Photo by Wirestock/Adobe StockFor many in the horse world, the first Saturday in May is considered a holiday. For those in horse racing, it can only mean one thing: Kentucky Derby Day. Its the race that every person in the racing industry dreams of winning, and for horse people, its probably the race that everyday people in your life reach out to ask which horse is your pick. And if you dont have a Derby horse yet, dont worrywere taking a look at every horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby so you can have your pick by the time youve finished reading.The 2025 Kentucky Derby FieldThe exciting part about the Kentucky Derbyor any horse race, for that matteris that any horse that leaves the starting gate can win. The favorite may seem like the obvious pick, but the post-time favorite has not won the Run for the Roses since eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018. In fact, the odds of the official Kentucky Derby winner in the six runnings since 2018 has averaged 35.85-to-1.Lets take a look at each horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, organized by post position and listed with their morning line odds.1. Citizen Bull (20-1)Trainer: Bob BaffertJockey: Martin GarciaRace Record: 6 starts: 4 wins, 0 seconds, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $1,451,000Last years Champion Two-Year-Old Male after winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile (G1), Citizen Bull has not quite replicated his two-year-old form. Though he started the year with a romp in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), he finished fourth of five last out in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in a race won by morning line favorite Journalism. The rail position is not doing him any favors, either. He seems like a horse that wants the lead to himself, but such a position is not so easy to obtain in the Derby. When hes at his best, hes one of the most talented in the field, but he does not seem to have matured on the same level as others in this field.2. Neoequos (30-1)Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.Jockey: Flavien PratRace Record: 7 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirdsCareer Earnings: $291,050Likely to go off at high odds on Saturday, Neoequos has twice been defeated by fellow contender Sovereignty. Hes a horse that appears to want a shorter distance, having been caught in both of his lifetime races over one mile. The 1 -mile distance of the Derby does not seem to be one where he will thrive.3. Final Gambit (30-1)Trainer: Brad CoxJockey: Luan MachadoRace Record: 4 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $520,639A last out winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), which is contested on a synthetic surface, Final Gambit has never made a start on traditional dirt. Hes also faced lesser company than most competitors here, and though he stepped it up in the Jeff Ruby, this is still a big jump in class for him.4. Rodriguez: SCRATCHED5. American Promise (30-1)Trainer: D. Wayne LukasJockey: Nik JuarezRace Record: 9 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $444,874It took American Promise six tries to break his maiden and though he was a runaway winner of the black-type Virginia Derby last out, he was off the board in his two starts against graded stakes company. Long shots have thrived in recent runnings of the Kentucky Derby, but this one would be a surprise.6. Admire Daytona (30-1)Trainer: Yukihiro KatoJockey: Christophe LemaireRace Record: 6 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $672,047One of two Japanese-based runners, Admire Daytona narrowly won the UAE Derby (G2) in his last start after leading throughout. Hes yet another that will be fighting for the lead, so he will need to be able to handle the pace pressure. Admire Daytona has proven to have some fight in him, though, and hell need to use that weapon in the Derby.7. Luxor Cafe (15-1)Trainer: Noriyuki HoriJockey: Joao MoreiraRace Record: 6 starts: 4 wins, 1 second, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $379,057A son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Luxor Cafe is the strongest of the two Japanese contenders. Winner of his last four starts, including a runaway win in the Fukuryu Stakes, Luxor Cafe has posted some of the most impressive speed figures of this field. This is the toughest competition hell have faced, but he certainly has talent.8. Journalism (3-1)Trainer: Mike McCarthyJockey: Umberto RispoliRace Record: 5 starts: 4 wins, 0 seconds, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $638,880Meet Journalism, the morning line favorite for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. He has won four straight races, including the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last out, and has some of the best speed figures in the group. Its tough to find a knock against him, though an obvious point is that he has been facing small fieldswhich certainly wont be the case in the Derby. But on ability alone, Journalism is a formidable favorite.9. Burnham Square (12-1)Trainer: Ian WilkesJockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.Race Record: 6 starts: 3 wins, 1 second, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $977,755Burnham Square was the game winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in his final Kentucky Derby prep, in which he overcame a poor trip. This bodes well for the traffic troubles most horses face in the Derby. From a speed figure perspective, hell need to step it up a bit, but he could be worth a look.10. Grande (20-1)Trainer: Todd PletcherJockey: John VelazquezRace Record: 3 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $228,200Having just started his career in January, Grande is the lightest raced in this field with only three starts under his belt. Second behind Rodriguez in the Wood