Kentucky Derby News Update: All Quiet on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Front

Apr 30, 2025

It was a routine morning on a mild but cloudy Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs with the majority of Kentucky Derby and Oaks entrants putting in routine gallops.

Japanese hopefuls Luxor Café and Admire Daytona (JPN) had walk days a morning after working five furlongs in 1:02.40 and Coal Battle also walked.

As was the case last weekend when trainers were watching the weather before putting final works into their charges, rain may be a factor this weekend in Louisville.

Thunderstorms were in the forecast for Wednesday as well as showers and thunderstorms the next three days.

Thursday is the final day of regular training hours this week. On Friday and Saturday, training will be conducted from 5:15-7:15 a.m. (all times Eastern) with the 7:45-8 window reserved for Derby and Oaks horses Friday and Derby horses only on Saturday.

ADMIRE DAYTONA (JPN) – UAE Derby (GII) winner Admire Daytona had a planned walk day following his five-eighths breeze in 1:02.20 Tuesday morning.

Admire Daytona is scheduled to school in the paddock Wednesday afternoon with horses in the fifth race.

AMERICAN PROMISE – BC Stables’ American Promise galloped a mile and three-eighths under Tayja Smith for trainer D. Wayne Lukas during the 7:15-7:30 training window for Derby and Oaks entrants.

BAEZA – The Kentucky Derby’s lone also-eligible continued to move forward in his training Wednesday morning while his connections continue to hope for the bit of help that would allow them to be a player Saturday in Kentucky Derby 151.

“We’re still hoping for a gift from the gods,” said the colt’s conditioner, John Shirreffs, as he ambled alongside his well-bred son of the young stallion McKinzie heading trackside for the 7:15 to 7:30 special training segment for Derby and Oaks horses at Churchill Downs. “What else are you going to do?”

Baeza, a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, as well as a half-brother to 2024 Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch, proceeded to head to the Churchill paddock with his pony for a couple of spins there, then back to the track to gallop once around under regular exercise rider Frankie Herrate. As they finished up, Shirreffs directed his rider to take the colt into the track’s mile chute and have him stand in the starting gate.

With all that accomplished, they headed back to Barn 41.

Baeza and crew have until 9 a.m. Friday morning (scratch time for the Derby) to get “lucky” and get to run. If that doesn’t happen, it’ll be on to the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

BURNHAM SQUARE – Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 window under Mark Cutler for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GI), Burnham Square has not raced on an “off” track, something he could possibly encounter Saturday.

“He worked really good over it Saturday,” jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said of Burnham Square, who drilled five furlongs in :59.40 over a track labeled as good. “Good horses can overcome a lot.”

Cutler, who was the exercise rider for 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, does not feel an off track would be a problem for Burnham Square.

“But Street Sense. No, no, no,” Cutler said with a laugh. “If it was raining, he didn’t even want to come out of the barn. I knew we were in trouble when it was sloppy for the (Breeders’ Cup) Classic at Monmouth when he was fourth.”

CHUNK OF GOLD – The Kentucky Derby colt went trackside during the special 7:15 to 7:30 Derby/Oaks only training session Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. The gray son of Preservationist had trainer Ethan West on his back and they started out their exercise by first moving to the six-furlong pole and having a stand alongside a mounted trainer Helen Pitts Blasi, who has given West a home in her barn as he readies for his first crack at the Run for the Roses.

Chunk of Gold then moved out and galloped a mile and a half for West in advance of his Derby start, where he’ll begin from post 19 under rider Jareth Loveberry.

Trainer West indicated that his charge would afternoon paddock with the horses for today’s Race 3.

CITIZEN BULL/RODRIGUEZ – The duo of Bob Baffert colts got their exercise Wednesday morning during the special 7:15 to 7:30 session set aside for Derby and Oaks runners only at Churchill Downs. Both galloped under their regular exercise riders – Eric Garcia for the former and Humberto Gomez for the latter.

Doing a TV appearance with a local station on the Churchill backside, the Hall of Fame conditioner was asked about the Derby post positions for his charges – the 4 for Rodriguez and the 1 for Citizen Bull.

“The four for Rodriguez isn’t so bad,” he offered. “He’ll be OK coming out of there. As for Citizen Bull in the one hole, we’re going to have to use him early. We’re going to tell him to get out of there like he just robbed a bank.”

