Handicapping the 2025 Kentucky Derby Trainers

by Mike Allen - 5/1/2025

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby is now just days away. You’ve probably read all about the 20 horses that’ll be lined up at Churchill Downs on Saturday, or at least the betting favorites. Our purpose here today, though, is to give you some background on each of the trainers who head up these all-star teams of jockeys, nutritionists, work riders, and veterinarians.

The #1 horse trainer headline of 2025 is undoubtedly the return of legendary trainer Bob Baffert. The native of Nogales, Arizona, is closing in on career win number 3,500. He would be closer to that goal today had he not been suspended for the previous two years due to illegally enhancing the performance of his horses.

Some are expecting Baffert’s team to stumble on Saturday, but I love his chances. The man had nothing more to prove to the horse racing world before his suspension. However, something tells me there’s a fresh fire lit under the 72-year-old seat of his pants.

Other notable trainers who have horses competing at the Kentucky Derby are D. Wayne Lukas, Todd Pletcher, and last year's winner Kenny McPeek, who was the man behind Mystik Dan's win.

Let’s line these guys up old school alphabetically and give you some background on each of these horse trainers at the pinnacle of their profession.

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Steve Asmussen: Publisher, Tiztastic

Born in Gettysburg, South Dakota that is, Steve Asmussen grew up in Texas. By age 16, he rode colts as a jockey in New Mexico and California. At 18, however, the young man had grown to over 6 feet tall, and just like that, his competitive riding days were over.

With parents of 5'2" and 5'5", this was quite a surprise, but everything happens for a reason. Asmussen has been one of the most successful horse trainers in history. One of only three trainers with multiple horses in the field, Publisher and Tiztastic, Asmussen is still searching for his first Kentucky Derby victory after winning the Preakness Stakes twice and Belmont once.

Bob Baffert: Citizen Bull, Rodriguez

Baffert is certainly the most successful trainer of the 21st century. Watch out for Baffert’s horses on Saturday. The man is currently tied for all-time wins (6) at the Kentucky Derby with Ben A. Jones, a trainer who’s held the record for quite some time. The man was born in 1882!

Whit Beckman: Flying Mohawk

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, D. Whitworth Beckman had to have come up with money. Middle or not, who names their kid Whitworth? He started working towards his goal of being a successful horse trainer at a young age. His first job was at Churchill Downs, where he assisted Hall of Fame trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.

His chances, however, will be slim on Saturday, as his horse Flying Mohawk is just a 35-1 underdog, if you will, to get the win.

Lonnie Briley: Coal Battle

Famous for his focus on a horse's flaws, 72-year-old Louisiana native Lonnie Briley and his team have trained Coal Battle for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. It will be just that, an uphill battle through a metaphorical mountain of coal, as he is a longshot to win at 29-1.

Mark Casse: Sandman

The winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, respectively, in 2019, Mark Casse is a veteran of the sport in his 60s. His horse, Sandman, is one of the betting favorites at only 5-1 to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

He's been a fan since the influential age of 8 when he traveled to Churchill Downs with his father in 1973 to see the iconic Secretariat win the Kentucky Derby.

Brad Cox: Final Gambit, Tappan Street

We mentioned Cox already as a mentor of Whit Beckman. He did have two, but now only one horse running on Saturday, Final Gambit, with betting odds of (30-1). The Louisville native is a legend, but not many people have his horse on their card to place.

Noriyuki Hori: Luxor Cafe

The Japanese trainer has had extensive success on the Asian circuit as a horse trainer but lacks experience in the States. His colt, Luxor Cafe, though, is a dark horse at 15-1 and a popular pick for trifectas as a potential 2nd or 3rd placer.

Saffie Joseph Jr.: Neoequos

Saffie Joseph Jr. is a third-generation horse trainer who didn’t need the job but left beautiful Barbados as a young man to chase his dream of winning the Kentucky Derby. His horse Neoequos will not be one of the favorites at a full 30-1.

Yukihiro Kato: Admire Daytone

It's already been a busy year for Japan's Yukihiro Kato. The trainer's horses have nearly 100 starts already in 2025, and none will be bigger than the debut of Admire Daytona, another longshot at 30-1.

D. Wayne Lukas: American Progress

We mentioned Lukas already. A winner of multiple Preakness, Kentucky Derby, and Belmont Stakes, including a Triple Crown in 1999, the near-90-year-old Lukas is a fan favorite. His horse, American Progress, is yet another 30-1 to win.

Brian Lynch: Owen Almighty

Another 30-1 horse, Owen Almighty, is trained by Australia’s Brian Lynch. This savage is built different than the other trainers. He moved to America in the 80s to ride bulls, a far cry from some of the spoiled kids coming up in this business.

Michael McCarthy: Journalism

Michael McCarthy’s horse Journalism is one of the favorites this year, with betting odds of a mere 3-1. Born in the gritty city of Youngstown, Ohio, McCarthy has been a head trainer for over a decade now, with his best win coming at The Preakness in 2021.

Kenny McPeek: Render Judgement

McPeek’s Render Judgement is another 30-1 underdog. If you’re looking for a horse in that odds range to bump up one of your tickets, McPeek’s colt isn’t the worst bet. As we mentioned, he is the defending champion here at the Kentucky Derby.

Bill Mott: Sovereignty

Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, is another betting favorite at just 5-1. At the age of 45 in 1998, Mott became the youngest trainer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mott won this race back in 2019. Many bettors have Sovereignty high on their betting card for Saturday.

Todd Pletcher: Grande

Platcher's Grande is a 20-1 dog to get the win at this year's Derby. Pletcher got his start working for his pops as a hot walker. This job is now done quite easily, mechanically, but it's essentially walking a horse in a small circle to cool him down after the race.

Ian Wilkes: Burnham Square

Another Australian bloke, Ian Wilkes, has just one Breeders Cup win in his career. His horse Burnham Square has a decent shot at placing, though, with betting odds of 12-1.

Ethan West: Chunk of Gold

Like most trainers, it’s been a family affair for Ethan West, who grew up in the business. He has a chance to make a splash on Saturday as he leads Chunk of Gold (30-1) onto the tracks for his first Kentucky Derby appearance as a trainer.

Brendan Walsh: East Avenue

Finally, we have Brendan Walsh. The 57-year-old Irishman has career earnings of over 60 million but has never won one of the three American Classics. His horse East Avenue has betting odds of 20-1 to win on Saturday.

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