Kentucky Derby 2025 notes: Baeza team hopes for a 'gift'

It was a routine morning on a mild but cloudy Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs with the majority of entrants for Kentucky Derby 2025 and the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks entrants putting in routine gallops.

Japan-based hopefuls Luxor Café and Admire Daytona had walk days a morning after working five furlongs in 1:02.40, and Coal Battle also walked.

As was the case last weekend when trainers were watching the weather before putting final works into their charges, rain might be a factor this weekend in Louisville.

Thunderstorms were in the forecast for Wednesday as well as showers and thunderstorms the next three days.

Thursday is the final day of regular training hours this week. On Friday and Saturday, training will be conducted from 5:15 to 7:15 a.m. EDT with the 7:45-8 window reserved for Derby and Oaks horses Friday and Derby horses only on Saturday.

Admire Daytona. Grade 2 UAE Derby winner Admire Daytona had a planned walk day after his five-eighths breeze in 1:02.20 on Tuesday morning.

Admire Daytona was scheduled to school in the paddock Wednesday afternoon with horses in the fifth race.

American Promise. BC Stables’ American Promise galloped 1 3/8 miles under Tayja Smith for trainer D. Wayne Lukas during the 7:15-7:30 training window for Derby and Oaks entrants.

Baeza. The Kentucky Derby’s lone also-eligible continued to move forward in his training Wednesday morning while his connections continued to hope for the bit of help that would allow them to be a player Saturday in Kentucky Derby 151.

“We’re still hoping for a gift from the gods,” said the colt’s conditioner, John Shirreffs, as he ambled alongside his well-bred son of the young stallion McKinzie heading trackside for the 7:15 to 7:30 training segment. “What else are you going to do?”

Baeza, a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and a half-brother to 2024 Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch, proceeded to head to the Churchill paddock with his pony for a couple of spins there, then back to the track to gallop once around under regular exercise rider Frankie Herrate. As they finished up, Shirreffs directed his rider to take the colt into the track’s mile chute and have him stand in the starting gate.

With all that accomplished, they headed back to barn 41.

Baeza and crew have until 9 a.m. Friday morning, the scratch time for the Derby, to get “lucky” and get to run. If that doesn’t happen, it’ll be on to the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

Burnham Square. Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 window under Mark Cutler for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), Burnham Square has not raced on an off track, something he could possibly encounter Saturday.

“He worked really good over it Saturday,” jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said of Burnham Square, who drilled five furlongs in 59.4 seconds over a track labeled as good. “Good horses can overcome a lot.”

Cutler, who was the exercise rider for 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, does not feel an off track would be a problem for Burnham Square.

“But Street Sense. No, no, no,” Cutler said with a laugh. “If it was raining, he didn’t even want to come out of the barn. I knew we were in trouble when it was sloppy for the (Breeders’ Cup) Classic at Monmouth when he was fourth.”

Chunk of Gold. The Kentucky Derby colt went trackside during the 7:15-7:30 training session. The gray son of Preservationist had trainer Ethan West on his back and they started their exercise by first moving to the six-furlong pole and having a stand alongside a mounted trainer Helen Pitts Blasi, who has given West a home in her barn as he readies for his first crack at the run for the roses.

Chunk of Gold then moved out and galloped a mile and a half for West in advance of his Derby start, where he’ll begin from post 19 under rider Jareth Loveberry.

Trainer West indicated that his charge would school in the paddock with the horses for today’s Race 3.

Citizen Bull, Rodriguez. The duo of Bob Baffert colts got their exercise Wednesday morning during the 7:15-7:30 session. Both galloped under their regular exercise riders, Eric Garcia for the former and Humberto Gomez for the latter.

Doing a TV appearance with a local station on the Churchill backside, the Hall of Fame conditioner was asked about the Derby post positions for his charges, 4 for Rodriguez and 1 for Citizen Bull.

“The four for Rodriguez isn’t so bad,” he offered. “He’ll be OK coming out of there. As for Citizen Bull in the 1 hole, we’re going to have to use him early. We’re going to tell him to get out of there like he just robbed a bank.”

Rodriguez will be handled Saturday by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who already has a couple of Derby wins under his belt and will be making his record 29th start in the run for the roses. Citizen Bull will have regular rider Martin Garcia, who’ll be making his fifth start in the classic and be looking for his first victory.

In Baffert’s case, he’ll be saddling his 35th and 36th horses in the 1 1/5-mile race and seeking to add to his six earlier winners.

Coal Battle. Norman Stables’ Coal Battle had a walk day for trainer Lonnie Briley. The son of Coal Front was scheduled to return to the track Thursday morning.