Rodriguez will be handled Saturday by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who already has a couple of Derby wins under his belt and will be making his record 29th start in the Run for the Roses. “Bull” will have regular rider Martin Garcia aboard, who’ll be making his fifth start in the classic and be looking for his first victory.

In Baffert’s case, he’ll be saddling his 35th and 36th horses in the mile and a quarter and seeking to add to his six earlier winners.

COAL BATTLE – Norman Stables’ Coal Battle had a walk day for trainer Lonnie Briley. The son of Coal Front is scheduled to return to the track Thursday morning.

Coal Battle is 2-for-2 on off tracks with daylight victories coming at Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs.

Exercise rider/assistant Bethany Taylor was asked if there was a difference between Kentucky mud and Louisiana mud.

“Mud is mud,” Taylor said. “The only difference is that in Louisiana there might be crawfish on the track.”

EAST AVENUE – Godolphin’s East Avenue galloped at 7:15 a.m. under jockey Stephen Dolan for trainer Brad Cox.

FINAL GAMBIT – Juddmonte’s Final Gambit galloped about 1 ½ miles Wednesday morning with Joel Osorio aboard for trainer Brad Cox.

FLYING MOHAWK – The Karakontie colt went trackside Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs just after the 7:15 to 7:30 special Derby/Oaks training session and galloped a mile and one half for trainer Whit Beckman with exercise rider Maurilio Garcia in the tack.

Flying Mohawk broke his maiden at Churchill last October on the turf and will be making his first start on dirt in Kentucky Derby 151. He’ll be accompanied by Joe Ramos and start from post 11.

GRANDE – The Curlin colt Grande went about his business as usual Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs as he moves ever closer to his date this Saturday in Kentucky Derby 151.

He left from Barn 39 and headed to the racetrack for the 7:15 a.m. special training period with exercise rider Juan Suarez aboard and trainer Todd Pletcher following.

The conditioner has been happy with the flow of things heading to the big race.

“The week has been good,” he said. “Grande has been handling things the way you’d hope.”

Pletcher added that barring a rain storm, they’re planning to paddock the dark bay or brown youngster with horses for today’s third race.

His charge will break from post 10 on Saturday and have old pro John Velazquez attached. More than a few folks will recall that when Pletcher and Velazquez – Hall of Famer both – got together in 2017 on the first Saturday in May, they came away a winner with the colt Always Dreaming.

JOURNALISM – The Kentucky Derby 151 favorite had another good morning at Churchill Downs Wednesday, turning in a strong gallop under exercise rider Marc Witkowski during the special 7:15 training period as trainer Michael McCarthy looked on from trackside.

The three-time stakes winner, including most recently in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), has looked a picture since his arrival in Louisville, impressing onlookers who are both savvy and just awed. That goes for the man who has been on his back the most of late.

Witkowski, a native of Tucson, Arizona, has worked for McCarthy for the past two years after a seven-year stint in Southern California with the likes of John Shirreffs, Paddy Gallagher and Carla Gaines. He’s gotten on board more than a few good horses along the way, but he says he’s never been on one like Journalism.

“He just feels so good when he gallops,” said Witkowski. “He’s got a beautiful stride. I’ve never been on one that moves like him. Sweet – that’s the word for him.”

The son of super sire Curlin drew post 8 for his Derby run Saturday and will have regular rider Umberto Rispoli on board. They’ll have 19 rivals to beat that afternoon.

LUXOR CAFÉ – Luxor Café had a planned walk day following his five-furlong move in 1:02.20 Tuesday morning.

Luxor Café is schooling with the horses in the fifth race today.

NEOEQUOS – C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos galloped at 7:15 then schooled at the gate for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“All good, we’re ready,” Joseph said.

OWEN ALMIGHTY – Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty galloped a mile and a half under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch during the 7:15-7:30 training window.

Winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), Owen Almighty never has raced on an off track.

“I hope it is good and fair for everybody,” Lynch said. “His breeding (by Speightstown) indicates he should handle it and we hope that works in our favor.”

PUBLISHER/TIZTASTIC – Trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Publisher and Tiztastic both galloped at 7:15 a.m.

Publisher, with Roberto Howell in the irons, and Tiztstic, ridden by Carlos Rosas, both warmed up on the one-mile chute prior to their training sessions.

“Derby week is so much fun,” Asmussen said. 'It’s enjoyable to take it all in.”

RENDER JUDGMENT – Render Judgment galloped at 7:15 a.m. with Robby Albarado aboard.

SANDMAN – D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Sandman galloped a mile and a half under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse during the 7:15-7:30 training window.

