Kentucky Derby 2025 video: Journalism leads 9 on work tab

It was a busy Saturday morning, as nine horses in the Kentucky Derby 2025 field logged published workouts for the run for the roses.

They were led by Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and likely Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism, who went four furlongs at Santa Anita in 47.0 seconds.

Seven did their workouts at Churchill Downs. Two of them worked four furlongs: Burnham Square worked in 49.4 seconds andd East Avenue in 47.6 seconds. Five others drilled five furlongs over the course: Final Gambit in 1:00.8, Flying Mohawk in 1:00.0, Publisher in 59.6 seconds, Sovereignty in 1:00.6 and Tiztastic in 59.6 seconds.

At Turfway, Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Chunk of Gold worked a half-mile in 50.0 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.

Easter Sunday is expected to be a quiet morning at Churchill Downs. The next group of Derby contenders is scheduled to breeze Tuesday, led by Admire Daytona and Coal Battle.

Admire Daytona: Junko Kondo’s UAE Derby (G2) winner Admire Daytona continued light training Saturday at Churchill Downs.

With exercise rider Yoshimitsu Miyashita aboard, the son of Drefong warmed up for about 15 minutes in the one-mile chute before galloping about 1 1/2 miles.

Admire Daytona is scheduled to have a walk day on Sunday and could breeze on Tuesday depending on the weather.

American Promise: BC Stables’ American Promise is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs from Oaklawn on Sunday. The Virginia Derby winner breezed seven furlongs in 1:25.2 from the gate Friday morning.

Burnham Square: Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Blue Grass Stakes winner Burnham Square ramped up his preparation for the run for the roses with a half-mile breeze in 49.4 secondsd under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square clipped through fractions of 24.4 and 37.0 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in a composed 1:02.

“It was just a maintenance work this morning since he just ran 11 days ago,” Wilkes said. “If I don’t do something with him, he’ll get too upset.”

Burnham Square jumped on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Holy Bull (G3) over eventual Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street.

“I know I needed to run him more because he was making too many mistakes, and I thought I needed to educate him more so he doesn’t make those mistakes in the Derby,” Wilkes said. “He’s got to move forward again from the Blue Grass because the water gets deeper again. He’s a lighter-framed horse. I can’t be afraid to train him because he needs it to get ready for the Derby.”

Hernandez has the mount for the Kentucky Derby.

Chunk of Gold: Louisiana Derby runner-up Chunk of Gold continued his preparation for the Kentucky Derby at Turfway Park by working a half-mile in 50.0 seconds under jockey Jareth Loveberry.

Chunk of Gold began his move with an opening quarter-mile in 25.2 secondsd and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.

“It was exactly what we had planned,” West said. “We wanted to go a little slow early and finish up well. Jareth never asked him, and he had a really strong gallop out. Chunk really wanted to do more, but we’ll save that for 14 days from now.”

Chunk of Gold will have one additional work on Friday at Turfway before vanning to Churchill Downs that afternoon.

Citizen Bull and Rodriguez: Trainer Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby duo of Citizen Bull and Rodriguez are on track to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Baffert confirmed Madaket Road, who was originally aiming for the Kentucky Derby, will be re-routed to the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) on the undercard.

Coal Battle: Norman Stables’ Coal Battle is scheduled to work five furlongs on Tuesday, according to trainer Lonnie Briley.

Briley is scheduled to be back on-site at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

East Avenue: Godolphin’s Blue Grass runner-up East Avenue returned to the work tab Saturday with a half-mile breeze in 47.6 seconds inside Raquel.

The duo worked fractions of 11.6 and 23.2 seconds with East Avenue drawing away from his stablemate in the gallop-out of 1:00.6 for five furlongs and completing six furlongs in 1:14.0.

Jockey Edgar Morales worked East Avenue while trainer Brendan Walsh’s exercise rider Stephen Dolan was aboard Raquel. Morales has been familiar with East Avenue having worked him in the past at Fair Grounds.

Jockey Manny Franco was named to ride East Avenue in the Derby.

Final Gambit and Tappan Street: Trainer Brad Cox returned to Churchill Downs on Saturday morning where he watched Juddmonte’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Final Gambit work five furlongs in 1:00.8.

With exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard, Final Gambit breezed outside stablemate Coffee Talk with an opening quarter-mile of 24.4 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.4.

“He’s really handled the dirt well here,” Cox said. “I thought it was a strong move today. He’s done everything well since we got him back here.”

Jockey Luan Machado has the call in the Derby.

Meanwhile, Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street was scheduled to leave Payson Park on Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT after breezing five furlongs in 1:01.4 on Friday.

Flying Mohawk: Flying Mohawk, owned by Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.0 inside stablemate Honor Marie.

Flying Mohawk, with exercise rider Maurilio Garcia in the saddle, began his move with eighth-mile splits of 12.0, 23.4 and 35.0 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.4 and completed seven furlongs in 1:27.6.

Joe Ramos has the mount in the Derby.

Grande: Repole Stable’s Grande arrived at Keeneland from Belmont Park early Friday. Trainer Todd Pletcher said he is scheduled to work next Friday.

Journalism: Likely Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism breezed a half-mile in 47.0 seconds inside stablemate Feel the Magic on Saturday morning at Santa Anita.

The son of Curlin is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

Luxor Cafe: Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee Luxor Cafe, owned by Koichi Nishikawa, is scheduled to arrive Wednesday.

The colt will fly from Japan to Chicago, complete a minimum 42-hour USDA quarantine, and then van to Churchill Downs.

Owen Almighty: Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Owen Almighty galloped about 1 1/2 miles Saturday morning.

Publisher and Tiztastic: Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Publisher and Tiztastic completed their penultimate work for the Derby with a five-furlong move in 59.6 seconds.

Publisher, with exercise rider Carlos Rosas aboard, and Tiztastic, with jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle, began their move with an eighth-mile clocking of 12.8 secondsd. Publisher briefly took advantage over his stablemate, working a quarter-mile in 24.2 seconds and three-eighths in 36.0 seconds. Tiztastic’s splits were 24.4 and 36.4 secondsd. The duo galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.8.

Sandman: Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman galloped about 1 1/2 miles Saturday under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse, with his co-owner, social media sensation, Grifin Johnson watching on the backstretch.

Casse said the colt could have one more breeze prior to the Derby.

Sovereignty: Godolphin’s Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Sovereignty had his first work back at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.60 outside of stablemate Playa Del Mar.

Under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Sovereignty worked through eighth-mile fractions of 13.0, 25.2 and 37.2 seconds. At the eighth pole, Playa Del Mar completed his move, with Sovereignty drawing clear to the wire. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.8. Exercise rider Guesler Cardona was aboard for the work.

“There’s a lot of luck involved in winning the Kentucky Derby. You obviously have to have the right horse for the race, but you need to have some racing luck go your way,” Mott said. “The goal is to have him the best he can be for the first Saturday in May.”

Jockey Junior Alvarado has the mount in the Derby.