Kentucky Derby Field Set as Global Racing Action Heats Up

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Derby has finalized its field for the 151st race, taking place on Saturday. With 21 three-year-olds entered for the much-anticipated event, the competition is fierce this year.

After months of qualification races, only 20 horses will compete, with Baeza as the sole eligible alternative if any of the primary entries withdraw. Journalism, the Santa Anita Derby champion, stands as the early favorite at 3-1 odds, followed closely by Sovereignty and Sandman at 6-1.

Trainer Bob Baffert, gunning for a record seventh Derby win, will enter two horses: Citizen Bull, the 20-1 long shot, and Rodriguez, with odds of 12-1. Facing him is D. Wayne Lukas, hoping for his fifth victory with American Promise at 30-1.

Notable changes have shaken up the lineup; Florida Derby winner Tappan Street was pulled from the race due to a minor fracture, allowing Render Judgment to step in, despite trainer Kenny McPeek expressing reservations about the decision.

The full field in post-position order is as follows: 1. Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 20-1) 2. Neoequous (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1) 3. Final Gambit (Luan Machado, Brad Cox, 30-1) 4. Rodriguez (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 12-1) 5. American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas, 30-1) 6. Admire Daytona (Christophe Lemaire, Yukihiro Kato, 30-1) 7. Luxor Café (Joao Moreira, Noriyuki Kato, 15-1) 8. Journalism (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy, 3-1) 9. Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 12-1) 10. Grande (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 20-1) 11. Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman, 30-1) 12. East Avenue (Manny Franco, Brendan Walsh, 20-1) 13. Publisher (Irad Ortiz Jr., Steve Asmussen, 20-1) 14. Tiztastic (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 20-1) 15. Render Judgment (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek, 30-1) 16. Coal Battle (Juan Vargas, Lonnie Briley, 30-1) 17. Sandman (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 6-1) 18. Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 5-1) 19. Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West, 30-1) 20. Owen Almighty (Javier Castellano, Brian Lynch, 30-1) 21. AE: Baeza (Flavien Prat, John Shirreffs, 12-1).

As the Derby approaches, racing fans around the globe are eager to see how the competition unfolds, with the buzz building around both known favorites and surprising entrants.