LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It would have been easy for Journalism's connections to make excuses after his second-place finish as the 3-1 favorite in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. After all, not only had Journalism never competed over a wet racetrack prior to the race, he had never even stepped foot on an "off" track at any point in his career before the walkover for the Derby.
Official results and payouts for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby on May, 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.
1st: No. 18 Sovereignty $17.96 $7.50 $5.58
2nd: No. 8 Journalism $4.94 $3.70
3rd: No. 21 Baeza $8.38
4th: No. 3 Final Gambit
5th: No. 20 Owen Almighty
The Florida legislature wrapped up its 2025 session late Friday night without agreeing on any bills that would allow Gulfstream Park to decouple its racing and casino licenses, a victory for the legislation’s opponents despite the track’s uncertain future.
Handle on the 13-race Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs on Friday was $73.9 million, down 1.8 percent compared to the record handle for last year’s 13-race card, according to figures provided by Churchill Downs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- It was Derby déjà vu all over again for Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher.
Grande, the Wood Memorial runner-up, was scratched from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby by Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation veterinarians due to a cracked heel on his right front foot.
It was two years ago that Repole-owned, Pletcher-trained Forte, the morning-line favorite for the Derby, was scratched the morning of the race. In 2011, Repole and Pletcher had to scratch favorite Uncle Mo the day before the race due to an intestinal issue.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rodriguez, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner and one of two Kentucky Derby entrants trained by Bob Baffert, has been scratched from the race due a slight bruise in his right front foot, his connections said Thursday afternoon.
The scratch of Rodriguez opens a spot in the starting gate for Santa Anita Derby runner-up Baeza, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat. Prat was also named on Neoequos, the Florida Derby third-place finisher. Luis Saez has picked up the mount on that horse, according to Mark Cornett, part-owner of Neoequos.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thursday was the final regular day of training at Churchill Downs prior to Oaks and Derby days, although the racetrack will be open, weather permitting, early Friday and Saturday mornings. It turned out to be another pretty routine morning, with Journalism and Sovereignty still standing out along with East Avenue, who made another strong appearance while galloping just a furlong or so behind Sovereignty.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It took nearly a year, but Brian Hernandez Jr. said it’s finally sunk in that he won the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby 24 hours apart last year.
When Hernandez rode Thorpedo Anna to an emphatic victory in the Oaks on May 3 and Mystik Dan to a nose score in the Derby the following day – both for trainer Kenny McPeek – he became the eighth jockey to pull off the feat in the 150-year history of both races. He was the first to do it since Calvin Borel won both in 2009.
