Kentucky Derby 2025: Sandman, Citizen Bull put in works

Sandman, winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, put in his final major piece of work for Kentucky Derby 2025 on a clear Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, working five furlongs in 1:02.4 under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse.

At Santa Anita, 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull worked seven furlongs in 1:24.2 for trainer Bob Baffert before his anticipated arrival at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Making their initial appearances at Churchill Downs after arriving Tuesday afternoon from California were expected Derby favorite Journalism, who galloped 1 1/8 miles for trainer Michael McCarthy, and Rodriguez, who galloped nearly 1 1/2 miles for trainer Bob Baffert.

Also on track at Churchill Downs for Baffert for the first time was Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner Tenma as she began local preparations for the Kentucky Oaks.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful Quickick worked five furlongs in company in 1:01.20 under Edgar Morales for trainer Tom Amoss.

Two other Kentucky Oaks hopefuls put in half-mile works over a fast track at Keeneland. Bless the Broken went in 48.0 seconds for trainer Will Walden and Early On covered the same distance in 48.4 seconds for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Here's the latest on the Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Admire Daytona. The UAE Derby (G2) winner had a scheduled walk day following his half-mile breeze in 53.2 on Tuesday morning.

American Promise. American Promise galloped a mile and a half under Tayja Smith during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. EDT training window for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks hopefuls.

Winner of the Virginia Derby in his most recent start, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee is expected to work Friday or Saturday.

Built. Built galloped at 7:15 a.m. with trainer Wayne Catalano watching from the backstretch.

Burnham Square. The Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Burnham Square galloped a mile and a half at 7:15 under exercise rider Mark Cutler.

Trainer Ian Wilkes said Burnham Square might have a gate schooling session one day this week. Burnham Square likely will have his second post-Blue Grass work on Saturday.

Chunk of Gold. The Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up galloped at Turfway Park under trainer Ethan West.

The son of Preservationist is scheduled to work Friday.

Citizen Bull, Rodriguez. Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull worked seven furlongs in 1:24.2 at Santa Anita on Wednesday for trainer Bob Baffert. He is slated to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, the other half of Baffert’s Kentucky Derby contingent, arrived Tuesday afternoon at Churchill Downs. The colt trained at 7:15 a.m. with exercise rider Humberto Gomez aboard.

Coal Battle. Norman Stables’ Coal Battle had a walk day Wednesday morning after his five-furlong work in 1:00.8 Tuesday morning.

After training hours, trainer Lonnie Briley sent Coal Battle to the paddock for a second schooling session.

Coal Battle will be the second Churchill Downs starter for Briley. The first was in 2022 when Cool Spirit ran in the Kentucky Juvenile for Norman Stables.

East Avenue. The Blue Grass runner-up galloped about 1 1/2 miles at 5:15 a.m. with exercise rider Stephen Dolan in the irons.

Final Gambit, Tappan Street. Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Final Gambit and Florida Derby (GI) winner Tappan Street galloped Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.

Both horses are scheduled to work Saturday.

Flying Mohawk. Flying Mohawk galloped at 7:15 a.m. under Maurilio Garcia.

Grande. Grande is scheduled to breeze Friday at Keeneland, then ship to Churchill Downs later that day.

Journalism. Journalism arrived at trainer Michael McCarthy’s Churchill Downs barn at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday after shipping from Santa Anita, and he got right to work Wednesday morning.

With Marc Witkowski aboard, Journalism came on the track during the 7:15–7:30 training window and galloped a mile and an eighth.

“It looked like he got over the track nicely,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said any gate or paddock schooling was to be determined and, as far as a final work before the Derby, “I’m handicapping the weather.”

Rain is in the forecast for Friday with a lesser chance of precipitation Saturday.

Luxor Café. Luxor Café was undergoing a 42-hour USDA quarantine in Chicago after his arrival from Japan on Monday.

He is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Wednesday evening.

Owen Almighty. Owen Almighty had a routine gallop under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch. He is scheduled to work Friday.

Publisher, Tiztastic. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Publisher and Tiztastic trained Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.

Asmussen was aboard his pony alongside Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Publisher and assistant trainer Scott Blasi was aboard a pony leading Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic to the paddock prior to galloping.

Both horses have been on a Saturday work schedule.

Sandman. Sandman completed his final major preparations for the Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs in 1:02.40.

With Froylan Garcia aboard and working on his own, Sandman produced fractions of 13.6, 26.2, 38.0, 1:02.40 and out six furlongs in 1:15.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, this gets a 10,” trainer Mark Casse said. “That was his last work before the Derby.”

Casse watched the work from the grandstand and upon returning to the barn liked what he saw from the gray son of Tapit.

“I think he grows every time I look at him,” Casse said. “He is more than 16 hands, more than 16-3.”

Sovereignty. The Florida Derby runner-up galloped during the 7:15–7:30 training window under Guesler Cardona.

“No complaints this morning,” trainer Bill Mott said. “He went through the paddock and then galloped out past the half-mile pole.”