The 2025 Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, with the 151st running of the prestigious race set for Saturday, May 3rd. This year’s odds-on favorite in the betting market is Journalism, who has a far better designation than any other horse in the running.
Here are Journalism’s odds, as well as information on the colt’s jockey, trainer, owner, and more.
(+285)
Journalism enters the 2025 Kentucky Derby as the horse to beat according to the current odds with a designation of +285. He has demonstrated talent and speed in his previous races, and has a pedigree suggesting he can handle the Derby distance. However, the Kentucky Derby is known for its unpredictability, and overcoming the “favorite curse” in a large field will be a significant test.
No favorite has ended up winning the Race for the Roses since 2018.
Umberto Rispoli is a jockey who hails from Italy. He is 36-years-old, and has been riding since 2005. The 2025 Kentucky Derby will be the third time that he has participated in the event, as he rode Brooklyn Strong to a 14th place finish in 2021 and Endlessly into 9th place just last year.
Rispoli has earned $2.9 million so far this year, which ranks 20th among jockeys in North America, according to Equibase.
Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism covers a lot of ground… pic.twitter.com/B7B9DHwqIW
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 27, 2025
The trainer for this year’s odds-on favorite is Michael McCarthy. The Ohio native got his first major win back in 2014, and was the trainer for a horse who picked up a couple of Triple Crown top-three finishes. McCarthy worked with Rombauer back in 2021, who finished in first place in that year’s Preakness. Less than a month later, Rombauer came in third in the Belmont Stakes.
McCarthy ranks 22nd in earnings among trainers since the year 2000, which is a value of over $43 million.
Journalism is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. They have been in business since 2011. Here are their statistics:
Over 624 wins from over 3138 starts.
Over $56 million in total earnings.
161 stakes wins, including 29 Grade 1 victories.
A 3rd place finish in the 2014 Kentucky Derby with Danza
This is his career-best Equibase Speed Figure to date and was earned in a Grade 2 victory
He earned this figure when winning this important Grade 1 prep race
He won this Grade 2 race as a two-year-old
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