PP	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Early Odds	M/L Odds	Phil’s odds
1	Citizen Bull	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	20-1	20-1	9.78
2	Neoequos	Saffie Joseph Jr.		50-1	30-1	76.42
3	Final Gambit	Brad H. Cox	Luan Machado	30-1	30-1	49.15
4	~~Rodriguez~~	~~Bob Baffert~~	~~Mike Smith~~	6-1	12-1	6.67
5	American Promise	D. Wayne Lukas	Nik Juarez	30-1	30-1	22.76
6	Admire Daytona	Yukihiro Kato	Christophe Lemaire	30-1	30-1	36.11
7	Luxor Café	Noriyuki Hori	João “Magic Man” Moreira	10-1	15-1	14.33
8	Journalism	Michael W. McCarthy	Umberto Rispoli	3-1	3-1	3.34
9	Burnham Square	Ian R. Wilkes	Brian J Hernandez Jr.	8-1	12-1	19.39
10	~~Grande~~	~~Todd A. Pletcher~~	~~John R Velazquez~~	50-1	20-1	28.46
11	Flying Mohawk	D. Whitworth Beckham	Joseph D Ramos	50-1	30-1	76.42
12	East Avenue	Brendan P. Walsh	Manuel Franco	15-1	20-1	16.50
13	Publisher	Steven M. Asmussen	Irad Ortiz Jr.	20-1	20-1	46.37
14	Tiztastic	Steven M. Asmussen	Joel Rosario	15-1	20-1	33.15
15	Render Judgment	Kenneth G McPeek	Julien Leparoux	50-1	30-1	93.59
16	Coal Battle	Lonnie Briley	Juan P Vargas	20-1	30-1	43.89
17	Sandman	Mark E. Casse	Jose L Ortiz	5-1	6-1	8.49
18	Sovereignty	William I. Mott	Junior Alvarado	9-2	5-1	5.14
19	Chunk of Gold	Ethan West	Jareth Loveberry	20-1	30-1	52.28
20	Owen Almighty	Brian Lynch	Javier Castellano	50-1	30-1	84.15

21	Baeza	John A Shireffs	Flavien Prat	50-1		24.8
AE

April 26, 2025

No rain, no flowers.

Haruki Murakami

Have You Ever Seen the Rain

Road to the Kentucky Derby – Contenders

Bloodhorse – 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby Point Standings

Road T0 The Kentucky Oaks – Contenders

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Do These Contenders Look Familiar?

Steve Haskin – Kentucky Derby Rankings Week 13 – Is There Blue Grass In Kentucky

Phil has a question:

Was Walter Brennan always old.

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sovereignty Maintains Derby Dozen Edge Before Post Draw

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Pace makes the race – and with Owen Almighty back in the running, there should be plenty of speed about

Steve Haskin – Final 2025 Kentucky Derby Rankings Week 12

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

April 19, 2025

It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the spring who reaps a harvest in the autumn.

B.C. Forbes

Mr. Farmer

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: It’s Comeback Season

Steve Haskin – Final 2025 Kentucky Derby Rankings Week 12

Phil has a question:

Will Citizen Bull have a 7 furlong work before the Derby.

Do the Amish use Tappan wood stoves or Tappan gas stoves.

Me And Julio Down The Street

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sovereignty, Journalism Remain 1-2 in Derby Dozen

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – How they qualified: watch all the videos as Derby field shapes up – and keep a close eye on Baeza’s prospects

TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Derby Top 20: The Pros and Cons of Every Contender

TDN – T.D. Thornton – Week In Review: Restoring the Wood Memorial to Grade I Status While Filling a Void on the Derby Qualifying Calendar

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

Paulick Report – Joe Nevills – Kentucky Derby Sire Standings Presented By Lane’s End: Awards Season At The End Of The Trail

April 12

Lexington Stake GIII Keeneland $200k 1 1/6 miles 20 – 10 – 6 – 4 – 2

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

William Shakespeare

Forever Young

Horse Racing Nation – Ed de Rosa – Kentucky Derby fair odds: Fla. Derby, Wood are value preps

TDN – Bill Finley – The Kentucky Oaks Top 10: Good Cheer Leads Contentious Field

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: The Dust Settles After A Quartet Of Major Preps

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – ‘An amazing style and an amazing horse’ – Journalism maintains pole position with Santa Anita success

TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Derby Top 20: Main Contenders Step Up And Deliver

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Japan’s Luxor Cafe Rises to Fifth in Derby Dozen

