JOURNALISM 3-1 MORNING LINE FAVORITE FOR KENTUCKY DERBY

Mark BlankenbakerApril 26, 2025

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stables, Robert La Penta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the 151^st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I).

The 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses, that drew a field of 20 plus one also-eligible, will be the 12th race on the 14-race Kentucky Derby program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern). Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. with the winner receiving $3.1 million.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism has won his past four starts highlighted by the Santa Anita Derby (GI), San Felipe (GII) and Los Alamitos Futurity (GII). Umberto Rispoli, who has been aboard for those three victories, has the call Saturday from post 8.

“I’m very pleased. What’s not to like,” McCarthy said.

Second choice on the morning line at 5-1 is Godolphin’s Florida Derby (GI) runner-up Sovereignty. Trained by Bill Mott, who saddled 2019 Derby winner Country House, Sovereignty will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post 18.

Third choice on the morning line at 6-1 is D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Sandman. Trained by Mark Casse, Sandman will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 17.

Three horses are rated at 12-1 on the morning line: Burnham Square, Rodriguez and Baeza, who is an also-eligible.

Whitham Thoroughbreds’ homebred Burnham Square, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start, is trained by Ian Wilkes and will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. Hernandez won last year’s Derby on Mystik Dan and seeks to become the first rider since Victor Espinoza in 2014-2015 to win the Run for the Roses in consecutive years. Burnham Square will exit post 9.

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan’s Rodriguez comes into Derby 151 off a front-running victory in the Wood Memorial (GII).

Trained by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Rodriguez will be ridden by two-time Derby winner Mike Smith from post 4.

Baffert also will send out for the same ownership Citizen Bull (20-1), the 2-year-old champion of 2024. Martin Garcia has the mount from post 1.

Baeza is trained by John Shirreffs, who won the 2005 Derby with Giacomo. Baeza, owned by C R K Stable and Grandview Estate, finished second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start. Flavien Prat, who won the 2019 Derby on Country House, has the mount should Baeza draw in.

Five other trainers will attempt to add to their Derby laurels headed by four-time winner D. Wayne Lukas, who will send out Virginia Derby winner American Promise (30-1) for BC Stables. Nik Juarez has the mount from post 5.

Two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher will saddle Repole Stable’s Wood Memorial runner-up Grande (20-1) with three-time Derby winner John Velazquez in the saddle from post 10.

Other trainers seeking a second Derby victory are Brad Cox and Kenny McPeek.

Cox, who saddled 2021 Derby winner Mandaloun, will send out Juddmonte’s Final Gambit (30-1) from post 3. Luan Machado has the mount.

McPeek, who won last year’s Derby with Mystik Dan, trains Render Judgment (30-1) for the ownership of Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms Inc., MJM Racing and Rocket Ship Racing. The most recent trainer to win the Derby in consecutive years was Baffert in 1997 and 1998.

Two other riders will be going for a Derby double: Joel Rosario and Javier Castellano.

Rosario, who guided Orb to victory in 2013, has the call on Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Tiztastic (20-1) for trainer Steve Asmussen. Tiztastic will exit post 14.

Asmussen also will send out Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher (20-1), owned by Gus King and the Estate of Brereton Jones. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Publisher from post 13.

Castellano, winner of the 2023 Derby on Mage, has the mount on Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) winner Owen Almighty (30-1) for Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing. Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty will break from post 20.

The field for the Kentucky Derby (GI) Presented by Woodford Reserve (Race 12, post time 6:57 p.m.):

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, 20-10
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)

UNDEFEATED GOOD CHEER MADE 6-5 MORNING LINE FAVORITE FOR $1.5 MILLION LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS (Gi)

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, April 26, 2025) – Godolphin’s undefeated Good Cheer has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite in a field of 14 3-year-old fillies entered Saturday for the 151^st running of the $1.5 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday.

The Kentucky Oaks will highlight a 13-race program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern). The Oaks will go as the day’s 11th race with a 5:51 p.m. post time.

Trained by Brad Cox, Good Cheer comes into Friday’s race off a 3 ½-length victory in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII). Now 6-for-6 in her career, Good Cheer has posted three of those victories at Churchill Downs including the Rags to Riches (Listed) and Golden Rod (GII) last fall.

“She’s been incredibly impressive this year and we’re expecting a big effort next week,” Cox said.

A Good Cheer victory would add to the Oaks victory total for Godolphin, Cox and jockey Luis Saez, who will bring Good Cheer out of post 11.

Pretty Mischievous provided Godolphin with its first Oaks victory in 2023; Cox won in 2020 with Shedaresthedevil and in 2018 with Monomoy Girl, and Saez won in 2022 on Secret Oath.

Second choice on the morning line at 6-1 is Tracy Farmer’s La Cara.

Winner of the Ashland (GI) in her most recent start and the Pocahontas (GIII) here last September, La Cara is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Dylan Davis from post 7.

“I think the post is good,” Casse said. “We’re coming out running and she’s in a good spot.”

Third choice on the morning line at 8-1 is Shortleaf Stable’s Quietside, who will exit post 14.

Trained by John Ortiz, Quietside comes into the Oaks off victories in the Honeybee (GIII) and Fantasy (GII) at Oaklawn Park. Runner-up to Good Cheer in the Golden Rod last fall, Quietside will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who rode Serengeti Empress to victory in the 2019 Kentucky Oaks.

Co-fourth choices at 10-1 are Rodeo Creek Racing’s Ballerina d’Oro and Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner and Berkels0813’s Simply Joking.

Trained by Chad Brown, Ballerina d’Oro comes into the Oaks off a nose victory in the Gazelle (GIII) at Aqueduct on April 5. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 6.

Simply Joking has won two of three starts for trainer Whit Beckman with the lone setback coming in the Fantasy. Florent Geroux, who was victorious aboard Shedaresthedevil in 2020 and Monomoy Girl in 2018, will ride Simply Joking from post 2.

In addition to Cox, three other trainers will be seeking an additional Oaks victory: Bob Baffert, Kenny McPeek and Tom Amoss.

Baffert, a three-time Oaks winner, will send out Baoma Corp’s Tenma (12-1). Tenma has won five of six starts including her past three in a row in the Santa Anita Oaks (GII), Las Virgenes (GIII) and Starlet (GII). Juan Hernandez has the mount from post 9.

McPeek trains Ashland runner-up Take Charge Milady (12-1) for the partnership of James Bell, Magdalena Racing and Kenneth Rhodes.

McPeek saddled Thorpedo Anna to victory in last year’s Kentucky Oaks with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. Hernandez has the mount on Take Charge Milady from post 10.

The most recent trainer to win the Oaks in consecutive years was D. Wayne Lukas in 1989-1990 with Open Mind and Seaside Attraction. The most recent rider to win the Oaks in consecutive years was Eddie Arcaro, who took the race in three consecutive from 1951-53 with How, Real Delight and Bubbley.

One other rider will attempt to add to his Oaks victory total: John Velazquez.

Velazquez, who won on Malathaat in 2021 and Ashado in 2004, has the mount on Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stable’s Bless the Broken (30-1) from post 13 for trainer Will Walden.

The field for Longines Kentucky Oaks (Race 11, post time 5:51 p.m.):