You really can’t overlook the Kentucky Derby when it comes to horse racing events. There’s a lot going on, and you know, one of the main topics that often comes up in conversations is Bob Baffert. The 72-year-old trainer is back at Churchill Downs after a three-year suspension, and he’s definitely aiming for that seventh title as a way to redeem himself. If you haven’t heard the latest about the Derby, I’ve got some news for you! Baffert’s got two horses in the mix: Rodriguez and Citizen Bull, both gearing up for the Run for the Roses.

Both horses have shown they’re more than ready to compete in this prestigious event. With all the excitement buzzing around, jockey Rosie Napravnik, who has racked up over $71 million in career earnings, shared her thoughts on how Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby contender, Rodriguez, looked during the morning workouts at Churchill Downs.

“This is another horse that I really love down here, and I almost think Rodriguez is flying under the radar a little bit. He hasn’t been talked about as much as I feel like he should be. He’s one of my favorites. I think he’s got a great post position. He’s got speed, you know, he doesn’t have to be on the lead at all. And I think Bob really likes this horse going into the derby,” the jockey mentioned, according to TwinSpires Racing’s official X profile. Yeah, Rosie knows what’s going on with the Derby.

Even though Rodriguez was one of the top horses, his performances were still overshadowed by competitors like Journalism, who happens to be the Derby favorite. She also knows that Rodriguez is starting from post position 4, and according to her, that’s not a bad spot to kick things off from. Baffert had some worries about this earlier too, especially regarding Citizen Bull, who’s set to start from post position 1.

Rosie praised Rodriguez for his solid prep races and workouts, saying, “His works also have been super professional. I love the way he looks out on the track. You know, he’s striding out really nicely out here being professional, had his ears flicking in his breeze. Nothing not to like about Rodriguez. And, you know, I really like the Wood Memorial more than usual. And, you know, leading up to the derby was one of my favorite prep races. So I’ve been giving this horse a lot of credit, and he’s giving me no reason to doubt him on the racetrack here this morning or all week, I should say.”

So, the colt really did a great job at the Wood Memorial Stakes, and that helped him snag those important 100 points to qualify for the Derby. He’s been spotted doing workouts at Santa Anita and Churchill Downs, and he seems to be looking pretty good during those runs. Overall, the jockey isn’t too worried about Rodriguez; she believes he could be the horse to watch at the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3. Before the big race, Baffert had some interesting things to say about the current state of horse racing.

Bob Baffert goes candid about the sport

The 2025 Kentucky Derby is just around the corner, and Bob Baffert shared his thoughts on how the sport has evolved, saying, “Racing has changed. It’s different now. It’s being really regulated, and so we have to be really careful with everything. You’re always worried. I never had to worry about a test until now. And HISA is doing a better job. To me, if there’s intent [to cheat], boom, get them out of here. If there’s no intent, it’s contamination levels, which ours was, and they actually raised [the number] a little bit, so [the Medina Spirit sample] wouldn’t be a positive today, so that’s good. So, good things will come out of it.”

Baffert, with decades of experience under his belt, has really witnessed how the sport has evolved over the years. He specifically pointed out how safety standards in the sport have really improved. He’s given a shoutout to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) for that. The 72-year-old trainer emphasizes how important it is for trainers to stay alert, as they really need to be careful with every aspect of horse care and medication these days.

It’s interesting how even the tiniest bit of contamination, something that wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow before, is now under the microscope. He thinks these changes are guiding the sport in a fairer and more sensible direction, even if it has made training a little more stressful and demanding.