Derby fans! Good news: the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby is just right around the corner. Less than five weeks remain, and the twenty-horse field is slowly taking shape. Have you chosen a possible contender to support? Or are you still looking for one? You’ve come to the right place if your answer is the latter. This blog highlights some of the top contenders for the Run For The Roses. Read on!
Tiztastic
Tiztastic was sired by Tiz the Law and Tapit mare Keesha. He was bred in Kentucky and is trained by the famous Steven M. Asmussen. This 3-year-old Tiztastic is currently the number one horse in the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 119 points, becoming one of the confirmed 2025 contenders for this year’s race. His journey to the Road to the Kentucky Derby started at the 2024 Street Sense (G3), where he finished second place. Then, Tiztastic finished third at the 2024 Kentucky Jockey Club. Moreover, this colt bagged a third-place win at the 2025 Southwest Stakes.
Most recently, Tiztastic won the $1 million Louisiana Derby, earning 100 points and a berth to the prestigious 2025 Kentucky Derby race. This victory demonstrated the colt’s ability to handle long distances, winning by 2 ¼ lengths. Furthermore, based on his 2025 performances, Tiztastic has attained 90-90-100 Brisnet Speed Numbers. These numbers indicate that his best figure has been at his longest race.
Final Gambit
Final Gambit registered a 101 Brisnet Speed figure, twenty points higher than his past numbers. It indicates he can still develop and become a dangerous contender at the Derby. This 3-year-old colt was sired by Not This Time and Tapit mare Pachinko. Final Gambit is trained by the legendary Brad H. Cox, who has many major racing wins, including the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
This colt earned 100 points and a coveted berth to the 2025 Kentucky Derby by winning the 2025 Jeff Ruby Stakes. Final Gambit entered the race as an outsider but proved everyone wrong. With a stretch, sweeping drive surge, he commanded the race, established a decisive rally, held off the competition, and sealed the most significant win of his racing career.
Chunk of Gold
Although Chunk of Gold has only raced in four events in his entire career, he’s one horse to watch at the Derby. Second-place finishes at these prep races aren’t that bad. It only means he can do more, run faster, and maybe even win the Derby.
Trained by Etan West, Chunk of Gold is a rising star in the horse racing scene. Chunk of Gold sits at number three in the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 75 points due to second place finishes at the 2025 Risen Star and Louisiana Derby. These points are more than enough to qualify for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. If you’re looking for a literal “dark horse” or underdog in the Kentucky Derby, Chunk of Gold may be the horse to go with.
Coal Battle
Coal Battle is among this year’s hopefuls for the 2025 Kentucky Derby and is one of the most intriguing horses in the leaderboard with 70 points. This colt, son of Coal Front, has bagged three consecutive first-place finishes in the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
- Remington Springboard Mile – 10 points
- Smarty Jones Stakes – 10 points
- Rebel Stakes – 50 points
This 3-year-old colt’s running style has improved immensely, evolving from a speed-reliant horse to a more tractable, composed thoroughbred. Coal Battle’s last two wins signify his growing ability to accelerate in essential moments, conserve energy, and settle.
One of the most compelling characteristics of Coal Battle is his ability to run across varying track conditions. He holds a perfect record on fast surfaces and is also effective on wet tracks. This attribute could be this colt’s significant asset if he can run in the Derby.
The Road to Churchill Downs
With only a few weeks before the 151st Kentucky Derby, these promising contenders will continue to train and hone their preparations. Each of these horses brings a distinctive weapon to the Kentucky Derby field, whether it’s the rising power of Coal Battle, Chunk of Gold’s tenacity, the strong kick of Final Gambit, or the speed of Tiztastic. Racing fans will surely want to watch which of these horses can cement their status as genuine contenders at the Derby.