Steve Haskin 2025 Kentucky Derby Rankings Week 11

Bloodhorse – – Mike Curry – Three Heating Up After Latest Kentucky Derby Preps

Bloodhorse America’s Best Racing – Tom Pedulla – Key Takeaways from April 5 Kentucky Derby Preps

TDN – Bill Finley – Week In Review: On Kentucky Derby Points System, It’s Not Producing Intended Results

TDN – Journalism Leads At Conclusion Of Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

April 5

Wood Memorial Stake GII Aqueduct $750,000 1 1/8 miles 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

UAE Derby GII Meydan $2,000,000 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10 Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby

Santa Anita Derby GI Santa Anita Park $500k 1 1/8 miles 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

April 8

Blue Grass Stakes GI Keeneland $1,000,000 1 1/8 miles 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain

T.S. Eliot

Baba O’Riley

In The Money – Eric Decoster – 2025 Kentucky Derby Top 10 + Other Contenders

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Sandman, Tappan Street Get Serious As Derby Trail Nears End

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Tappan Street, Sandman Climb in Derby Dozen Rankings

Steve Haskin’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Ranking – Week 10

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – ‘The eye was drawn to Sovereignty’ – Florida Derby defeat does little to dent Godolphin colt’s Kentucky claims

TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Derby Top 12: One More Big Weekend to Go

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.

Mark Twain

March 29

Florida Derby Gulfstream Park GI $1,000k g 1 1/8 miles 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park GI $1,500k 1 1/8 miles 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

Fukuryu Stakes Nakayama Racecourse Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby 1800 Metres 40-20-12-8-4

If you have no winter, the spring would not be so important.

Anne Bradstreet

Colonel Bogey March

Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – Three Heating Up: Jeff Ruby Yields Two On the Rise

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Where Do Tiztastic, Final Gambit Fit In The Pecking Order?

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Cornucopian Joins Derby Dozen Ahead of Arkansas Derby

Steve Haskin’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Ranking – Week 9

TDN – Bill Finley – Out of the Bargain Basement, The $2,500 Yearling Who Is On His Way to the Kentucky Derby

TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Derby Top 12: Long-Awaited Spring Thaw on Horizon

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – Pace makes the prep race: Tiztastic could be a one for the wise guys – but it’s hard to like Final Gambit’s chances

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Vargas Making Most of Opportunity Aboard Coal Battle

Bloodhorse – Tiztastic, Good Cheer Arrive at Churchill Downs

March 22

Louisiana Derby Fair Grounds GII $1,000k G1 9.5f 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

Jeff Ruby Steaks Turfway Park $700k GIII 1 1/8 miles 100 – 50 – 25 – 15 – 10

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.

Phyllis Diller

I Want to Break Free

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: How Much Stock Do We Put In American Promise’s Virginia Derby Win?

Phil has question:

How can Champagne have Disco Time on list with no works since last race.

Bloodhorse – Byron King – American Promise Cracks Derby Dozen at No. 12

Bloodhorse – Alan Porter – American Promise Looks Well Suited for Classic Distance

Steve Haskin’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Ranking – Week 8

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – 2025 Kentucky Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down for March 18

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – American Promise: D. Wayne Lukas is back on the Derby trail – but the negatives cannot be denied

Memphis

Phil has a question:

Is D. Wayne going to find another start for him before the Derby.

Galloping

TDN – Chris McGrath – Breeding Digest: Reasons to Be Bullish About Promise

Paulick Report – Journalism Pegged 5-1 Favorite In Pool 5 Of Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Brisnet – J. Keeler Johnson – Journalism, Good Cheer favored in Kentucky Derby, Oaks Future Wager Pools

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

Beware The Ides of March

Soothsayer

The Middle

Pi Day

Simple Simon met a pieman,

Going to the fair;

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

Let me taste your ware.

Said the pieman to Simple Simon,

Show me first your penny;

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

Indeed I have not any.

March 15

Virginia Derby Colonial Downs $500k 1 1/8 miles 50 – 25 – 15 – 10 – 5

Bloodhorse – Sovereignty Gives Alvarado Best Chance Yet at Derby Win

America’s Best Racing – Power Rankings: Owen Almighty Enters Derby Top 10 after Tampa Tour de Force

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Tampa Bay Derby Leaves Ripples On The Rankings

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sovereignty Again Tops Derby Dozen; ‘Chancer to Seventh

Steve Haskin’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Ranking Week 7

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – Tampa prep merits a serious look – just ignore the winner and concentrate on third-placed Hill Road

Bloodhorse – Journalism Latest ML Favorite in KY Derby Future Wager

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

March is the month God created to show people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.

