Kentucky Derby 2025: Loveberry gets a second chance with Chunk of Gold

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Jareth Loveberry got his first chance to ride the Kentucky Derby in 2023 and put up a terrific ride aboard Two Phil’s who finished second to Mage.

When it came to the Derby, Loveberry, 37, thought he would be one and done.

“Going into that race I was very confident, I thought ‘Okay, I really like this horse, I like how it could play out.' He showed up and ran a really, really good second,” Loveberry said. “I was pretty emotional after that race. It took 18 years to get there and I didn’t think I’d be back.”

Lo and behold, it only took two years for Loveberry to make it back. In Saturday’s 151st Kentucky Derby, he will ride Chunk of Gold, one of many closers in the race but one who figures to be a giant price.

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Chunk of Gold had made his first two starts over the Polytrack at Turfway Park, winning a maiden race and finishing second in the Leonatus Stakes.

Loveverry didn’t ride Chunk of Gold for the first time until the Risen Star Stakes in February. In his first start on dirt, Chunk of Gold ran into some traffic trouble, but persevered through along the inside to finish second to Magnitude. Yes, Magnitude won by 9 3/4 lengths but Chunk of Gold got stuck behind a tiring East Avenue and had to check before re-rallying.

“I think that bodes well for the Derby, just in case something happens, for him to come through that way first time on dirt, first time shipping,” Loveberry said. “I think that was a big testament to how smart and how much ability this horse has.”

In the Louisiana Derby, again under Loveberry, Chunk of Gold was a bit keen early and a little closer to the pace than usual and he finished second again, 2 1/4 lengths behind Tiztastic.

“The whole day speed was really, really tough,” Loveberry said. “He broke well, he was pretty keen, he was a little closer and since speed was good I didn’t take him out of it and he didn’t have quite the same finish as he did the race before. I learned from him, he learned from me, we learned from each other”

Saturday, Loveberry hopes those lessons learned help him to make the most of his second chance.

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