Kentucky Derby 2025 rankings: Track the contenders with HRN
Horse Racing Nation's Kentucky Derby 2025 contender rankings are back to transform how you experience the road to the roses. Racing fans, this is the most comprehensive way to track, analyze and engage with the most anticipated race of the year.
Daily updates: Our dedicated team scours racetracks nationwide, tracking workouts, race performances and trainer comments to bring you the most current contender rankings.
Fan voting: As you have come to expect at HRN, YOU have a direct voice in Derby predictions. Create an accountm vote for your top prospects, and watch how fan sentiment evolves alongside professional assessments.
Advanced analytics: We don't just list horses – we provide deep-dive statistics, performance metrics and predictive modeling to help you understand each contender's potential.
Kentucky Derby rankings: Early contenders take shape
With six races already run on the U.S. road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Horse Racing Nation's latest rankings reveal an exciting early field of potential champions. The May 3 race at Churchill Downs is already generating significant buzz with several standout performers.
Citizen Bull, a colt by Into Mischief trained by Bob Baffert, has emerged as the early leader in the 2025 Kentucky Derby rankings. The impressive winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile is the top-ranked contender, currently at 7.49, and sets a high bar for the competition.
The rankings showcase a diverse array of promising young horses. Gaming, sired by Game Winner and also trained by Baffert, secured a strong second-place position after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Chancer McPatrick, with a sixth-place finish in the same race, continues to demonstrate potential for the upcoming Derby.
The top 13 horses showcase a diverse range of pedigrees, with multiple horses sired by Into Mischief, Curlin and other notable stallions. Speed figures for the top contenders range from the mid-70s to 100, indicating a competitive and promising crop of 3-year-olds.
Trainer dynamics
Bob Baffert, freed from a 3-year ban on participation in the race, continues to demonstrate his exceptional skill in developing Derby contenders. His stable features multiple top-ranked horses, including Citizen Bull, Gaming, Getaway Car and Emerald Bay. This consistent performance underscores Baffert's ongoing influence in preparing young Thoroughbreds for racing's most prestigious events.
Top trainers and their 2025 Derby prospects
Bob Baffert (6 prospects)
Citizen Bull. 1st, Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Speed: 100
Gaming. 2nd, Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Speed: 98
Getaway Car. 4th, Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Speed: 93
Kalea Bay. 5th, Bob Hope (G3)
Emerald Bay. 4th, American Pharoah (G1). Speed: 75
Madaket Road. 2nd, Bob Hope
Chad Brown (4 prospects)
Chancer McPatrick. 6th, Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Speed: 91
Zulu Kingdom. 7th, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
Incentive Pay. 3rd, Hopeful (G1). Speed: 90
Keewaydin. 1st, Aqueduct MSW
Todd Pletcher (4 prospects)
Tip Top Thomas. 2nd, Champagne (G1)
Showcase. 1st, Saratoga Special (G2). Speed: 101
Uncaged. 1st, Saratoga MSW. Speed: 90
Mentee. 12th, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Speed: 71
Brad Cox (3 prospects)
Sacrosanct. 1st, Sleepy Hollow
Admiral Dennis. 1st, Churchill Downs MSW. Speed: 92
Uncle Jim. 1st, Keeneland MSW. Speed: 88
Bill Mott (3 prospects)
Sovereignty. 1st, Street Sense (G3). Speed: 92
Tux. 1st, Aqueduct MSW. Speed: 89
Sandman. 3rd, Street Sense. Speed: 85
Sire insights
The current rankings reveal a fascinating mix of bloodlines. Into Mischief, McKinzie and Gun Runner are prominently represented, highlighting the influence of established and younger stallions in producing top-tier racing prospects. Each horse's pedigree tells a story of potential speed, endurance and competitive spirit.
Top sires and their 2025 Derby prospects
Citizen Bull stands out as the top-rated contender, having won the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with an impressive 100 speed figure. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia, he's a clear early favorite. Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, won the 2024 Street Sense with a 92 speed figure. Praetor, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, recently broke his maiden at Aqueduct and shows promise as a developing young horse.
2. McKinzie
Chancer McPatrick, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, finished sixth in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a 91 speed figure. McKinzie Street, trained by Tim Yakteen and ridden by Kazushi Kimura, placed third in the 2024 Bob Hope, demonstrating potential for improvement as the season progresses.
3. Curlin
Getaway Car, another Bob Baffert trainee ridden by Juan Hernandez, finished fourth in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a 93 speed figure. Uncaged, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., won a maiden special weight at Saratoga with a 90 speed figure, showing early promise for the Derby trail.
4. City of Light
Filoso, trained by C. Summers and ridden by John Velazquez, placed third in the 2024 Breeders' Futurity (G1) with an 85 speed figure. Mentee, another Todd Pletcher trainee with John Velazquez up, finished 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Uncle Jim, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, recently won a maiden special weight at Keeneland with an 88 speed figure.
5. Gun Runner
Bullard, trained by Mike McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, won the 2024 Bob Hope. Guns Loaded, trained by Jose D'Angelo and ridden by Luis Saez, recently broke his maiden at Churchill Downs. Whiskey Shot, trained by Rudolph Brisset and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, won a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs with an 89 speed figure.
6. Not This Time
Giocoso, trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by Jaime Torres, won a Churchill Downs allowance race with a 94 speed figure. Magnitude, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, finished seventh in the 2024 Iroquois with an 80 speed figure, suggesting room for improvement.
Horse Racing Nation's ranking system allows fans to actively participate by tracking and voting on contenders. These rankings are dynamic, subject to change based on upcoming performances, training reports, and expert assessments. The fluid nature of these rankings keeps the anticipation high as we approach the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The road to Churchill Downs starts here. Are you ready?