Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Journalism topped a work tab of six entrants for the $5 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) by working five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01.40 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism put in his morning breeze during the 7:15-7:30 (all times Eastern) training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses. Also working during that time were Sovereignty, East Avenue, Rodriguez, Publisher and Tiztastic.
Fountain of Youth (GII) winner Sovereignty, the second choice on the morning line behind Journalism, worked five furlongs in company in 1:01.80 for trainer Bill Mott.
Wood Memorial (GII) winner Rodriguez, the co-fourth choice on the morning line, worked five furlongs in 1:00 for trainer Bob Baffert.
Blue Grass Stakes (GI) runner-up East Avenue worked five furlongs in :59.40 for trainer Brendan Walsh.
Trainer Steve Asmussen’s Derby duo of Tiztastic (:50.20) and Publisher (:49) each worked a half-mile.
Scheduled to work Monday morning are Citizen Bull, Coal Battle and Baeza.
ADMIRE DAYTONA – UAE Derby (GII) winner Admire Daytona had a planned walk day on Sunday.
The colt is scheduled to have a published workout Tuesday.
AMERICAN PROMISE – BC Stables’ American Promise took to the grass Sunday morning … the grass behind Barn 42 to graze early … a day after working five furlongs in :59.40 under jockey Nik Juarez.
Winner of the Virginia Derby in his most recent start, American Promise drew post 5 for the Derby and was listed as a 30-1 proposition on the morning line.
“That’s a good spot,” four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said as he watched American Promise graze. “He had a good work yesterday and everything has been positive.”
Also looking on was part owner Brian Coelho, who teamed with John Bellinger last year on the ownership of Just Steel for Kentucky Derby 150. Coelho lives in central California and Bellinger in San Antonio. Bellinger is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Tuesday afternoon.
BAEZA – The Kentucky Derby’s lone also-eligible, the McKinzie colt Baeza, galloped during the special Derby/Oaks training session Sunday morning at 7:15. Trainer John Sherriffs had veteran exercise rider Frankie Herrate up for the exercise. They’re planning on working the Santa Anita Derby (GI) runner up Monday.
The trainer was told that more than a few people believe that through belief in luck/bad luck/Derby gods, one of the other runners will come out before Friday morning and give his charge a chance to compete.
“We’re ready,” he replied with a smile.
BURNHAM SQUARE – Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square returned to the track Sunday morning a day after working five furlongs in :59.40 to jog in the mile chute under Mark Cutler.
Co-fourth choice on the morning line at 12-1, Burnham Square drew post 9 for the Derby and will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.
“That’s a good spot,” trainer Ian Wilkes said of the draw.
CHUNK OF GOLD – Terry Stephens’ Chunk of Gold had his first training session at Churchill Downs, jogging under trainer Ethan West.
The son of Preservationist drew post 19 for the Derby.
“I’d rather have post 19 then not have a post at all,” West joked. “I was hoping for the middle portion of the gate to have a better chance at not going so wide into the turn. (jockey) Jareth (Loveberry) has time to try and get into position into the turn.”
Following Chunk of Gold’s training session, West sent his Derby contender to the equine salt water spa, located within steps of his barn.
“We’re taking it all in and as long as the horse is happy, I’m happy,” West said.
When the 32-year-old trainer wrapped up his morning at Churchill Downs, he was gearing up to coach his son’s championship basketball game in Northern Kentucky.
Chunk of Gold is scheduled to gallop on Monday.
CITIZEN BULL/RODRIGUEZ – The duo of Bob Baffert-trained colts headed for the 151st Kentucky Derby this coming Saturday both went trackside Sunday morning for the special 7:15 to 7:30 training session.
Citizen Bull, the nation’s 2-year-old champion in 2024, had exercise rider Humberto Gomez up for a solid gallop around the Churchill Downs oval. He’s scheduled to turn in his final drill leading up to the Derby Monday and regular rider Martin Garcia is on hand to be the driver for that run.
Stablemate Rodriguez, who’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the tack Saturday, had exercise rider Eric Garcia aboard for his move Sunday, which was a serious five-panel drill in 1:00. The track’s clockers caught his splits in :12.20, :24.20, :36.20 and :47.60, then timed him “out” in 1:12.60 and 1:27.
Garcia came off the track at the five and a half-furlong gap shaking his head in a form of pleasing disbelief. “Amazing work; amazing,” the rider said. “He was in hand all the way.”
Later at his Barn 33, Baffert had to agree with his rider. “Yes, it was an amazing work,” he stated.
Then, either showing some of his impish style, or foretelling a tale he knows well, he offered: “Right over there, on our shedrow rail, that’s where the roses are going to hang.”
