Two of the Kentucky Derby odds favorites will clash in the Santa Anita Derby as Journalism takes on Citizen Bull. But first, the scramble will be on in the 12-horse Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Our free betting picks guide you through both of these key Derby preps on Saturday, April 5.
Wood Memorial odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Aqueduct Race 12
- Post time: 6:10 p.m. ET
- TV: FanDuel TV, FS2
| Post | Horse | Track odds |  |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodriguez | 5-2 | +250 | +300 |
| 2 | Captain Cook | 7-2 | +350 | +275 |
| 3 | Tiger Twenty Four | 30-1 | +3000 | +2000 |
| 4 | My Mitole | 20-1 | +2000 | +3300 |
| 5 | Sand Devil | 8-1 | +800 | +550 |
| 6 | Hill Road | 9-2 | +450 | +650 |
| 7 | Grande | 5-1 | +500 | +500 |
| 8 | Passion Rules | 12-1 | +1200 | +1200 |
| 9 | Bear Claw Necklace | 50-1 | +5000 | +5000 |
| 10 | McAfee | 20-1 | +2000 | +2500 |
| 11 | Statesman | 15-1 | +1500 | +2000 |
| 12 | Omaha Omaha | 30-1 | +3000 | +3300 |
Odds as of 4-4.
No. 2 Captain Cook (7-2) has found new life in the Rick Dutrow barn at Aqueduct, shaking off an inauspicious debut by graduating from the maiden ranks in a romp before passing the distance test in the Grade III Withers Stakes.
A repeat of that Withers win would certainly be good enough to take the Wood Memorial, and the AM works say he'll be ready under regular rider Manny Franco.
No. 1 Rodriguez (5-2, morning-line favorite) was no match for Journalism and Barnes in the San Felipe Stakes, but that race was arguably the toughest of any Derby prep run so far in 2025. He was not disgraced by Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis two-back either.
Although Rodriguez is just 1-for-4 lifetime, he's dangerous in this spot with effective class relief. Mike Smith ships in for the call for Bob Baffert.
No. 5 Sand Devil (8-1) is worth throwing in underneath in case one of the Top 2 falter. He was 3-for-3, albeit vs. state-breds, before running second in the Grade III Gotham Stakes over this course.
A sharp recent five-furlong drill suggests the nine-furlong trip may not be out of his range. Jose Lezcano has the call once more for Linda Rice.
Best bet: $7 exacta box 1/2, $3 exacta 1,2/5 ($20)
New Users
$500 No Sweat First Bet! Claim Now
See FanDuel T&Cs
FanDuel Racing offer available only in AR, CA, DE, ID, FL, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, WA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
New Users
Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets! Claim Now
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Santa Anita Derby odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Santa Anita Race 10
- Post time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: FanDuel TV, CNBC
| Post | Horse | Track odds | |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Journalism | 6-5 | +120 | +137 |
| 2 | Citizen Bull | 9-5 | +180 | +200 |
| 3 | Westwood | 20-1 | +2000 | +4000 |
| 4 | Barnes | 3-1 | +300 | +333 |
| 5 | Baeza | 6-1 | +600 | +1200 |
Odds as of 4-4.
While I acknowledge that No. 1 Journalism (6-5, morning-line favorite) and No. 2 Citizen Bull (9-5) are the two horses to beat based on last-out efforts, their body of work isn't so large so as to remove all doubt that they can be beaten. I'll take a stab on a relative long shot in the Santa Anita Derby in No. 5 Baeza (6-1).
Baeza was soundly beaten by Wood Memorial favorite Rodriguez in his first start on dirt, but he won his next try convincingly. He's shown gradual improvement from start-to-start for trainer John Shirreffs, and it's possible we've yet to see the best from this son of McKinzie.
Baeza is out of the same dam that produced Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, so the added furlong in the Santa Anita Derby should be right up his alley.
Best bet: $10 win 5
Road to the Kentucky Derby
| Race | Date | Track | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | November 1, 2024 | Del Mar | Citizen Bull |
| Smarty Jones Stakes | January 4, 2025 | Oaklawn Park | Coal Battle |
| Jerome Stakes | January 4 | Aqueduct | Cyclone State |
| Lecomte Stakes | January 18 | Fair Grounds | Disco Time |
| Southwest Stakes | January 25 | Oaklawn Park | Speed King |
| Withers Stakes | February 1 | Aqueduct | Captain Cook |
| Holy Bull Stakes | February 1 | Gulfstream Park | Burnham Square |
| Robert B. Lewis Stakes | February 1 | Santa Anita Park | Citizen Bull |
| Sam F. Davis Stakes | February 8 | Tampa Bay Downs | John Hancock |
| Risen Star Stakes | February 15 | Fair Grounds | Magnitude |
| Sunland Derby | February 16 | Sunland Park | Getaway Car |
| John Battaglia Memorial | February 22 | Turfway Park | California Burrito |
| Rebel Stakes | February 23 | Oaklawn Park | Coal Battle |
| Fountain of Youth Stakes | March 1 | Gulfstream Park | Sovereignty |
| San Felipe Stakes | March 1 | Santa Anita Park | Journalism |
| Gotham Stakes | March 1 | Aqueduct | Flood Zone |
| Tampa Bay Derby | March 8 | Tampa Bay Downs | Owen Almighty |
| Virginia Derby | March 15 | Colonial Downs | American Promise |
| Louisiana Derby | March 22 | Fair Grounds | Tiztastic |
| Jeff Ruby Steaks | March 22 | Turfway Park | Final Gambit |
| Arkansas Derby | March 29 | Oaklawn Park | Sandman |
| Florida Derby | March 29 | Gulfstream Park | Tappan Street |
| UAE Derby | April 5 | Meydan (Dubai) | TBD |
| Santa Anita Derby | April 5 | Santa Anita Park | TBD |
| Wood Memorial | April 5 | Aqueduct | TBD |
| Blue Grass Stakes | April 8 | Keeneland | TBD |
| Lexington Stakes | April 12 | Keeneland | TBD |
| Kentucky Derby | May 4 | Churchill Downs | TBD |
