Kentucky Derby 2025: Jockeys Line Up for This Year’s Run for the Roses
The 151st Kentucky Derby is set to take place on May 3 at Churchill Downs, and the field of jockeys has been confirmed. According to The Courier-Journal, two scratches were made during Derby Week, but all 20 jockeys are now confirmed to participate in the prestigious event.
Five jockeys are projected to make their Derby debut on May 3: Luan Machado (Final Gambit), Juan Vargas (Coal Battle), Nik Juarez (American Promise), Joao Moreira (Luxor Cafe), and Joseph Ramos (Flying Mohawk). Ten others are back looking for their first victory. The Courier-Journal reports that one especially experienced rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., is poised to make history with a win this year.
Hernandez Jr. is back after riding Mystik Dan to victory in 2024 and is looking to become the seventh jockey to win consecutive Kentucky Derbies. He will ride Burnham Square in this year’s event. The Courier-Journal notes that Hernandez has 43 first-place finishes and 60 other top-three finishes across 249 starts this year.
Other notable jockeys participating in the event include Jose Ortiz, who is making his 10th Derby start with Sandman, and Joel Rosario, who is making his 14th Derby start with Tiztastic. Rosario won with Orb in 2013 and is looking for his second Derby victory. The Courier-Journal reports that Umberto Rispoli, who finished ninth with Endlessly last year, will ride Journalism in his third Derby.
The field of jockeys also includes experienced riders like Flavien Prat, who won the 2019 Kentucky Derby with Country House, and Javier Castellano, who is making his 17th Derby start with Owen Almighty. The Courier-Journal notes that Christophe Lemaire, who has won several prestigious events, will participate in his third Derby with Admire Daytona.
Here is a look at the field of jockeys and their horses for the 151st Kentucky Derby, as reported by The Courier-Journal:
* Kentucky Derby horse: Sandman: Jose Ortiz
* Kentucky Derby horse: Burnham Square: Brian Hernandez Jr.
* Kentucky Derby horse: Journalism: Umberto Rispoli
* Kentucky Derby horse: Tiztastic: Joel Rosario
* Kentucky Derby horse: Render Judgment: Julien Leparoux
* Kentucky Derby horse: Sovereignty: Junior Alvarado
* Kentucky Derby horse: Final Gambit: Luan Machado
* Kentucky Derby horse: Coal Battle: Juan Vargas
* Kentucky Derby horse: Chunk of Gold: Jareth Loveberry
* Kentucky Derby horse: Citizen Bull: Martin Garcia
* Kentucky Derby horse: East Avenue: Manny Franco
* Kentucky Derby horse: Publisher: Irad Ortiz Jr.
* Kentucky Derby horse: American Promise: Nik Juarez
* Kentucky Derby horse: Baeza: Flavien Prat
* Kentucky Derby horse: Owen Almighty: Javier Castellano
* Kentucky Derby horse: Luxor Cafe: Joao Moreira
* Kentucky Derby horse: Admire Daytona: Christophe Lemaire
* Kentucky Derby horse: Neoequos: Luis Saez
The odds are in favor of a first-time winner, according to The Courier-Journal. However, experience and skill will certainly play a significant role in determining the winner of this year’s Run for the Roses.
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