The trainer has, of course, a right. He’s already won the Kentucky Derby six times.
COAL BATTLE – Norman Stables’ Coal Battle galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 training period for Derby and Oaks horses with Bethany Taylor aboard.
Coal Battle drew post 16 for the Derby and is listed at 30-1 on the morning line.
“I was hoping for 8, 9, 10 or 11,” trainer Lonnie Briley said. “But it looks like most of the speed is inside of us so we can just drop in behind it.”
Coal Battle is scheduled for a three-eighths mile blowout Monday morning according to Briley.
EAST AVENUE – Godolphin’s East Avenue completed his major preparation for the Kentucky Derby, breezing five furlongs in :59.40 under jockey Manny Franco.
The colt worked to the outside of Joejoe Go through a quarter-mile of :24.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20. Joejoe Go’s final time was :59.60.
East Avenue drew post 12 in the Derby.
“We’re really happy with our draw,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “There’s a lot of speed on our inside so I think it’s a good spot to be.”
East Avenue is listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
FINAL GAMBIT – Juddmonte’s Final Gambit had a walk day at trainer Brad Cox’s barn following his five-eighths move in 1:01 Saturday morning.
The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) drew post 3 for the Derby and will be ridden by Luan Machado.
FLYING MOHAWK – Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing’s Flying Mohawk drew post 11 for the Kentucky Derby.
“Post 11 seems like a pretty good post,” trainer Whit Beckman said. “It’s right in the middle of the gate. He’ll break out of there and probably track the pace. So, we’re good with it.”
Co-owner Jayson Werth was in attendance Saturday night at the draw and was very pleased with drawing post 11.
“My grandpa played 19 years in the big leagues and for most of it, his number was 11. So, I have some history with that number and it was one of my favorite numbers growing up as a kid. We are here in the Kentucky Derby with the guy we never thought would make it here. I think he’s live at number 11.”
Jockey Joe Ramos has the mount and was tabbed at 30-1 on the morning line.
GRANDE – The lightly raced Curlin colt returned to regular training Sunday morning with exercise rider Juan Suarez aboard for a mile and three-eighths gallop during the special Derby/Oaks training period at Churchill Downs starting at 7:15.
Trainer Todd Pletcher oversaw the exercise and gave it a thumbs up.
“He’ll just gallop the rest of the week,” the trainer said. “And I’m fine with his Derby post draw.”
Grande drew post 10 at the draw Saturday evening on the Paddock Plaza Terrace. Saturday he’ll have old pro John Velazquez in the irons.
JOURNALISM – One could tell by the crowd of Media types and looki-loos surrounding Barn 35 that Journalism is a big deal for this year’s Kentucky Derby 151. The strapping Curlin colt had the backside at Churchill Downs all atwitter Sunday morning as he went through his final drill for America’s most famous race.
The fact that he drew a pleasing post (#8) for the race Saturday evening and was hung the morning line favorite at 3-1 over 19 rivals stirred the pot, of course, as has his run of three straight graded stakes tallies coming into The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports, capped by a nifty score in the Santa Anita Derby.
Sunday morning, the bay had the airplane-challenged rider Umberto Rispoli up for a move of 1:01.40, preceded by splits of :13.60, :25.80 and :37.60 and followed by some “out” marks of 1:13.60 and 1:26.80. They went about their business on a sunny and slightly chilly morning in Louisville.
Rispoli, the ebullient Italian who works out of Southern California these days, went through an airplane adventure in which he came into Louisville Saturday on the planned-though-scratched work day, attempted to fly back to California only to wind up spending five hours in the Atlanta airport trying to make connections, then returning to Louisville later Saturday so he could be on hand for his saddle services Sunday.
Nonetheless, the rider liked what his mount had done out on the racetrack that morning. “He was good today,” he said. “Very professional. He’s a professional horse; a pleasure to ride.”
Conditioner Michael McCarthy, who watched the work from the frontside with several of his clients, also found the exercise to his liking.
“I was very pleased with the work,” he offered. “Umberto was happy, so that’s good. He’ll just walk tomorrow. It’s all good for now.”
LUXOR CAFÉ – Fukuryu Stakes winner Luxor Café visited the paddock Sunday morning
Trainer Noriyuki Hori is expected to arrive in Louisville on Monday and the horse could breeze Tuesday.
NEOEQUOS – C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos trained for the first time at Churchill Downs Sunday morning, jogging at 7:15 a.m. for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
He drew post 2 in the Derby.
OWEN ALMIGHTY – Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty galloped a mile and a half under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch at 7:15.
Assigned morning line odds of 30-1, Owen Almighty drew post 20 for the Derby.
