With less than three months remaining until the first Friday and Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, prep races for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve are in full swing.
BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his Derby Dozen with a review of his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 3.
A total of 373 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, led by champion 2-year-old male Citizen Bull, were made eligible to this year’s Triple Crown series with a $600 early nomination payment that was due Jan. 27.
This year’s total represents a 7.8% increase from last year’s 346 early nominations. A record 69 Japan-based horses, trained by 33 different conditioners, were nominated, which shattered last year’s record of 47.
This feature provides a capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Triple Crown trail and three horses whose chances for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve are not quite as strong as they previously were.
In the second edition of this blog for the 2025 run for the roses, the focus is on the changing landscape of the 3-year-old male division after three major prep races on Feb. 1.
Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we take a look each week at a recent winner on the Road to the Derby schedule that distributes qualifying points for the 1 ¼-mile classic race May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.
