Turfway, Fair Grounds take center stage on road to the Kentucky Derby this weekend

The 2025 Kentucky Derby is closing in fast.

The May 3 Run for the Roses is only six weeks from Saturday.

And the race is already well underway for the 20 coveted spots in the starting gate on the First Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The top five in the points battle are Coal Battle (70), Owen Almighty (65), Citizen Bull (60), Sovereignty (60) and American Promise 55.

With most of the major points races still to be run, March and April are a target-rich environment for those with dreams of getting into the field.

Two of those races take place Saturday, with the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Both races deliver 100 Derby qualifying points to the winners, with second through fifth places earning 50, 25, 15 and 10, respectively

Next Saturday brings the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

On April 5, the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland headlines a day of Derby preps that also includes the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the UAE Derby in Dubai.

All of the aforementioned races deliver 100 points to the winner.

John Hancock, trained by Louisville’s Brad Cox, is the 7-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby. Top challengers include Built (4-1), D. Wayne Lukas’ Caldera (5-1) and Cox’s Instant Replay (6-1). Lexington’s Kenny McPeek, winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, has Hypnus at 10-1.

Post time for the 1 3/16-miles Louisiana Derby is 6:42 p.m. EDT

At Turfway Park, Poster, trained by Eoin Harty, is the 3-1 top choice on the morning line in a full field of 12 3-year-olds.

California Burrito (7-2), Baby Max (5-1) and McPeek’s Maximum Promise (5-1) are the top challengers.

Post time for the 1 ⅛-mile Jeff Ruby is 6:25 p.m. EDT