• Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism has been named the morning-line favorite for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Journalism is trained by Michael McCarthy.

Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism has been named the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism got the No. 8 post in a full field of 20 during Saturday’s night’s draw for the $5 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

Post time is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. The race will be televised by NBC.

Sovereignty, runner-up in the Florida Derby, is the second choice in the morning line at 5-1 odds. Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, drew the No. 18 post.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has two top contenders in Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez and 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull. Baffert is tied with Ben Jones with a record six Kentucky Derby victories but was suspended from entering the race from 2022-24.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

A total of 21 horses were entered, with Santa Anita Derby runner-up Baeza on the also-eligible list. If one of the top 20 horses is scratched before 9 a.m. Friday, Baeza can take his place.

“There’s a chance,” Baeza trainer John Shirreffs said. “Now we prepare as if he’s going to run. If he happens to get in, great. We’re prepared.”

2025 Kentucky Derby post positions, horse, trainer, jockey, odds

Click on a horse’s name to learn more:

1. Citizen Bull, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 20-1

2. Neoequos, Saffie Joseph Jr., Flavien Prat, 30-1

3. Final Gambit, Brad Cox, Luan Machado, 30-1

4. Rodriguez, Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, 12-1

5. American Promise, D. Wayne Lukas, Nik Juarez, 30-1

6. Admire Daytona, Yukihiro Kato, Christophe Lemaire, 30-1

7. Luxor Café

, Noriyuki Hori, Joao Moreira, 15-1

8. Journalism, Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli, 3-1

9. Burnham Square, Ian Wilkes, Brian Hernandez Jr., 12-1

10. Grande, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 20-1

11. Flying Mohawk, Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos, 30-1

12. East Avenue, Brendan Walsh, Manny Franco, 20-1

13. Publisher, Steve Asmussen, Irad Ortiz Jr., 20-1

14. Tiztastic, Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario, 20-1

15. Render Judgment, Kenny McPeek, Julien Leparoux, 30-1

16. Coal Battle, Lonnie Briley, Juan Vargas, 30-1

17. Sandman, Mark Casse, Jose Ortiz, 6-1

18. Sovereignty, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 5-1

19. Chunk of Gold, Ethan West, Jareth Loveberry, 30-1

20. Owen Almighty, Brian Lynch, Javier Castellano, 30-1

Also eligible

21. Baeza, John Shirreffs, Flavien Prat, 12-1

More horse racing: Tappan Street out of Kentucky Derby with injury; Kenny McPeek-trained Render Judgment in

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [email protected]. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.