A son of Tapit out of a Distorted Humor mare, Sandman never has raced on an off track.

SOVEREIGNTY – The son of top sire Into Mischief continued on his path to Kentucky Derby 151 with no hitches to speak of and a steady flow that continued Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs.

The bay colt came out of trainer Bill Mott’s Barn 19 in time for the 7:15 to 7:30 special Derby/Oaks training period on the big oval on a warm morning with a fast track underneath his hooves.

Exercise rider Javier Cardona steered the youngster first to the Churchill paddock, then took him back trackside for a good gallop around the big oval.

“No complaints yet,” noted his Hall of Fame conditioner.

The Godolphin homebred is schedule to paddock school this afternoon. Saturday he’ll be reunited with regular rider Junior Alvarado as they come out of Gate 18 in the Run for the Roses.

THE $5 MILLION KENTUCKY DERBY PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE (GI) – The field for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 20-1); Neoequous (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1); Final Gambit (Luan Machado, Brad Cox, 30-1); Rodriguez (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 12-1); American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas, 30-1); Admire Daytona (JPN) (Christophe Lemaire, Yukihiro Kato, 30-1); Luxor Café (Joao Moreira, Noriyuki Kato, 15-1); Journalism (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy, 3-1); Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 12-1); Grande (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 20-1); Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman, 30-1); East Avenue (Manny Franco, Brendan Walsh, 20-1); Publisher (Irad Ortiz Jr., Steve Asmussen, 20-1); Tiztastic (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 20-1); Render Judgment (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek, 30-1); Coal Battle (Juan Vargas, Lonnie Briley, 30-1); Sandman (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 6-1); Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 5-1); Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West, 30-1); Owen Almighty (Javier Castellano, Brian Lynch, 30-1); AE: Baeza (Flavien Prat, John Shirreffs, 12-1).

LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE

ANNA’S PROMISE – Bell Racing’s Anna’s Promise galloped at 7:15 for trainer Carlos David.

BALLERINA D’ORO – Rodeo Creek Racing’s Ballerina d’Oro galloped at 7:15 for trainer Chad Brown.

Brown watched the training session from the five-furlong clocker’s stand.

“She’s doing really well since she got here to Churchill,” Brown said. “We just need a little racing luck to go our way.

BLESS THE BROKEN – Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stables’ Bless the Broken galloped a mile and a quarter under Genis Bracho during the 7:15-7:30 training window for trainer Will Walden.

Bless the Broken was second in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds in her lone off-track start and an off track Friday would not concern Walden.

“Let it rain.” Walden said. “Her pedigree has Uncle Mo and Tapit in it and she always has kind of shown an affinity for it. I feel that whatever the conditions are, our filly is ready and prepared.”

DREXEL HILL/SIMPLY JOKING – The duo of Kentucky Oaks fillies who race out of the barn of trainer Whit Beckman took care of business early Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs as they move forward to their outings in the Longines Kentucky Oaks 151 Friday.

Drexel Hill, who’ll come out of post 4 in the Oaks and have Ben Curtis on her back. Simply Joking will start from post 2 and be handled by Florent Geroux.

Drexel Hill was Beckman’s first set at 5:30 a.m. and galloped a mile and one half under exercise rider Maurilio Garcia. Simply Joking, who put in the same drill, came out under Garcia in Beckman’s next set.

EARLY ON – C2 Racing Stable, Ken Reimer, Paul Braveman, Timothy Pinch, Bradley Kent’s Early On galloped Wednesday morning for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

FIVE G – Gatsas Stables’ Five G was one of the first horses on the track Wednesday morning, galloping a mile and a half under Raul Alejandro shortly after the track opened at 5:15.

Winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) in her most recent start, Five G has not raced on an off track.

“I try not to worry about what I can’t control,” trainer George Weaver said. “But her dad (Vekoma) loved the mud and she should handle it.”

Vekoma won the Carter Handicap (GI) in the mud by 7 ¼ lengths and his dam, Mona de Momma, won the 2010 Humana Distaff (GI) in the slop at Churchill Downs.

FONDLY – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables’ Fondly galloped a mile and half under William Humphrey for trainer Graham Motion during the 7:15-7:30 training window.

Undefeated in two starts, Fondly has not raced on an off track.

GOOD CHEER – Godolphin’s Good Cheer, the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Kentucky Oaks 151, galloped at 7:15 under Katie Tolbert for trainer Brad Cox.

