You know that buzz you get pulling into your hometown stadium on a playoff night? Churchill Downs has been bottling that feeling since 1875. The Run for the Roses isn’t just the first leg of the Triple Crown — it’s a two‑minute adrenaline jolt that somehow stretches across an entire week of miracle stories and questionable hat choices.

This year’s edition — the 151st — goes off Saturday, May 3, 2025 (post time scheduled for 7:02 p.m. ET, so plan your beverage run early). And once again, the Derby brings the biggest starting gate in North America, shoe‑horning 19 horses after a pair of late scratches.

The Derby’s Magic Carpet

The Kentucky Derby isn’t just a horse race — it’s a sports tradition with all the charm and chaos of a small-town fair mashed into the bright lights of a national spotlight. It’s the kind of thing that makes even casual fans stop what they’re doing for a couple minutes. Whether you're sitting in the stands at Churchill Downs or just watching from your buddy’s couch with wings on the table, the Derby always manages to feel like a big deal.

Before the horses even hit the gate, there’s a ton of moving parts behind the scenes. Every entry has to qualify through a series of prep races, collecting points along the way. The top 18 American horses get in, and a couple more can sneak in from Japan or Europe if they win designated qualifiers.

Sounds simple enough, but it rarely is. Injuries pop up, late decisions shake things up, and horses get scratched — sometimes just hours before the race. By the time Derby week rolls around, the final lineup feels more like a jigsaw puzzle that keeps shifting.

This year was no different. Two horses, Rodriguez and Grande, dropped out in the final 48 hours due to minor injuries. That opened the door for Baeza, who was just outside the top 20, to sneak in and live the Derby dream.

Here’s the gate draw plus live odds as of Friday:

1. Citizen Bull 14‑1

2. Neoequos 49‑1

3. Final Gambit 15‑1

5. American Promise 12‑1

6. Admire Daytona (JPN) 39‑1

7. Luxor Cafe 12‑1

8. Journalism 7‑2

9. Burnham Square 16‑1

11. Flying Mohawk 33‑1

12. East Avenue 34‑1

13. Publisher 28‑1

14. Tiztastic 18‑1

15. Render Judgment 13‑1

16. Coal Battle 27‑1

17. Sandman 5‑1

18. Sovereignty 9‑1

19. Chunk of Gold 29‑1

20. Owen Almighty 39‑1

21. Baeza 21‑1

Meet the Headliners

Journalism – Post 7

He’s the darling of the “trip handicappers” after three straight graded wins out West, and Michael McCarthy has him peaking at the right time. The only knock is that he has just five lifetime starts. If Rispoli can keep him tucked in behind the leaders and get a clean trip, there’s a good chance fans who backed the favorite will be on their feet as they turn for home.

Sovereignty – Post 16

Bill Mott’s colt brings the balanced resume: won the Fountain of Youth, just missed in the Florida Derby, and hasn’t put a foot wrong in morning gallops. The outside draw is far from ideal, but with two empty stalls inside he’s basically breaking from 14 and can tuck behind the early burners.

Sandman – Post 17

Sandman won the Arkansas Derby and has been picking up steam ever since. A lot of bettors have him pegged as the third most likely to win, but opinions are split. That said, Sandman’s a fighter. He doesn’t back down when things get tight, and there’s a good chance he’s right in the mix coming down the stretch.

Burnham Square – Post 9

Burnham Square won the Blue Grass Stakes and has Brian Hernandez Jr. riding — same guy who pulled off the win last year with Mystik Dan. If the early leaders go out too fast and things get messy up front, Burnham’s got the kind of closing kick that could sneak up and pull off a similar late run.

Citizen Bull – Post 1

Welcome back, Bob Baffert. The three‑time Derby‑winning trainer returns from suspension with a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ who just screams two‑turn dirt talent. The rail draw isn’t the death sentence it used to be (thanks to the expanded starting gate), but Martin Garcia will need some serious guts early to avoid traffic.

Sneaky Picks That Could Mess Around and Win

• Luxor Cafe (12‑1) – Four straight wins on the Japan Road and by far the most polished closer in the bunch. If Joao Moreira sees anything resembling a hot pace, he’ll be dive‑bombing late.

• Final Gambit (15‑1) – Jeff Ruby Steaks winner. Synthetic‑to‑dirt move scares some, but Brad Cox hasn’t lost a wink of sleep.

• Baeza (21‑1) – Got in last-minute thanks to a scratch, and he's got Flavien Prat aboard — one of those guys who always seems to land somewhere in the top four when it matters most.

Handicapping 101 (Derby Edition)

1. Pace Makes the Race – With 19 horses breaking from the gate, you can count on a few of them going all-out from the jump. If they push the pace too hard and things get heated early, it could set things up perfectly for one of the closers to come flying in late and steal it.

2. Ride the Hot Jocks – Hernandez, Prat, Rosario — it’s no accident they keep showing up on the Derby toteboard. Big fields equal split‑second decisions; experience pays.

3. Trainer Patterns Matter – Baffert’s layoff might scare bettors, but his incredible level of consistency can’t be ignored. Meanwhile, Mark Casse’s Derby resume is the opposite of shiny — factor that into Sandman’s price.

4. Track Bias Check – Weather in Louisville changes fast, and it can definitely mess with how the track plays. Keep an eye on the early races — if horses hugging the rail are doing well, someone like Citizen Bull could have a real shot. But if the inside seems dead and no one's making ground there, you’re better off leaning toward horses starting from the middle.

Final Turn

At the end of the day, the Kentucky Derby always gives us something to talk about — whether it’s a heart-stopping photo finish, a 35‑1 longshot wrecking the favorite’s party, or just the celebrities, traditions, and chaos that come with Derby Day. It’s the kind of event that pulls people in, even if they don’t follow horse racing the other 364 days of the year.

You might’ve been tracking contenders since the prep races. Or maybe you just heard a name like “Chunk of Gold” and said, yeah, that’s my guy. That’s what makes the Derby special — it’s more than just a race. It’s a full-blown event.

So whether your pick wins, fades, or pulls off the upset of the year, enjoy the ride. The Derby only comes around once a year, but the stories it gives us tend to stick around a whole lot longer.