BloodHorse information editor Byron King presents his Derby Dozen with a evaluate of his main contenders for the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve on Might 3.
King’s newest listing displays the outcomes of three qualifying factors races on the calendar from Feb. 1 and appears forward to the lone Derby prep this weekend, the Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Try America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page to maintain updated with tales and statistics on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Sovereignty
Having breezed a half-mile in :49.20 Jan. 31 at Payson Park Coaching Middle after a restricted work sample this winter, he retains his place on the high of this listing, however solely simply. To safe the required basis and preps below his belt earlier than the Might 3 Kentucky Derby, upping his qualifying factors from his present tally of 10, he wants clean crusing over the rest of the winter and early spring. The expertise is there, as evidenced by his five-length romp within the Oct. 27 Road Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs in his final begin.
2. Barnes
A two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race is subsequent for this proficient colt, who’s unbeaten in two sprints. Six-time Kentucky Derby-winning coach Bob Baffert stated Barnes would run subsequent in both the Feb. 22 Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn Park or the March 1 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The $1.25 million Insurgent has a a lot greater purse than the $300,000 San Felipe, although the latter race has the attraction of being at his residence base of Santa Anita. Both race will give him a possibility to select up his first Kentucky Derby factors.
3. East Avenue
As East Avenue nears a scheduled return within the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes at Honest Grounds, coach Brendan Walsh gave him a five-furlong gate drill in 1:01 Feb. 1 in New Orleans. He glided by himself, and it appeared little greater than a take a look at to make sure he broke cleanly. Recall that he stumbled at first of the Nov. 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by TAA and misplaced all probability, operating ninth. Excited to see what the 2024 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity winner can do that 12 months at age 3.
4. Citizen Bull
The reigning champion 2-year-old male was quicker than ever within the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, operating a mile in 1:36.71 and incomes a career-best Equibase Velocity Determine of 107. He loved one other uncontested lead, however he’s a horse whose pace typically leaves his rivals taking part in catchup. It isn’t simple to completely assess the energy of this win on condition that simply 5 horses raced within the Lewis, and solely two Bob Baffert-trained stablemates have been professional challengers.
Although he upset when sixth within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the movement of the race by no means suited this deep nearer. Solely European invader and third-place finisher Hill Highway – now primarily based in America and who breezed for the primary time in 2025 Feb. 3 at Payson Park – made up any significant floor late. Chancer McPatrick, winner of final 12 months’s Hopeful Stakes and Champagne Stakes, has two works below his belt in 2025 as coach Chad Brown targets the March 8 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.
6. Burnham Sq.
The Holy Bull Stakes winner debuts at No. 6 within the Derby Dozen after closing from final to defeat Tappan Road by 1 ¾ lengths Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park. Off simply behind his rivals, he appeared to climb a bit into the primary flip however then raced professionally, advancing up the within down the backstretch. With visitors throughout him, he moved between horses on the second flip and angled out, was simply strongest down the stretch. Two-for-two since including blinkers and may relish racing additional distances.
7. Disco Time
Coach Brad Cox will typically work his stakes horses a few weeks after a begin, however Disco Time had not breezed by means of Feb. 4 after taking the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes at Honest Grounds. Admittedly, it appeared a taxing race. He wanted to rally previous horses to stay a neck in entrance after getting fanned out extensive within the lane. It was a sluggish Lecomte, however few horses might have overcome the adversity he did to enhance to 3-for-3.
8. Journalism
Beating Bob Baffert trainees in main 2-year-old and 3-year-old races in California is not any simple feat. But, Journalism did that in romping by 3 ½ lengths within the Los Alamitos Futurity, a race Baffert has captured 14 occasions. Nonetheless, Baffert’s high horses weren’t in there; Los Alamitos Futurity runner-up Getaway Automobile and third-place Gaming appear to be his graded stakes second-stringers. Journalism posted two simple solo works in late January as coach Michael McCarthy prepares him for the San Felipe Stakes.
9. Sandman
Although Velocity King defeated him within the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, his troubled journey and his upside as a $1.2 million buy lands him forward of that rival. Sandman recovered after a horrendous begin and a large journey to seize the runner-up prize within the Southwest, although there was no getting previous the winner. Sandman appears to be a horse that’s growing with seasoning, typical of the progeny of the legendary Tapit.
10. Coal Battle
Maybe as a result of starting his profession at Evangeline Downs, this 3-year-old doesn’t have the thrill of different prospects on the Kentucky Derby path. However he’s 4-for-4 on the grime, 3 times capturing stakes. His two routes have been his greatest: a half-length defeat of Velocity King within the Dec. 13 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes and a four-length romp within the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn. The Insurgent Stakes is subsequent after he breezed 5 furlongs Feb. 3 in 1:02.60 at Oaklawn.
11. Velocity King
The Southwest winner has attributes of his sire and dam. He’s speedy like Unstable, a Grade 1-winning sprinter, and Velocity King is now a route winner like Athenian Magnificence. She gained three races at mile and past on turf. Velocity King’s closing sixteenth within the Southwest was simply :06.71, however he appeared to be ready on the opposition as soon as he had put away the opposite pace. He galloped out with power.
12. Rodriguez
Intimidated between horses on the backstretch through the Robert B. Lewis this previous weekend, he dropped again from second to fourth. However as soon as he was positioned exterior horses, he re-engaged and surged into second to chase his victorious, free-running stablemate Citizen Bull. This was solely his third profession begin, and he ought to have upside as he positive factors seasoning. Clings to the ultimate spot within the rankings, simply forward of horses comparable to Grande, Captain Prepare dinner, River Thames, Hypnus, and Hill Highway.
