Kentucky Derby Roundup: Latest workouts and position post draw

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is five days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the first Saturday in May approaches:

Journalism lands post 8 at post position draw

The Kentucky Derby post position draw took place on Saturday evening. A total of 21 horses, including also-eligible runner Baeza, entered the race.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Journalism drew post 8 and has been established as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The complete field, with morning-line odds and jockey assignments, is as follows:

Tappan Street and Built withdraw, Render Judgment joins field

Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street, expected to rank among the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, unfortunately suffered a condylar fracture in his right foreleg after a Saturday morning workout. A full recovery is expected, but Tappan Street will need surgery, and David Grening of the Daily Racing Form reports the colt may not race again until 2026.

Tappan Street’s withdrawal came one day after Gun Runner S. winner Built pulled out of the Kentucky Derby picture in favor of starting in the shorter Pat Day Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

The defections of Tappan Street and Built opened the door for Florida Derby third-place finisher Neoequos and Virginia Derby runner-up Render Judgment to join the field. After briefly being removed from Kentucky Derby consideration, Render Judgment’s connections changed course and announced their intention to enter on Saturday morning, shortly before the Tappan Street news broke.

Latest workouts

Admire Daytona

Japan’s UAE Derby (G2) winner Admire Daytona turned in his first stateside workout last Tuesday, going half a mile in :53.20 off splits of :13.00 and :39.20. “He has managed to maintain his pre-UAE Derby physical condition perfectly so we just have to help him keep it until race day,” said assistant trainer and exercise rider Yoshimitsu Miyashita.

American Promise

Working fast over a sloppy track, American Promise clocked fractions of :12.00, :23.80, :35.40, and :47.00 on his way to five furlongs in :59.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40.

Baeza

In his first workout since arriving at Churchill Downs, Baeza breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02.00. He’ll need one scratch from the main body of the Kentucky Derby field to compete.

Burnham Square

Breezing over a good track, Burnham Square traveled five furlongs in :59.40. He started off with fractions of :12.40, :24.40, :36.00, and :59.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.00 and seven furlongs 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 rider Brian Hernandez Jr.

Chunk of Gold

Chunk of Gold completed his major pre-race training at Turfway Park, clocking five furlongs in :59.20 off splits of :12.20, :24.20, :36.20, and :47.60. “Now we just have to keep that same energy level up over the next week,” said trainer Ethan West. “That was about as good as we could ask of him. He was galloping out really easy around the turn, then another horse came up to his outside and he wanted to get back in the bit.”

Citizen Bull

Citizen Bull completed most of his training at Santa Anita, where he worked seven furlongs in a stiff 1:24.20 last Wednesday. He’s since arrived at Churchill Downs and posted his final pre-Derby workout on Monday, going five furlongs in a stiff :58.40 off splits of :11.60, :23.00, and :45.80. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40 and seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

Coal Battle

Last Tuesday, Coal Battle breezed a quick half-mile in :47.80 off fractions of :12.40 and :24.60. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80. “It was good and he came back like he hadn’t done anything, not even taking a drink of water,” said trainer Lonnie Briley. Coal Battle followed up with a three-furlong blowout in :36.00 on Monday.

East Avenue

East Avenue wrapped up his serious Derby preparations with a swift five furlongs in :59.40. Working in company with Joejoe Go, East Avenue ran the opening quarter-mile in :24.20, clocked his final three-eighths in :35.20, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20.

Final Gambit

Final Gambit clocked five furlongs in 1:01.00 and galloped out strongly after the exercise, getting another eighth of a mile in :12.80 for six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Flying Mohawk

Working in company with Kentucky Oaks (G1) entrant Drexel Hill, Flying Mohawk clocked fractions of :12.40, :24.20, and :35.80 on his way to five furlongs in 1:00.00. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80 and seven furlongs in 1:26.40. “He’s doing well and handled training over this track as we expected,” said trainer Whit Beckman. Referring to Flying Mohawk’s lack of experience racing on dirt, Whitman added, “We never had any issues with him training over the dirt and he’s shown that in his works.”

Grande

Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Grande turned in his lone pre-Derby workout at Keeneland, traversing five furlongs in 1:01.00 while going in company with Valentinian. The fractions were :13.00, :25.00, :37.20, and :49.00, with gallop-out times of 1:13.40 and 1:27.20, though trainer Todd Pletcher recorded a slower time on his watch. “I got him in 1:01 and four,” said Pletcher. “But that’s just splitting hairs. The main thing was it was a very good work. I was very pleased and thought he worked super. He showed good energy throughout and galloped out strong.”

Journalism

Journalism arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday and turned in his final pre-race workout on Saturday, starting off slow with fractions of :13.60, :25.80, and :37.60 before dashing his final quarter-mile in :23.80 for five furlongs in 1:01.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60, seven furlongs in 1:26.80, and one mile in 1:41.20.

Luxor Cafe

Luxor Cafe has taken things easy since arriving at Churchill Downs. He may turn in a timed workout on Tuesday, after trainer Noriyuki Hori arrives on Monday.

Neoequos

After wrapping up his serious Derby preparations with a half-mile workout in :48.43 at Gulfstream Park, Neoequos arrived at Churchill Downs on Saturday and jogged over the track on Sunday.

Owen Almighty

In order to beat questionable weather, Owen Almighty turned in a workout on Thursday, one day earlier than scheduled. He went five furlongs in 1:01.60 off splits of :26.00 and :37.60 and pulled clear of workmate Nosleeptilbrooklyn while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.00 and seven furlongs in 1:27.00. “I didn’t want to take a chance on the weather,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “The work couldn’t have been any better.”

Publisher

After breezing alongside stablemate Tiztastic last week, Publisher went solo in his final pre-Derby workout, traveling half a mile in :49.00.

Render Judgment

On the day he rejoined the Kentucky Derby field, Render Judgment clocked five furlongs in :59.60 in company with Hypnus, posting splits of :12.20, :23.60, and :35.60. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40 and seven furlongs in 1:26.40.

Rodriguez

In his first workout since arriving at Churchill Downs, Rodriguez sped five furlongs in 1:00.00 with fractions of :12.20, :24.20, :36.20, and :47.60 plus gallop-out times of 1:12.60 for six furlongs and 1:27.00 for seven furlongs. “Amazing work; amazing,” said exercise rider Eric Garcia. “He was in hand all the way.”

Sandman

Sandman posted a five-furlong workout on Wednesday, starting slow with fractions of :13.60, :26.20, and :38.00 before getting his final quarter-mile in :24.40 for five furlongs in 1:02.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.60. “On a scale of 1 to 10 this gets a 10,” said trainer Mark Casse. “That was his last work before the Derby.”

Sovereignty

Sovereignty’s final pre-Derby workout was a relatively easy one as he breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 with fractions of :25.40 and :37.80 plus a six-furlong gallop-out time of 1:15.00. “Liked what I saw,” said trainer Bill Mott. “He looked good coming through the stretch.”

Tiztastic

Away from stablemate Publisher, Tiztastic likewise breezed solo in his final pre-Derby workout, traveling half a mile in :50.20 with fractions of :12.40 and :24.60.