Coal Battle is 2-for-2 on off tracks with daylight victories coming at Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs.

Exercise rider-assistant Bethany Taylor was asked whether there was a difference between Kentucky mud and Louisiana mud.

“Mud is mud,” Taylor said. “The only difference is that in Louisiana there might be crawfish on the track.”

East Avenue. Godolphin’s East Avenue galloped at 7:15 a.m. under jockey Stephen Dolan for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Final Gambit. Juddmonte’s Final Gambit galloped about 1 1/2 miles Wednesday morning with Joel Osorio aboard for trainer Brad Cox.

Flying Mohawk. The Karakontie colt went trackside Wednesday morning just after the 7:15-7:30 training session and galloped 1 1/2 miles for trainer Whit Beckman with exercise rider Maurilio Garcia in the tack.

Flying Mohawk broke his maiden at Churchill in October on the turf and will be making his first start on dirt in Kentucky Derby 151. He’ll be accompanied by Joe Ramos and start from post 11.

Grande. The Curlin colt Grande went about his business as usual Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs as he moves ever closer to his date this Saturday in Kentucky Derby 151.

He left from barn 39 and headed to the racetrack for the 7:15 a.m. training period with exercise rider Juan Suarez aboard and trainer Todd Pletcher following.

The conditioner has been happy with the flow of things heading to the big race.

“The week has been good,” he said. “Grande has been handling things the way you’d hope.”

Pletcher added that barring a rain storm, they planned to paddock the dark bay or brown youngster with horses for Wednesday’s third race.

His charge will break from post 10 on Saturday and have old pro John Velazquez attached. When Pletcher and Velazquez, Hall of Famers both, got together in 2017 on the first Saturday in May, they came away a winner with the colt Always Dreaming.

Journalism. The Kentucky Derby favorite had another good morning at Churchill Downs Wednesday, turning in a strong gallop under exercise rider Marc Witkowski during the 7:15 training period as trainer Michael McCarthy looked on from trackside.

The three-time stakes winner, including most recently in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), has looked a picture since his arrival in Louisville, impressing onlookers who are both savvy and just awed. That goes for the man who has been on his back the most of late.

Witkowski, a native of Tucson, Ariz., has worked for McCarthy for the past two years after a seven-year stint in Southern California with the likes of John Shirreffs, Paddy Gallagher and Carla Gaines. He’s gotten on board more than a few good horses along the way, but he said he’s never been on one like Journalism.

“He just feels so good when he gallops,” said Witkowski. “He’s got a beautiful stride. I’ve never been on one that moves like him. Sweet, that’s the word for him.”

The son of super sire Curlin drew post 8 for his Derby run Saturday and will have regular rider Umberto Rispoli on board. They’ll have 19 rivals to beat that afternoon.

Luxor Cafe. Luxor Cafe had a planned walk day following his five-furlong move in 1:02.20 Tuesday morning.

Luxor Cafe was set to school with the horses in the fifth race Wednesday.

Neoequos. Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms, Neoequos galloped at 7:15 then schooled at the gate for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“All good, we’re ready,” Joseph said.

Owen Almighty. Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty galloped a mile and a half under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch during the 7:15-7:30 training window.

Winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), Owen Almighty never has raced on an off track.

“I hope it is good and fair for everybody,” Lynch said. “His breeding (by Speightstown) indicates he should handle it, and we hope that works in our favor.”

Publisher, Tiztastic. Trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Publisher and Tiztastic both galloped at 7:15 a.m.

Publisher, with Roberto Howell in the irons, and Tiztstic, ridden by Carlos Rosas, both warmed up in the one-mile chute prior to their training sessions.

“Derby week is so much fun,” Asmussen said. "It’s enjoyable to take it all in.”

Render Judgment. Render Judgment galloped at 7:15 a.m. with Robby Albarado aboard.

Sandman. Owned by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, Sandman galloped a mile and a half under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse during the 7:15-7:30 training window.

A son of Tapit out of a Distorted Humor mare, Sandman never has raced on an off track.

Sovereignty. The son of top sire Into Mischief continued on his path to Kentucky Derby 151 with no hitches to speak of and a steady flow that continued Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs.

The bay colt came out of trainer Bill Mott’s Barn 19 in time for the 7:15-7:30 training period with a fast track underneath his hooves.

Exercise rider Javier Cardona steered the youngster first to the Churchill paddock, then took him back trackside for a good gallop around the track.

“No complaints yet,” the Hall of Fame conditioner said

The Godolphin homebred was scheduled to paddock school Wednesday afternoon. Saturday he’ll be reunited with regular rider Junior Alvarado as they come out of gate 18 in the run for the roses.