Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Publisher

Apr 16, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Publisher gets a work in a Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Gus King and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones’ Publisher has amassed 60 qualifying points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series for conditioner Steve Asmussen. The bay punched his ticket to Louisville when finishing a clear second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on March 29.

Still a maiden, the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah made his first appearance at Ellis Park on August 12. He checked in third in a seven-furlong race on the main oval while facing maiden special weight foes. The bay concluded his juvenile season with a second in a maiden special weight contest at 1 1/16-miles at Oaklawn Park, his fourth placing from as many tries as a two-year-old.

Publisher kicked off 2025 with a seventh-place finish in the Southwest S. (G3) and preceded his Arkansas Derby effort with a fourth in the Rebel S. (G2), both at Oaklawn Park. His career line now stands at 7-0-2-3, $407,756.

The colt was bred in the Bluegrass State by Brereton C. Jones and brought the gavel down at $600,000 as a yearling in 2023 at Fasig-Tipton’s The August Sale at Saratoga. He is out of the stakes-winning Proud Citizen mare Indian Pride, who is a half-sister to Canadian champions Biofuel and Tu Endie Wei. This is the same female line as 1989 Arkansas Derby star Dansil.

Publisher earned Brisnet Speed figures of 83-93-98 from three assignments this campaign, with his top number coming in his first effort since blinkers were added. The late runner gives every indication of a three-year-old who will endure the 1 1/4 miles with relative ease beneath the Twin Spires, and he is surely moving in the right direction in advance of the First Saturday in May. He will have top pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the silks in Louisville for the initial time.