PUBLISHER/TIZTASTIC – It was a busier than usual morning for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen as his Derby duo of Publisher and Tiztastic had their final published workouts prior to the Run for the Roses.
Publisher, with Wilson Fabian in the irons, breezed a half-mile in :49 and Tiztastic, ridden by Carlos Rosas, worked a half-mile in :50.20.
The duo drew adjacent starting positions for the Derby with Publisher breaking from post 13 and Tiztastic post 14.
“It’s an ideal draw for both of them being next to each other,” Asmussen said. “They’ve been training together, everything is coming together perfectly. I just hope we can catch a day that’s going to be sunny and a fast track. We couldn’t be more excited.”
Tiztastic, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, won the 1 3/16 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) six weeks ago.
“I think the distance was the difference with him,” Asmussen said. “If the Louisiana Derby were any shorter, he would’ve been fourth or fifth. I think the key to him is getting the opportunity to go this far.”
Gus King and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones’ Publisher has accomplished a lot but has yet to win a race. The runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (GI) added blinkers for that race and will wear them again in the Kentucky Derby.
“I think we get better focus with him with the addition of blinkers. It was a big jump forward from a numbers standpoint,” Asmussen said. “He’s been very impressive since he’s started training here.”
Publisher will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. while Tiztastic will have Joel Rosario in the irons. Both horses are tabbed at 20-1.
RENDER JUDGMENT – Trainer Kenny McPeek reported Virginia Derby runner-up Render Judgment had a scheduled walk day in Barn 6 following his five-furlong move in :59.60 Saturday. The colt drew post 15 for the Derby.
“The great thing is I don’t get to ride the horse, Julien (Leparoux) does,” McPeek said. “We will let Julien do his thing. The good news is I think the horse is going to come from way off the pace so I don’t think the draw is a big deal. He needs to get to a whole new level that we’ve never seen from him. He always tries hard and is doing great. Julien worked him Saturday morning and it was the best work of his life. Post 1, 20 or 15, I don’t think where you put him in the starting gate is going to matter since he comes from off the pace.”
SANDMAN – D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Sandman visited the starting gate and then galloped a mile and a half under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse at 7:15.
The Arkansas Derby (GI) winner is the third choice on the morning line at 6-1 and will exit post 17.
“I think we did well on both of our draws,” Casse said of Sandman and La Cara (post 7 for the Oaks). “The 14 through the 17 are about the same. (Jockey) Jose (Ortiz) was happy with it. I didn’t ask Sandman yet, but I am sure he is fine with it.”
SOVEREIGNTY – The Kentucky Derby 5-1 second-favorite on the morning line put in his final drill for the American classic when he covered five furlongs in 1:01.80 during the special Derby/Oaks training period.
Regular exercise rider Javier Cardona was at the controls as he took the Into Mischief colt through splits of :25.40, :37.80 and then went “out” in 1:15.
Trainer Bill Mott oversaw the activity trackside on his ever-present pony.
“Liked what I saw,” the conditioner said. “He looked good coming through the stretch.”
Mott has named Junior Alvarado to ride his charge and they’ll start the proceedings from post 18 in the 20-horse Derby field.
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, 20-10); 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 had a scheduled walk day in Barn 3 following her five-furlong move in 1:00.40 Saturday morning.
BALLERINA d’ORO – Rodeo Creek Racing’s Gazelle (GIII) winner Ballerina d’Oro walked the shedrow in Barn 25 following her half-mile move :48 Saturday morning.
She drew post 6 for the Oaks and will be ridden by Flavien Prat.
“When she first came into the barn, she didn’t have a whole lot of early speed,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She has some turf breeding and I didn’t want her going too short early on in her career. It was really because of the distance why she debuted on turf. Then she ran well in her second start and I decided to keep her on there until she didn’t run well. I’m very happy that she turned into an Oaks contender. I’m really happy with her development. She’s going to have to work through the field being a deep closer. I hope having a positive effort on a demanding track like Aqueduct will serve her well.”
Ballerina d’Oro was tabbed at odds of 10-1.
BLESS THE BROKEN – Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stables’ Bless the Broken galloped a mile and a half under Genis Bracho during the 7:15-7:30 training window for Derby and Oaks horses.
Bless the Broken drew post 13 for the 14-horse Oaks with morning line odds of 30-1.
Trainer Will Walden hopes some recent history with outside draws in the Oaks holds true for Bless the Broken, winner of the Bourbonette Oaks (L) at Turfway Park in her most recent start.
In the past eight years, two Oaks winners have come from post 13: Serengeti Empress (2019) and Abel Tasman (2017). Going back to 2014, two winners came out of the 12 hole and two from post 14 with the most recent being Pretty Mischievous in 2023.
