Grande (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 20-1)
- Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman, 30-1)
- East Avenue (Manny Franco, Brendan Walsh, 20-10
- Publisher (Irad Ortiz Jr., Steve Asmussen, 20-1)
- Tiztastic (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 20-10
- Render Judgment (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek, 30-1)
- Coal Battle (Juan Vargas, Lonnie Briley, 30-1)
- Sandman (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 6-1)
- Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 5-1)
- Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West, 30-1)
- Owen Almighty (Javier Castellano, Brian Lynch, 30-1)
- AE: Baeza (Flavien Prat, John Shirreffs, 12-1)
