Study Guide: 2025 Pennsylvania Derby

Sep 16, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Baeza wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

An excellent field of 10 three-year-olds will race 1 1/8 miles at Parx Racing in Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Three of the entrants competed in one or more legs of the Triple Crown, including Baeza, the third-place finisher from the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Let’s check out the full list of entries:

So Sandy

So Sandy wins at Horseshoe Indianpolis. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Lael Stable
Breeder: Mike Abraham
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Curlin S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $124,821

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: So Fancy
Color: Bay

So Sandy has improved by leaps and bounds in recent starts. Last time out, he ran second by a head to multiple Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick in the Curlin S. at Saratoga. But his career-best 97 Brisnet Speed rating suggests that So Sandy will need another step forward to beat this deep Pennsylvania Derby field.

Altobelli

Atobelli wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 15
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: JR Jewel Stables and John J. Stoffere
Breeder: Dixiana Farms
Trainer: James Nicholson Jr.
Jockey: Angel Castillo

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a $30,000 claimer at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $96,787

Sire: Authentic
Dam: True Elegance
Color: Chestnut

With four wins under his belt, Altobelli has visited the winner’s circle more often than most of the Pennsylvania Derby entrants. But six straight defeats against easier competition suggest this speedy sprinter will have a tough time challenging at the Grade 1 level.

Magnitude

Magnitude wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 9
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Ron Stolich
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ben Curtis

Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $746,165

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Rockadelic
Color: Bay

Magnitude earned strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 105 and 104 when leading all the way to win the Risen Star (G2) and Iowa Derby by huge margins. But he’ll need to rebound from a distant third-place finish in the Travers (G1) if he’s going to conquer this excellent Pennsylvania Derby field. Cutting back in distance from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/8 miles should help his chances.

David of Athens

#7 David of Athens gains the edge over #12 Camp Hale at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Ike and Dawn Thrash
Breeder: Athens Woods
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (102) when winning an allowance at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $122,655

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Athens Queen
Color: Bay

David of Athens has yet to compete in a stakes race, but he’s shown great promise against easier foes. Last time out, he obliterated a one-mile allowance at Ellis Park by 7 1/4 lengths with a flashy 102 Brisnet Speed rating. Fast workouts since then suggest David of Athens is ready to factor while stepping up to the Grade 1 level. Don’t count him out of the mix.

Happily Delusional

Start(s): 11
Wins: 1
Place: 5
Show: 0

Owner: Branjam Stable and Dave Clark
Breeder: Jack Swain III
Trainer: Louis Linder Jr.
Jockey: Paco Lopez

Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing second in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $112,670

Sire: Flatter
Dam: Tattersail
Color: Bay

Happily Delusional has shown flashes of talent across 11 starts, but he’s yet to finish better than fourth against stakes competition, and the Pennsylvania Derby is his toughest test to date.

Goal Oriented

Goal Oriented wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Runnymede Farm and CWC Investment 2
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (105) when finishing third in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $331,960

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Bizzy Caroline
Color: Dark bay/brown

Goal Oriented has made rapid progress since debuting on April 6. He nearly won the Haskell (G1) last time out, battling gamely down the homestretch to finish third by three-quarters of a length. Strong recent workouts suggest Goal Oriented may be capable of another step forward in the Pennsylvania Derby, placing him in the hunt for victory.

Big Truzz

Big Truzz wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Flying Dutchmen
Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Kaleen Shah
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning the Ellis Park Derby at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $333,555

Sire: Justify
Dam: Saralin
Color: Dark bay/brown

Big Truzz earned a powerful 105 Brisnet Speed rating when romping to victory by seven lengths in last month’s Ellis Park Derby. He’s competed respectably at the Grade 1 level in the past, finishing third in the Woody Stephens (G1), so Big Truzz fits well in the Pennsylvania Derby and shouldn’t be counted out of the mix for a top-four finish.

Baeza

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Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 2

Owner: C R K Stable and Grandview Equine
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Berrios

Top Speed Rating: (107) when finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $948,500

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

Baeza is a serious Pennsylvania Derby win contender after finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), third in the Belmont (G1), and second in the Jim Dandy (G2). The only horses to defeat Baeza in those races were Sovereignty and Journalism, easily the top two three-year-olds in the nation. The Pennsylvania Derby is an easier spot by comparison, opening the door for Baeza to secure his first stakes win.

Gosger

Gosger wins the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables
Breeder: Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stable
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (106) when finishing second in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.
Total Earnings: $892,200

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Gloria S
Color: Gray/roan

Lexington (G3) winner Gosger put up fierce fights against Journalism in the Preakness and Haskell, finishing second by half a length in both races. In the Haskell, he crossed the finish line a neck ahead of Goal Oriented. Gosger is a versatile colt capable of excelling with a variety of running styles, and his last two Brisnet Speed ratings (106 and 105) stamp him as a serious threat to beat Baeza.

Mo Plex

Mo Plex winning the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga (Photo by Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 9
Wins: 5
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: R and H Stable
Breeder: Everything’s Cricket Racing
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Jockey: Joseph Ramos

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
Total Earnings: $775,000

Sire: Complexity
Dam: Mo Joy
Color: Bay

Mo Plex has won four stakes since last year, including the Ohio Derby (G3). But he finished 9 1/4 lengths behind Baeza when fourth in the Jim Dandy, and his career-best 97 Brisnet Speed rating looks a bit light against the Pennsylvania Derby field.