The Road to the Kentucky Derby is well underway, with this year’s crop of three-year-old horses in the United States having their eyes primed for the 151st Derby at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Bob Baffert will be back at the track for the first time since Medina Spirit’s disqualification, and the Hall of Famer will likely have a strong hand of his horses in his bid for a historic win in Louisville. You can start placing your bets here: https://www.twinspires.com/200-signup/
So, who are the early contenders in the betting to win the Kentucky Derby this year?
Barnes
Bob Baffert is back with a strong contender at this early stage on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, as Barnes has been the talking horse in the division in the opening months of 2025.
The three-year-old is sire by Into Mischief and our of an American Pharoah mare, All American Dream. Barnes has already won on both of his two career starts, and looked extremely exciting on his latest effort when beating Romanesque by a clear margin in the G2 San Vincent Stakes.
That performance has already seen him move to the top of the Kentucky Derby betting, and all roads lead to the G2 Rebel Stakes next month, before a final prep start in the G1 Arkansas Derby.
Citizen Bull
The win recorded by Barnes at Santa Anita earlier this month displaced stablemate Citizen Bull from the top of the Kentucky Derby betting. The three-year-old is also sired by Into Mischief, but is out of a Distorted Humor mare No Joke.
He is the more solid of the Baffert contenders based on the form to this point, as he showed his dominance in two-year-old company at Del Mar last time out when scoring a career-best speed rating of 100 when beating Gaming in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Was a Grade One winner before that effort after landing the American Pharoah in October. Connections have high hopes for the Derby this year, and we will likely see Citizen Bull back in action at the start of February when lining up in the G3 Robert B Lewis Stakes.
Madaket Road
At this stage, Bob Baffert is triple-handed at the top of the Derby betting, with Madaket Road coming in for considerable attention in recent weeks.
The three-year-old is sired by Quality Road, and is out of Smoke Glacken mare Frolic’s Dream. The three-year-old has made just two career starts to this point, and plenty can be taken from his efforts so far. Madaket Road was beaten by Bullard in the G3 Bob Hope Stakes at the end of November over seven furlongs, before dropping back in trip to compete in a maiden special weight over six furlongs at San Anita last month.
He eventually got the job done against Father Ted on that latest outing, but his speed doesn’t necessarily point to a horse that is going to stay the marathon Kentucky Derby trip.
East Avenue
East Avenue is a Kentucky Derby hope from the Brendon Walsh yard in 2025. The three-year-old is sired by Medaglia d’Oro and is out of Ghostzapper mare Dance Music.
In truth, there is a lot to like about East Avenue’s chances in the Derby this year, despite bombing out in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November when finishing only ninth after being sent off as a well-back favorite. Things just didn’t go to plan at Del Mar, and a line could be drawn through that run based on his two efforts prior.
He was an excellent winner of the G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October, beating Ferocious in very impressive fashion, and scoring a speed rating on 98 in the process. Looks to have the stamina to suit the Derby trip, and we are likely to see the three-year-old return to the track in the G2 Risen Star Stakes next month, which will make for fascinating viewing.
Coal Battle
Coal Battle is a very interesting contender in the Kentucky Derby betting at this stage for the Lonnie Briley yard. The three-year-old is by Coal Front and is out of Midshipman mare Wolfblade.
The three-year-old showed modest form as a two-year-old, finishing fourth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile, before eventually getting a stakes win in the Jean Lafitte. However, he has been more impressive with every outing since then. That first stakes win was over just over six furlongs, and he quickly transitioned to a mile when setting a speed rating of 94 when winning the Remington Springboard Mile in December.
But, the vast majority of market support behind this horse came after his very eye-catching display in the Smarty Jones Stakes over one mile and 1/16, beating Mo Quality and Kale’s Angel very impressively. Sights are set high among connections, and he is primed to run in the G3 Southwest Stakes at the end of the month.