2025 Kentucky Derby: Every horse in field a descendant of Secretariat

In 1973, Secretariat put together one of the all-time great Kentucky Derby runs as part of a historic journey to the Triple Crown. More than 50 years later, his impact is still being felt at the 2025 race.

Every horse in the field for this year’s Kentucky Derby is a descendant of Secretariat. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, more than 660 registered foals are descendants of the legendary horse.

Journalism – who enters as the favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby – is a sixth-generation descendant of Secretariat, as is Baeza. Sovereignty, Storm Cat, A.P. Indy, Flying Mohawk and Owen Almighty are both fifth-generation, while Chunk of Gold is a fourth generation.

“It’s one of those stats,” said Whit Beckman, who trains Flying Mohawk, via the Courier-Journal. “It’s bound to happen at some point with how much he shows up in every single pedigree. It’s really cool. Very cool.”

Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner in 1973 with historic runs through the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes. At Churchill Downs that year, Secretariat ran each quarter-mile segment faster than the one before it, and he became the first horse to finish the race in less than two minutes with a time of 1:59 and 2/5.

More on the favorites at the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Journalism currently sits as the favorite, trained by Michael McCarthy with jockey Umberto Rispoli. He has won four straight races after finishing third in his maiden race. Over that span, he has an average speed figure of 107 and a high of 110 – the average figure for the Kentucky Derby winner has been 107 over the past five years.

Sandman is next on the board, trained by Mark Casse with jockey Jose Ortiz – who is one Kentucky Derby win from riding to victory in every leg of the Triple Crown. The horse has continued to gain speed and finished the prep series with an Arkansas Derby win.

Rodriguez and Grande have both scratched before the race, allowing Baeza to join the field which will include just 19 horses this year. Those changes move Japanese horse Luxor Cafe next on the board with trainer Yukihiro Kato and jockey Joao Moreira.

Sovereignty is next in line, trained by William Mott with jockey Junior Alvarado. While he finished second in the Florida Derby, he has two career wins, including one at Churchill Downs last fall.

James Fletcher III contributed to this report.