Memorial most recently after winning against maiden and allowance company, the Derby is asking a lot of Grande.11. Flying Mohawk (30-1)Trainer: Whit BeckmanJockey: Joseph RamosRace Record: 6 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $295,800Flying Mohawk was most recently second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks behind Final Gambit and, like that rival, Flying Mohawk has never raced on traditional dirt. He also has only faced company weaker than most of this field, and his speed figures dont match up. This colt is likely to go off at very high odds.12. East Avenue (20-1)Trainer: Brendan WalshJockey: Manuel FrancoRace Record: 5 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $654,395As a two-year-old, East Avenue looked like a top prospect until a lackluster performance in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Hes never quite returned to his original form, the closest being his narrow second-place finish last out in the Blue Grass Stakes. It would require a huge jump in effort from East Avenue to cross the wire first.13. Publisher (30-1)Trainer: Steve AsmussenJockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.Race Record: 7 starts: 0 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirdsCareer Earnings: $407,756Yes, its truePublisher has never even won a race. Second behind Sandman in the Arkansas Derby (G1) last time, that was one of only two times the son of American Pharoah finished better than third. Hes training well, but this is a huge ask.14. Tiztastic (20-1)Trainer: Steve AsmussenJockey: Joel RosarioRace Record: 8 starts: 3 wins, 1 second, 2 thirdsCareer Earnings: $1,549,800The more accomplished trainee of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Tiztastic is entering the Kentucky Derby off a win in the Louisiana Derby (G2). However, he has not been the most consistent horse, with his last win prior to that coming as far back as the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes last September. In the losses between those victories, hes finished behind many rivals here, including Sovereignty, Sandman, and Coal Battle. He does seem to thrive with distance, though, and his off-the-pace running style may best fit the makeup of this field.15. Render Judgment (30-1)Trainer: Kenny McPeekJockey: Julien LeparouxRace Record: 7 starts: 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $250,672Though trained by last years winning conditioner in Kenny McPeek, Render Judgment has not won a race since breaking his maiden in October 2024. That race did come over the Churchill Downs surface, but he has faltered against several rivals here and has never hit the board in graded stakes company. He will likely go into the starting gate with some of the highest odds in the field.16. Coal Battle (30-1)Trainer: Lonnie BrileyJockey: Juan VargasRace Record: 8 starts: 5 wins, 0 seconds, 1 thirdCareer Earnings: $1,188,875If you love an underdog, Coal Battle will be easy to root for. His trainer, Lonnie Briley, is 72 years old and had never even run a horse in a graded stakes until Coal Battle won the Rebel Stakes (G2). Next out, Coal Battle was a distant third in the Arkansas Derby behind Sandman and Publisher. For the most part, he has not faced the level of competition hell be running against here, either. But if youre looking for a good story, look no further.17. Sandman (6-1)Trainer: Mark CasseJockey: Jose OrtizRace Record: 8 starts: 3 wins, 1 second, 2 thirdsCareer Earnings: $1,254,595A last out winner of the Arkansas Derby, Sandmans closing style may fit this pace-heavy race. Though it is worrisome that he has lost all three of his starts over the Churchill Downs oval, Sandman seems like he may be piecing things together.18. Sovereignty (5-1)Trainer: Bill MottJockey: Junior AlvaradoRace Record: 5 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $572,800Most recently second in the Florida Derby (G1), Sovereignty seems like a horse that may appreciate the added distance of the Kentucky Derby. He did romp in a graded stakes at Churchill as a two-year-old, so he clearly likes the surface. He does have the second lowest odds on the morning line despite not being overly accomplished, but he could be worth a play.19. Chunk of Gold (30-1)Trainer: Ethan WestJockey: Jareth LoveberryRace Record: 4 starts: 1 win, 3 seconds, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $348,818Although Chunk of Gold has never finished worse than second, he has also only won a maiden special weight. Though second in both the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby, he was not a threat to the winner in either race. Hes certainly another underdog if thats your angle.20. Owen Almighty (30-1)Trainer: Brian LynchJockey: Javier CastellanoRace Record: 7 starts: 3 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $499,935Owen Almighty faded to sixth behind Burnham Square and East Avenue in the Blue Grass Stakes last out, which is not an encouraging entry into the Kentucky Derby. He does have success at Churchill Downs, but it would take a lifetime best effort to win here.21. Baeza (12-1)Trainer: John ShirreffsJockey: Flavien PratRace Record: 4 starts: 1 win, 2 seconds, 0 thirdsCareer Earnings: $148,500Despite requiring a scratch to draw into the field (which the scratch of Rodriguez has allowed him to do), Baeza has lower morning line odds than most of the others. After all, he was a game second behind morning line favorite Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby. This a wide draw to overcome, but he is of course a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch.Let us know in the comments here, or on Facebook (Horse Illustrated) or Instagram (@horseillustrated) who your 2025 Kentucky Derby pick is! Click here to subscribe to Horse Illustrated.The post 2025 Kentucky Derby: Make Your Pick appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.