“I didn’t know that until after the draw,” Walden said.
Two-time Oaks-winning rider John Velazquez has the mount on Bless the Broken, who will have a visit to the starting gate on her morning itinerary Monday or Tuesday.
DREXEL HILL/SIMPLY JOKING – Trainer Whit Beckman seemed pleased following the post-position draw for the Oaks where Drexel Hill drew post 4 and Simply Joking drew post 2.
“Simply Joking is the furthest inside speed, which isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Beckman said. “Would I have liked to draw a little more to the outside? Sure. We’re going to make the best of it and I won’t worry about it.
“Drexel Hill’s post won’t matter too much with her running style. I think no matter where she drew it would’ve been conducive to her running style.”
Simply Joking will be ridden by Florent Geroux while Drexel Hill will have Ben Curtis in the irons.
FIVE G – Gatsas Stables’ Five G made her initial appearance on the main track at Churchill Downs Sunday morning at 7:25, galloping a mile and a quarter under Raul Alejandro for trainer George Weaver.
Listed at 12-1 on the morning line, the winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) will exit post 8 under Manny Franco.
“The post is fine,” said Weaver, who arrived in his hometown Saturday night after a two-day drive from his winter base at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida.
Five G is scheduled for some paddock schooling as part of her preparations this week for the Oaks.
FONDLY – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables’ Fondly had a combined jog/gallop of a mile at 8:15 Sunday morning, a day after working five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Graham Motion.
Undefeated in two starts, Fondly will exit post 3 under Irad Ortiz Jr. as a 30-1 morning-line proposition.
“I’m perfectly happy with the post,” Motion said. “I would rather be there than stuck on the outside.”
GOOD CHEER – Godolphin’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) favorite Good Cheer drew post 11 for Friday’s race as she attempts to keep her unbeaten record in tact.
Jockey Luis Saez will have the call.
“I think it’s a good spot,” Saez said. “She’s doing well and we’re ready for a big effort.”
LA CARA – Tracy Farmer’s La Cara galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 training window under Kevin Donnis for trainer Mark Casse.
Second choice on the morning line at 6-1 for the Oaks, La Cara will exit post 7 under Dylan Davis.
“The seven is a great post for her,” Casse said of the recent Ashland (GI) winner.
QUICKICK – Greenwell Thoroughbreds’ Quickick galloped a mile and a half under Rafael Rustrian at 7:15 for trainer Tom Amoss.
Two times Grade I-placed, Quickick will exit post 5 under Umberto Rispoli as a 30-1 proposition.
QUIETSIDE – Fantasy (GII) winner Quietside drew the far-outside post 14 for the Kentucky Oaks and was tabbed as the 8-1 third choice.
“I feel pretty good about her post,” said trainer John Ortiz, who schooled his filly in the paddock following training on Sunday. “I was hoping to be a little bit more in the middle but if we couldn’t go there, this is the next best option to draw.”
Jose Ortiz has the mount in the Oaks.
TENMA – The multiple-stakes winner from California Tenma merely walked the shedrow Sunday following her final drill (:48.40) Saturday at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Nyquist has drawn Post 9 for the rich Longines Kentucky Oaks this Friday and will have California’s top rider, Juan Hernandez, in the saddle.
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, OAKS MORNING WORKOUTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH WEDNESDAY – Continuing through Wednesday, Churchill Downs will be open free-of-charge daily from 6:45-10 a.m. so guests can watch the nation’s top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds train toward their engagements in this year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks during Dawn at the Downs.
Horses train on Churchill Downs’ main track daily from 5:15-10 a.m. There is an exclusive training window only for Derby and Oaks participants from 7:15-7:30 a.m. following the 6:45-7:15 a.m. renovation break. Those horses will be identified by special saddle towels that include their names: yellow saddle towels for Derby horses and pink saddle towels for Oaks contenders.
Guests can park for free in the Yellow Lot off Longfield Ave. (all vehicles must be removed by 10:30 a.m.) and enter Churchill Downs through the Clubhouse Gate. Guests will be directed to Sections 115-117 to watch the morning workouts.
Churchill Downs’ Paddock Grill will be open each morning with coffee and breakfast sandwich options. No outside food and beverages are allowed. Also, the Churchill Downs Store with Kentucky Derby 151 merchandise will be open each morning.
On Sunday and Monday, fans can enjoy a premium breakfast in Millionaires Row or the Stakes Room for Dawn at the Downs Dining. Tickets and more information can be found at KentuckyDerby.com/DawnDining.
A stream of the workouts is available at www.KentuckyDerby.com from 6:45-7:45 a.m. through May 1