Kentucky Derby field 2025: Meet the horses in Run for the Roses

(Editor's Note: This story has been updated with news that Rodriguez and Grande were scratched from the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Thursday and Friday, respectively).

One horse will stop and smell the roses in the Kentucky Derby's Winner's Circle. Who will it be?

The 151st edition of the “Run for the Roses" is set to kick off next week and a new champion will soon be crowned with a garland of roses at the legendary racetrack at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Horses Burnham Square, Sandman and Journalism are early favorites to win.

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, followed by Preakness Stakes (May 17) and Belmont Stakes (June 7). The Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 miles long, approximately 2,200 yards. Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races at 1 1/2 miles, while the Preakness Stakes is the shortest at 1 3/16 miles long.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's Kentucky Derby field:

When is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is set for 7:02 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will give the legendary “Rider's Up” command ahead of the race.

Which horses are competing in Kentucky Derby?

The Top 20 horses on the leaderboard earned a spot at the starting gate at Churchill Downs. Points are earned through a series of designated races throughout the country, running from mid-September to March.

1. Citizen Bull, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 17-1

2. Neoequos, Saffie Joseph Jr., Luis Saez, 57-1

3. Final Gambit, Brad Cox, Luan Machado, 17-1

4. Rodriguez, Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, 8-1 — SCRATCHED

5. American Promise, D. Wayne Lukas, Nik Juarez, 13-1

6. Admire Daytona, Yukihiro Kato, Christophe Lemaire, 39-1

7. Luxor Cafe, Noriyuki Hori, Joao Moreira, 15-1

8. Journalism, Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli, 7-2

9. Burnham Square, Ian Wilkes, Brian Hernandez Jr., 19-1

10. Grande, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 19-1 — SCRATCHED

11. Flying Mohawk, Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos, 36-1

12. East Avenue, Brendan Walsh, Manny Franco, 33-1

13. Publisher, Steve Asmussen, Irad Ortiz Jr., 30-1

14. Tiztastic, Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario, 20-1

15. Render Judgment, Kenny McPeek, Julien Leparoux, 13-1

16. Coal Battle, Lonnie Briley, Juan Vargas, 30-1

17. Sandman, Mark Casse, Jose Ortiz, 5-1

18. Sovereignty, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 11-1

19. Chunk of Gold, Ethan West, Jareth Loveberry, 33-1

20. Owen Almighty, Brian Lynch, Javier Castellano, 44-1

21. Baeza, John Shirreffs, Flavien Prat, 50-1

How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby

The 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has served as the home of the annual “Run for the Roses" since 2001. NBC Sports signed a multi-year extension with Churchill Downs last year to carry the Kentucky Derby through 2032.

You can also stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.

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