Kentucky Derby Preview: Metallica's Choice and Baffert's Resurgence Explored

Ready to dive into the horse racing world? Let's talk about the 2025 Kentucky Derby!

This year, 19 brave horses are ready to charge onto the Churchill Downs track in one of the most famous horse races of all time. And guess what? You can catch all the excitement right from your comfy couch!

The big race is set for May 3 at 6:57 p.m. ET. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, watch it on NBC, or stream it on Peacock or Hulu.

But what exactly is this Kentucky Derby everyone's buzzing about? Well, it's more than just a horse race – it's a grand spectacle of fashion, food, and music. Don't forget the iconic mint juleps and the garland of roses awarded to the winner. This race kicks off the coveted Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

There are several contenders for this year's race, but one horse stands out – Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy. This horse has three consecutive wins under its belt and has been drawn in the eighth position in the gate. Not that its trainer thinks it will make much of a difference, saying, "With a horse like him, he gives you a lot of confidence. Wouldn't have mattered where he was drawn."

Another horse to keep an eye on is Sandman, a three-year-old with A-list fans like Metallica. The group sent Sandman's stable some merchandise as a way of showing support. Sandman has a real chance at this year's Derby and is among the favorites.

Then there's legendary trainer Bob Baffert, making a comeback after a drug test controversy. Despite being banned from Churchill Downs for two years, he's back with a mission to win his seventh Kentucky Derby with relative outsider Citizen Bull. But don't count out the other contenders like Luxor Cafe from Japan, Burnham Square, Flying Mohawk, East Avenue, or Sandman.

So grab your hat, a mint julep, and prepare for the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports" to find out which horse will add its name to the history books!

[1]: Known as the morning line odds, these are the initial odds set by track handicappers based on predictions and wagers received before the actual race.[3]: Odds provided by various sports books as of Saturday morning.

In the midst of the excitement, experts have released the morning line odds for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which currently places Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, as a top contender.
For those who can't wait, odds provided by various sports books as of Saturday morning have highlighted Sandman as another horse to watch closely.
The history books might be rewritten this year, as legendary trainer Bob Baffert, returning after a drug test controversy, prepares to gun for his seventh Kentucky Derby win with outsider Citizen Bull.
Besides these notable horses, international contender Luxor Cafe from Japan, Burnham Square, Flying Mohawk, East Avenue, and the three-year-old with A-list fans, Sandman, are also set to participate in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, ready to stake their claim on horse-racing immortality.