The stage is officially set for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, and the highly anticipated post-position draw has added both excitement and drama ahead of Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs.
The early favorite, Journalism, enters the Derby at 3-1 odds and drew post position No. 8, a spot often seen as ideal for navigating the crowded 20-horse field. Trained by a rising star in the industry and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism has been dominant on the prep trail and will now benefit from a clean, central launch point that avoids both the crush of the inside and the wide sweep of the outside posts.
Meanwhile, the spotlight—and pressure—shines brightly on legendary trainer Bob Baffert, who will attempt to make Derby history with Citizen Bull, last year’s two-year-old champion. The colt, known for his early speed, drew the dreaded post No. 1, a gate that hasn’t seen a winner emerge since Ferdinand in 1986. In a 20-horse field, the inside rail often leads to traffic problems at the first turn, forcing the horse to either gun for the lead or fall to the back to avoid getting boxed in. 
“It is what it is,” said Baffert. “You can’t change the post draw, but once you’re there, the horse has to be ready. He’s got a lot of speed, so we’re just going to let him run.” Martin Garcia, who knows Baffert’s horses well, will be aboard Citizen Bull and is expected to push him forward right from the break.
Contenders in Strong Positions
Several other top horses landed more favorable posts:
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Sovereignty (5-1), known for his powerful finishing kick, drew post 18—a slot that works well for deep closers like him. With Junior Alvarado in the irons, he’ll likely drop to the back early before making his move in the final stretch.
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Sandman (6-1), winner of the Arkansas Derby, will try to overcome historical odds from post 17. No horse has ever won the Derby from this gate, but Jose Ortiz will look to break that trend. Like Sovereignty, Sandman is also a closer, which may work to his advantage as the pace up front heats up.
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Rodriguez (12-1), trained by a Hall of Famer and ridden by Mike Smith, drew post 4 and has steadily climbed the ranks as a sleeper pick. His tactical speed could keep him out of trouble early.
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Luxor Cafe (15-1), a strong finisher trained in Japan and ridden by Joao Moreira, could represent international interest in this year’s field, especially with recent global success in major U.S. races.
Full List: 2025 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Jockeys & Odds
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Citizen Bull – Martin Garcia (20-1)
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Neoequos – Flavien Prat (30-1)
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Final Gambit – Luan Machado (30-1)
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Rodriguez – Mike Smith (12-1)
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American Promise – Nik Juarez (30-1)
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Admire Daytona – Christophe Lemaire (30-1)
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Luxor Cafe – Joao Moreira (15-1)
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Journalism – Umberto Rispoli (3-1)
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Burnham Square – Brian Hernandez Jr. (12-1)
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Grande – John Velazquez (20-1)
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Flying Mohawk – Joe Ramos (30-1)
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East Avenue – Manny Franco (20-1)
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Publisher – Irad Ortiz Jr. (20-1)
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Tiztastic – Joel Rosario (20-1)
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Render Judgement – Julien Leparoux (30-1)
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Coal Battle – Juan Vargas (30-1)
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Sandman – Jose Ortiz (6-1)
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Sovereignty – Junior Alvarado (5-1)
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Chunk of Gold – Jareth Loveberry (30-1)
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Owen Almighty – Javier Castellano (30-1)
The Road to the Roses
As the countdown to Derby Day on May 3rd continues, all eyes are on Churchill Downs to see whether Journalism can deliver on expectations, or if a longshot—perhaps one battling from the outside or the rail—will rise to the moment. The Derby has a long tradition of surprises, and with a deep, competitive field, this year is shaping up to be no different.
Who will wear the roses in 2025?
