The Kentucky Derby, one of the most iconic events in the sports world, is approaching rapidly. The 151st edition of the “Run for the Roses” will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and will offer a purse of $5 million.
The qualification path, known as the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” has been intense, featuring a series of prep races across North America, Japan, and Europe\/Middle East to determine the 20 horses that will earn their place at the starting gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is structured around a points system. Horses earn points based on their finishing position in designated races, with more prestigious races offering higher points. The path is divided into three phases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, there are international roads for horses based in Japan <\/strong>and Europe<\/strong>, each offering one guaranteed spot in the Derby starting gate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Burnham Square enters the Kentucky Derby as the top points leader with 130. Trained by Ian R. Wilkes<\/strong>, this colt has been remarkably consistent throughout the prep season. His standout performance came with a decisive win in the Blue Grass Stakes at the beginning of April. Each of these races played a pivotal role in shaping the final field for the Kentucky Derby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Kentucky Derby, one of the most iconic events in the sports world, is approaching rapidly. The 151st edition of the “Run for the Roses” will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and will offer a purse of $5 million. The qualification path, known as the “Road to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[1],"tags":[258],"class_list":["post-42299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gambyl","tag-kentucky-derby"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"Erwin Noguera","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tPrep Season<\/em><\/strong><\/td> September 2024 \u2013 February 2025<\/em><\/td><\/tr> Championship Series \u2013 First Leg<\/em><\/strong><\/td> March 2025<\/em><\/td><\/tr> Championship Series \u2013 Second Leg<\/em><\/strong><\/td> Late March and April 2025<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Kentucky Derby: Leaderboard Ranks Top 20 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Burnham Square \u2013 130 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 2. Sandman \u2013 129 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 3. Journalism \u2013 122.5 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 4. Rodriguez \u2013 121.5 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 5. Tiztastic – 119 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 6. Tappan Street \u2013 110 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 7. Sovereignty – 110 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 8. Final Gambit \u2013 100 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 9. Coal Battle \u2013 95 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 10. Chunk of Gold \u2013 75 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 11. Citizen Bull \u2013 71.25 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 12. Owen Almighty \u2013 65 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 13. East Avenue \u2013 60 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 14. Publisher \u2013 60 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 15. American Promise \u2013 55 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 16. Magnitude \u2013 55 points<\/em><\/td><\/tr> 17. River Thames \u2013 50 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 18. Flood Zone \u2013 50 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 19. Flying Mohawk \u2013 50 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr> 20. Grande \u2013 50 points <\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Top Contenders for the 2025 Kentucky Derby <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With total earnings exceeding $900,000, Burnham Square has shown tactical versatility\u2014able to sit close to the pace or settle mid-pack depending on the race dynamics. His stamina and adaptability over longer distances make him the principal threat in the Run for the Roses.
Just one point behind the leader, Sandman sits firmly in second place with 129 points. Trained by Mark Casse,<\/strong> Sandman has built his reputation through a series of strong performances during the spring prep season. His signature victory came in the Arkansas Derby.
With earnings reaching $1,117,995, Sandman is the fourth in the money ranking in this part of the season. The colt is known for his tactical speed and ability to maintain a strong tempo up front, qualities that could serve him well in the typically chaotic Kentucky Derby field.
Journalism has quickly become one of the standout stars of this year’s Road to the Derby, collecting 122.5 points.<\/strong> Under the guidance of trainer Michael McCarthy, Journalism shined brightest with three victories in recent months, winning Los Alamitos Futurity, San Felipe, and Santa Anita Derby. Citizen Bull and Coal Battle were the horses with the most wins in the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKey 2025 Prep Race Results <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Louisiana Derby (G2)<\/strong><\/td> March 22, 2025<\/em><\/td> Winner: Tiztastic. <\/strong><\/em>
Podium: Chunk Of Gold and Instant Replay.<\/em><\/td><\/tr>Jeff Ruby (G3)<\/strong> <\/td> March 22, 2025<\/em><\/td> Winner: Final Gambit.<\/strong> <\/em>
Podium: Flying Mohawk and Maximum Promise.<\/em><\/td><\/tr>Florida Derby (G1)<\/strong><\/em><\/td> March 29, 2025.<\/em><\/td> Winner: Tappan Street.<\/strong><\/em>
Podium: Sovereignty and Neoequos. <\/em><\/td><\/tr>Arkansas Derby (G1)<\/strong><\/td> March 29, 2025.<\/em><\/td> Winner: Sandman<\/strong>. <\/em>
Podium: Publisher and Coal Battle.<\/em><\/td><\/tr>Santa Anita Derby (G1)<\/strong><\/td> April 5, 2025<\/em><\/td> Winner: Journalism. <\/strong><\/em>
Podium: Baeza and Westwood. <\/em><\/td><\/tr>Wood Memorial (G2)<\/strong><\/td> April 5, 2025<\/em><\/td> Winner: Rodriguez. <\/strong><\/em>
Podium: Grande and Passion Rules <\/em><\/td><\/tr>Blue Grass Stakes (G1)<\/strong><\/td> April 8, 2025<\/em><\/td> Winner: Burnham Square.<\/strong><\/em>
Podium: East Avenue and River Thames. <\/em><\/td><\/tr>Lexington Stakes (G3)<\/strong><\/td> April 12, 2025<\/em><\/td> Winner: Gosger. <\/strong><\/em>
Podium: Bracket Buster and Praetor<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n