“All good,” Cox said. “We’re just trying to keep everyone happy for the next couple days.”

LA CARA – Tracy Farmer’s La Cara jogged a mile at 6:30 under Kevin Donnis for trainer Mark Casse.

La Cara has raced only once on an off track with that coming at Churchill Downs in her debut last May.

QUICKICK – Greenwell Thoroughbreds’ Quickick visited the starting gate and galloped a mile and a half under Rafael Rustrian for trainer Tom Amoss.

Quickick has not raced on an off track.

QUIETSIDE – Shortleaf Stable’s Quietside galloped Wednesday morning under Daniel Ortiz, the brother of trainer John Ortiz.

Quietside will break from post 14 in the Oaks.

“I like the post,” jockey Jose Ortiz said. “She likes to be to the outside. Two starts ago she broke a little bit slow, so I have to be aware of that. Overall I like her on the outside. She’s versatile. She can be on the lead or sit off of it. Hopefully she breaks well and allows me to make that decision early in the race to see what we need to do with other speed to the inside.”

Post 14 has produced the Oaks winner in two of the past seven runnings of the Oaks with Pretty Mischievous proving victorious in 2023 and Monomoy Girl in 2018. Both fillies went on to earn the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old fillies in those years.

TAKE CHARGE MILADY – Ashland Stakes (GI) runner-up Take Charge Milady galloped at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning with trainer Kenny McPeek, and his trusty yellow lab, Sonny, watching on.

TENMA – The daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist went through her usual drill Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs as she continues to move toward her impending battle with 13 rivals this Friday in Longines Kentucky Oaks 151.

She galloped under exercise rider Eric Garcia on a fast strip for trainer Bob Baffert.

The four-time stakes winner will be making her first start outside of the state of California.

“She sure likes to win,” the Hall of Fame conditioner offered as he headed back to Barn 33. “But she’s in tough Friday and I’m just not sure how it’s all going to go down. We’ll have to see.”

THE $1.5 MILLION LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS (GI) – Here is the field for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Early On (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1); Simply Joking (Florent Geroux, Whit Beckman, 10-1); Fondly (Irad Ortiz Jr., Graham Motion, 30-1); Drexel Hill (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman, 30-1); Quickick (Umberto Rispoli, Tom Amoss, 30-1); Ballerina d’Oro (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown, 10-1); La Cara (Dylan Davis, Mark Casse, 6-1); Five G (Manny Franco, George Weaver, 12-1); Tenma (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert, 12-1); Take Charge Milady (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1); Good Cheer (Luis Saez, Brad Cox, 6-5); Anna’s Promise (Junior Alvarado, Carlos David, 30-1); Bless the Broken (John Velazquez, Will Walden, 30-1); Quietside (Jose Ortiz, John Ortiz, 8-1).

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWSFEED MEDIA PORTAL –The Kentucky Derby Newsfeed will be providing a media portal to access high quality video and audio files. Files are 1080 59.94p and will be uploaded on a daily basis.

This service is available via any web browser. To access, type the following into your web browser address bar: kyderby.hammondcg.com

When you get to the media portal page, you will be prompted to enter credentials to access and download training footage, b-roll, color, interviews and press conferences.

Username: kyderby2025

Password: D3rby2025

Please tag your footage with the following: CREDIT: CHURCHILL DOWNS

For further information, inquires or to report technical difficulties, please contact Jesse B. Kelsey, Vice-President of Hammond Communications Group, Inc. at (859) 492-5768 or at jkelsey@hammondcg.com.

COADY MEDIA – To access photographic imagery of morning workouts, scenic shots, races and more, please visit:

https://www.coadyplus.com/gallery/Churchill-Downs-Spring-2025-Media/G0000mObeZBZmx8U/C0000PLb2ljPK8UQ

Please credit photos: Churchill Downs/Coady Media

Churchill Downs Racing Communications/Notes Team

Darren Rogers | Senior Director, Communications & Media Services| (502) 636-4461 (office) | (502) 345-1030 (mobile) | Darren.Rogers@KyDerby.com | @ DerbyMedia

Kevin Kerstein | Ky Racing Communications | (502) 635-4712 (office) |

(610) 420-6971 (mobile) | Kevin.Kerstein@KyDerby.com| @HorseRacingKK

Gary Yunt | Notes Team Captain | (502) 636-4460 (office) |

(303) 981-5629 (mobile) | Gary.Yunt@KyDerby.com|@DerbyNotesGuy

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