If there is any indication, the famous Rose Wreath at the 151st Kentucky Derby is likely to win the first time winner.
It is expected to debut in the Derby on May 3: Luan Machado (final gambit), Juan Vargas (coal war), Nik Juarez, American Promise, Joao Moreira (Luxor Cafe) (Luxor Cafe) and Joseph Ramos (Flying Mohawk). Ten others returned to find their first victory.
But a particularly experienced rider is ready to make history in this year's victory.
Brian Hernandez Jr.
Joel Rosario, Flavien Prat and Javier Castellano will also be riding.
This is the area currently representing Derby 151:
Kentucky Derby Horse: Sandman
Jose Ortiz ranked second in 2018 with good magic and 2019 with Tacitus, finishing second in 2018. According to his equibase profile, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican jockey ranked in the top four in profits (fourth) and 2024 victory (second). He has won 98 victories and 123 top three in 407 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Burnham Square
Hernandez Jr. Espinoza 2014-15). Hernandez has won 43 firsts and 60 other top three in 249 games this year.
Kentucky Derby Horse: news
Derby 151 is third in Umberto Rispoli. He ended up finishing ninth last year - Rispoli's best derby performance. The 36-year-old Italian jockey won 44 victories and 64 top three in 197 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: tiztastic
Rosario starts his 14th Derby. He won with Ballball in 2013. The 40-year-old Dominican jockey has won 27 victories and 43 top three in 193 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Make a judgment
Leparoux seeks his first win in his 15th derby start. The 41-year-old French jockey won his fourth Eclipse 500 victory in Keeneland in 2021 and is a winning racer on the track. Leparoux won 23 victories in 151 games in 2025, with 44 other top three.
Kentucky Derby Horse: sovereignty
Derby 151 is the sixth place in junior Alvarado. He is looking for his first win after he finished fourth with Mohaymen in 2016 and sixth with resilience in 2024. The 38-year-old Venezuelan jockey won 40 victories and 66 other top three in 254 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: The final gambit
Machado will debut this year with the final gambit. Machado was suspended twice in Kentucky last year, including Churchill Downs for four days and fined $1,000 last year, and his climbing footsteps were invalid when "there wasn't enough reason to relax his climbing" and the ride was on November 28. Hold my bourbon “Go all out.” The Brazilian Jockey Club won 58 victories and 104 other top three in 377 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Coal War
Vargas is making its debut in the derby. The 43-year-old Peruvian jockey started the coal battle in seven of his eight careers. In 2025, they won two of three games, including the Arkansas Derby. Vargas has won 14 victories and 60 other top three in 242 games this year.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Gold nuggets
Jareth Loveberry returns to Derby after finishing second in 2023 with two Phils. The 37-year-old grew up on a farm on a pleasant rural hill in Michigan and started riding in the early 2000s. Loveberry has won 43 wins and 77 other top three in 308 games this year.
Kentucky Derby Horse: bull
Martin Garcia returns to his fifth Kentucky Derby, the first since 2015. Ten years ago, Garcia finished third with Dortmund - his best performance. The 40-year-old Mexican jockey won two wins and 10 top three in 46 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: East Street
Manny Franco started his sixth Kentucky Derby from East Avenue. Franco's best score was made on the 2020 Law (Second), but Franco recently ranked fifth with a hit show in 2023. The 30-year-old Puerto Rican jockey has won 91 wins and 158 other top three in 407 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Publisher
Irad Ortiz Jr. Ortiz recently ranked 13th with a domestic production (2024), but his best score was impossible in 2019 (4th). The 32-year-old Puerto Rican jockey won 105 victories and 180 other top three in 510 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: The United States promises
Juarez is releasing the Kentucky Derby on American Promise. The 31-year-old describes himself as a "fourth generation" rider. His mom, Carol Linton, ran and rode until he was 7.5 months pregnant, and his dad Calixto won the race at Delaware Park the day Juarez was born. He has won 15 victories and 32 top three in the 136 games this year.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Flying Mohawks
Ramos joined Mohawk for his first Kentucky Derby. Ramos is one of four siblings in Puerto Rico, his high school math teacher is also a horse racing agent and shows Ramos how to apply for a jockey school. He has won 50 victories and 63 top three in 2025 in 263 games.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Baeza
Flavien Prat, the 2019 Kentucky Derby champion with Country House, will be in his eighth run of the Rose race at Baeza. This is Pratt's fifth consecutive derby. The 32-year-old French jockey has won 85 victories in 313 games in 2025, with 109 top three.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Owen's all-around
Castellano has taken his 17th Kentucky Derby to start with the all-around Owen, since his 2023 victory with Mage. He comes from a racing family, with his father, uncle and younger brother Abel Jr. all served as jockeys. The 47-year-old Venezuelan jockey won 35 victories and 80 other top three in 272 games in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Luxor Cafe
Moreira will debut at the Kentucky Derby at Luxor Cafe after winning the bet for Fukuuryu in March. The 41-year-old Brazilian jockey won four victories and two third-place finishes in eight matches in 2025.
Kentucky Derby Horse: Appreciate Daytona
Christophe Lemaire will be in his third Kentucky Derby after winning the UAE Derby on April 5. The 45-year-old French jockey won another victory in six matches in 2025, while finishing third in Japan. Lemaire previously won his sixth time on Derma Sotogake in 2023 and his 13th time on Crown Pride in 2022.
Kentucky Derby Horse: New and so on
Luis Saez will take his 12th Kentucky Derby to the new Equos. Saez's best result is the basic quality of 2021 (third time). The 32-year-old Panama jockey has won 92 victories and 165 other top three in 518 matches in 2025.
Contact Payton Titus, a university sports enterprise reporter, at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on x @petitus25.