Eight years after they ran McCraken in the Kentucky Derby (G1), jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., trainer Ian Wilkes, and owner Janis Whitham of Whitham Thoroughbreds are Derby-bound again with Burnham Square.

Junko Kondo's Admire Daytona and Jim and Claire Limited's Heart of Honor, the respective top two finishers in the UAE Derby (G2), headline five 3-year-olds made eligible to compete in the 2025 Triple Crown with a late nomination fee.

Favored at 2-1 to cross the wire first is Praetor, who enters the Lexington Stakes (G3) with a pair of wins going a mile over the dirt, including a 7 1/2-length romp in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. 

Performing his first breeze since finishing third in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Coal Battle recorded a half-mile in :48 2/5 at Churchill Downs April 8. Assistant trainer Bethany Taylor discusses the breeze as they exit the track.

It was a frigid morning at Churchill Downs April 8, but Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Coal Battle heated up his Kentucky Derby (G1) preparations by returning to the work tab for the first time since finishing third in the March 29 Arkansas Derby (G1).

Trainer Lonnie Briley talks with BloodHorse's Sean Collins about Coal Battle after he trained at Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby for the first time April 7.

Jockey Jose Ortiz rode Owen Almighty in his maiden victory last summer. Now, he reunites with the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

After riding East Avenue in his maiden victory last summer, jockey Luan Machado will ride the colt again in the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) following an injury to Tyler Gaffalione.

Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from major Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races held on each coast April 5, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in California and the 100th Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. He also looks at international action in Dubai.

After winning the Florida Derby (G1) last week with the Brad Cox-trained Tappan Street, owners WinStar Farm and CHC have an opportunity at another top-level stakes victory April 5 when River Thames competes in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

For America's Best Racing, Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys as they travel the Road to the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 3 at Churchill Downs.

The $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) saw its 100th running won by the talented Rodriguez for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert April 5, providing his 10 owners with their third likely contender for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The connections of Rodriguez are hoping they have a case of "like father, like son" on their hands after their colt, a son of 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic, won the April 5 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Overcoming a troubled trip, Journalism ran down Baeza in the final strides to solidify Kentucky Derby (G1) favoritism with his victory in the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park April 5.

The final Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed April 5 a few hours prior to the final major prep races with Journalism as the 5-1 favorite. Champion Citizen Bull, who will face Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), was second choice at 8-1.

Japan's recent dominance in the UAE Derby (G2) continued April 5 at Meydan Racecourse as Admire Daytona scraped home over Heart of Honor in a thrilling photo finish, earning a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Altering his initial plan to run American Promise in the April 12 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said April 5 the colt would instead await the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The Road, presented by Gainesway and Darby Dan Farm

West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and CJ Stables' Statesman has won his last two races and steps up in class for the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Most of the racehorses entered in these races have previous experience on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and several have strung together a sequence of impressive stakes wins, but some are entered for their first try in a stakes race.