Kentucky Derby Update: Arkansas Derby Winner Sandman Arrives at Churchill Downs

Apr 01, 2025

It was an earlier-than-usual morning for trainer Mark Casse’s team on Tuesday as they welcomed Arkansas Derby (Grade I) winner Sandman to Churchill Downs just after 4 a.m. ET to begin his preparations for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

Owned in partnership by Leonard Green’s D.J. Stable, Vinny Viola’s St. Elias Stable, Terry Finley’s West Point Thoroughbreds, and Charles Sonson’s CJ Stables, Sandman earned his first points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a 2 ½-length victory over Publisher in Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby.

Publisher arrived at Churchill Downs a few hours earlier than Sandman and is based in Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s Barn 38, located next to Casse’s Barn 36.

G1 Arkansas Derby contender SANDMAN this morning pic.twitter.com/ekm2Ek4Tqy

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 2, 2025

Coal Battle, who finished third in the Arkansas Derby for Norman Stables, is scheduled to ship to Churchill the week of April 6, according to trainer Lonnie Briley.

“He’ll have about four walk days,” Briley said after the Arkansas Derby. “Then we’ll take him to the track and maybe jog a day or two, walk again, gallop, and then van over to Churchill.”

Another Derby contender, Flying Mohawk, runner-up in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), arrived Monday afternoon from Turfway Park. He is stabled in Whit Beckman’s Barn 21.

Sandman, Publisher, and Flying Mohawk join Tiztastic, Final Gambit, and Built as horses currently ranked within the top 19 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and stabled at Churchill Downs. Twenty make the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby and, currently, the final spot is reserved for the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby winner Luxor Café.

According to the National Weather Service, several inches of rain are expected to impact the Louisville area beginning Wednesday, leaving many trainers uncertain about their Derby contenders’ training schedules and potential arrivals in the coming days.