Jonathan's Way

Jonathan’s Way became the first horse to earn points on the 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby when wiring the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Bred in Ohio by Susan L. Anderson Racing, Jonathan’s Way has shown versatility in terms of running style. He was never headed in the Iroquois, but won his debut sprinting six furlongs with a big rally after a troubled start.

But does Jonathan’s Way have the pedigree to race 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May? The Kentucky Derby (G1) distance tests both speed and stamina, and while we know Jonathan’s Way has speed, his pedigree suggests stamina is a question mark.

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Chancer McPatrick

Chancer McPatrick ranks among the most accomplished two-year-olds of 2024 after winning the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1).

Prevailing in the Champagne earned Chancer McPatrick 10 qualification points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. With two Grade 1 wins under his belt, the bay colt is an early favorite for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1). But will his deep-closing style prove successful over 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May? His pedigree suggests it’s not a given.

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Citizen Bull

Citizen Bull has enjoyed a productive Road to the Kentucky Derby campaign, posting frontrunning successes in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1), 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and one-mile Robert B. Lewis (G3).

A brief glance at Citizen Bull’s pedigree might suggest 1 1/16 miles is the upper limit of his distance capabilities, leaving the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) out of reach. After all, both his sire and dam sire were sprinter/milers who failed to prove their worth over 1 1/4 miles.

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East Avenue

A gate-to-wire victory by 5 1/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) launched East Avenue onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The Godolphin homebred is known for his frontrunning style, but don’t conflate his abundant speed with stamina limitations. His pedigree suggests stretching out over 1 1/4 miles for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) won’t be an obstacle.

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Sovereignty

There was a time not too many years ago when a horse like Sovereignty might have been overlooked as a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender because of his pedigree.

Even with a decisive stretch-running score in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) under his belt, bettors might have doubted Sovereignty’s ability to stretch out over 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby. The reason? His sire, Into Mischief.

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FIRST RESORT

First Resort showed signs of talent sprinting on dirt and running long on turf, finishing second in the Saratoga Special (G2) and fourth in the Summer (G1).

But a pace-tracking 2 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby suggests running long on dirt is First Resort’s true strong suit. The Kentucky Jockey Club took place at Churchill Downs, host track of the Kentucky Derby (G1), and from a pedigree perspective First Resort is well-equipped to take aim at the 2025 Run for the Roses.

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POSTER

After opening his career with a pair of turf wins, Poster switched to dirt and joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a triumph in the Remsen (G2).

Held over 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, the Remsen is the longest Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier for two-year-olds. Having prevailed over such a challenging distance as a juvenile, you might assume Poster will relish stretching out over 1 1/4 miles for the Kentucky Derby. But then again, he was all-ought to win the Remsen by a diminishing nose, which suggests running a furlong farther in the Derby might not be ideal.

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Coal Battle

Sprints and miles are clearly within the wheelhouse of Coal Battle. But can he handle the testing 1 1/4-mile distance of the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1)?

Following a stretch-running win in the 6 1/2-furlong Jean Lafitte S., Coal Battle joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a rallying triumph in the one-mile Remington Springboard Mile and a gate-to-wire triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones S.

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Journalism

Sometimes it’s possible to glance at the pedigree of a potential Kentucky Derby (G1) contender and conclude with certainty they’re bred to shine racing 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May.

Such is the case with Journalism. The bay colt impressed in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut, pulling away to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) by 3 1/2 lengths. The Los Alamitos Futurity has produced six Kentucky Derby winners since its inaugural running as the Hollywood Futurity in 1981, and Journalism could well become the seventh.

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Built

Built joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a gate-to-wire triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds.

Even after setting the pace, Built had enough stamina left to accelerate his fourth quarter-mile in :23.50 and his final sixteenth in :06.26 to dominate by 6 3/4 lengths.

It’s easy to see where Built gets his combination of speed and stamina. His pedigree contains both in a mixture that suggests stretching out over 1 1/4 miles for the Kentucky Derby (G1) is within reach.

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Cyclone State

Cyclone State showed abundant early speed on his way to winning the Jerome S., a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier held over one mile at Aqueduct.

Cyclone State led for every step of the journey and boasted an eight-length advantage with a furlong remaining. But his lead shrank to 3 1/2 lengths at the finish line, raising an important question: does Cyclone State have the stamina to stretch out over 1 1/4 miles for the Kentucky Derby (G1), or is one mile the approximate limit of his distance capabilities?

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Disco Time 

A determined rally from 10 lengths off the pace carried Disco Time to victory in the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

With three victories from as many starts, Disco Time has emerged as a serious contender for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1). But is the Derby’s testing 1 1/4-mile journey within Disco Time’s distance capabilities? His pedigree gives off mixed signals.

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Speed King

Speed King lived up to his name in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, leading all the way to win the $1 million race by one length.

This followed a game runner-up finish in the Remington Springboard Mile S., in which Speed King stayed on after an intense speed duel to finish second by half a length to stretch-running Coal Battle.

Clearly speed is the name of the game for Speed King. But in both the Springboard Mile and the Southwest, he lost ground from the eighth pole to the finish line. Will he be able to carry his abundant speed over 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby (G1)? His performances—and his pedigree—suggest it’s not a given.

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Burnham Square

Burnham Square caught eyes in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, rallying from last place to prevail in the good time of 1:43.60.

Now handicappers must answer an important question: can Burnham Square handle the testing 1 1/4-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby (G1)? Or are shorter routes likely to be his strong suit? Perhaps an analysis of his pedigree can reveal the answer.

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Captian Cook

Captain Cook handled 1 1/8 miles without difficulty when making his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the Withers S. at Aqueduct, pouncing from just off the pace to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

But can Captain Cook stretch out over another eighth of a mile for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby (G1)? His pedigree suggests 1 1/8 miles might be the upper limit of his distance capabilities.

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JOHN HANCOCK

John Hancock joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with an unwavering performance in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

After leading for much of the journey, John Hancock engaged in an intense head-to-head battle with Owen Almighty down the homestretch. Despite racing in tight quarters along the inside, John Hancock repelled Owen Almighty’s challenge to prevail by half a length.

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MAGNITUDE

A 9 3/4-length demolition of the Risen Star (G2) has stamped Magnitude as a serious contender for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The bay colt had no trouble handling the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Risen Star, reaching the finish line in a fast 1:48.85. He gave the impression stretching out over 1 1/4 miles for the Kentucky Derby won’t be an issue, and his pedigree concurs.

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GETAWAY CAR 

A brief glance at the pedigree of Sunland Park Derby winner Getaway Car might lead to the conclusion he’s bred to shine racing classic distances.

Surely the 1 1/4-mile journey of the Kentucky Derby (G1) is within reach? After all, Getaway Car is a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Dubai World Cup (G1), and two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) racing 1 1/4 miles, in addition to the Preakness (G1) over 1 3/16 miles.

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