Gray horses: Gray horses look different, so they generate some excitement from people who might not care about a horse’s pedigree or speed rating. No gray horse has won the Kentucky Derby since 2005. There are three grays running this year: Sandman, Final Gambit, and Chunk of Gold.

Baeza is now among the horses in the field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Rodriguez, who is trained by Bob Baffert, was scratched.

Briley finally has made it to the Kentucky Derby with Coal Battle, who won four straight stakes races from November through February before finishing third in the Arkansas Derby in March. “It’s a good thing I don’t drink,” Briley says. “Because I’d be a drunk.”