Garrison Keillor

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Geir Stabell – Kentucky Derby 2025: who are the front-runners for America’s greatest race

Horse Racing Nation – Ron Flatter – Kentucky Derby odds: New favorite tops 88 in Vegas futures

TDN – Bill Finley – TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for March 6: Good Cheer Gets the Nod in East-West Battle

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sovereignty Holds Edge Over Journalism in Derby Dozen

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – Journalism: Read all about it – now we’re talking about a proper Kentucky Derby contender

4—Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley, Coal Front – Wolfblade, by Midshipman) I am going to share a little personal story, but it does lead somewhere, and there is more info on him in KOTD. On June 17, 1956, I was 9 years old when my father took me to Ebbetts Field to see my beloved Brooklyn Dodgers play a doubleheader with the Milwaukee Braves. We sat in the grandstand behind third base and all I can remember is this one Braves player constantly rounding third after hitting one home run after another, one of which I later learned was the only ball ever hit over the left field roof at Ebbetts Field. That player, with his three homers, left such an indelible impression on me and had such a great name he became my childhood hero, right up there with Gil Hodges. I just loved seeing and saying his name – Joe Adcock. Many years later I learned he was a prominent Thoroughbred breeder in Louisiana. Fast forward nearly 70 years from that day at Ebbetts Field and here I am writing about a little rags to riches colt from the Louisiana bush tracks with four straight stakes wins on the road to the Kentucky Derby named Coal Battle, who was bred by Joe Adcock’s son Jay. “My dad was an all-star, hit four home runs in one game, and won the World Series,” Jay said. “But he would always say to me, ‘Son, except for family, the best times of my life and my biggest thrills have been watching our horses run; you just can’t beat it.’ He was right, and here we are hopefully heading to the Kentucky Derby with this little colt who just keeps winning. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. I think my dad would be so ecstatic and so proud. It shows the little guy still has a chance. All I and my good buddy (co-breeder Hume Wornall) can do now is keep our fingers crossed.”

Steve Haskin’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Rankings – Week 6

TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Derby Top 12: Upheaval In The Ranks

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – 2025 Kentucky Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down for March 4

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Graham Dench – Epsom Derby dozen 2025: who are the early front-runners for the premier Classic?

DRF – Derby Watch

Horse Racing Nation – Kentucky Derby 2025 Contenders

Bloodhorse – Sovereignty Exits Fountain of Youth in ‘Great Shape’

Horse Race Insider – John Pricci – MOTT, MC CARTHY HAVE THEIR CHARGES PRIMED FOR ENTRANCE INTO DERBY STARTING GATE

Paulick Report – Chelsea Hackbarth – Short Field: Journalism’s San Felipe Win Awarded Fewer Kentucky Derby Points

More is lost by indecision than by wrong decision.

Carmela Soprano

Should I Stay or Should I Go

Horse Racing Nation – Ron Flatter – Flatter: Kentucky Derby prep calendar needs some work

Bloodhorse – Molly Rollins – Ferocious Off Kentucky Derby Trail

TDN – Bill Finley – The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 27

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: How High Did The Rebel Stakes Win Vault Coal Battle?

America’s Best Racing – Power Rankings: Coal Battle Rising as Major Kentucky Derby Contender

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Derby Dozen Leaders Sovereignty, Barnes Return March 1

Steve Haskin’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Rankings – Week 5

DRF – David Grening – Kentucky Derby 2025: First Resort has stress fracture, will miss Triple Crown

That’s Life

TDN – Olivia Dunne And Jayson Werth To Host Oaks, Derby Festivities In Sports Illustrated’s Club SI

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – Coal Battle: Sentiment aside, it’s clear he’ll have to do way more to figure on the first Saturday in May

Maggie May

“My dad told me this many times,” recalled Jay. “He said of all the things he’s done in life, outside of his family, the most satisfying was to watch his horses run. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and I feel the same way.”

Bloodhorse- Denis Blake – Coal Battle’s Success Shines Light on Red River Farms

DRF – Derby Watch

Bloodhorse – Jay Hovdey – Magnitude Latest on the List of Might-Have-Beens

That’s Life

TDN – Bill Finley – The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 20

DRF – Brad Free – Kentucky Derby: Who’s hot, who’s not for Feb. 19, 2025

Paulick Report – Andrew Champagne – The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: Back On The Trail For 2025

Phil has a question:

Why isn’t he sponsored by Moet & Chandon.

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sovereignty Retains Derby Dozen Edge; East Avenue Exits

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ankle Chip Knocks Magnitude Off Derby Trail

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Ron Wood – Magnitude: an unbiased view suggests there are reasons to be wary of longshot winner – despite sharp time