Bob Baffert's bid for Kentucky Derby history among storylines to watch

The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday at Churchill Downs . But behind the starting gate lies a story unique to each horse, jockey, trainer and owner. Bill Mott, for one, will look to earn back-to-back wins after training Sovereignty to win last year's run for the roses.

Fellow trainer Mark Glatt is making his Derby debut less than three months after the death of his wife, Dena . On the jockey side , John Velasquez is seeking a fourth Derby win, which would put him in a tie for second-most by a rider all-time, when he rides Further Ado this weekend. With plenty on the line everyone attached to each horse in the field, here are three storylines to follow ahead of the 152nd Kentucky Derby: Bob Baffert’s quest for Derby history Bob Baffert has already cemented his legacy as one of the best trainers in horse racing history.

Of the 13 Triple Crown winners, the Hall of Famer trained two, with Justify (2018) being the most recent. Baffert is currently tied with “Plain Ben” Jones with six Derby wins; another victory would make him the sole winningest trainer in Run for the Roses history. He missed out on accomplishing the feat in 2025 when Rodriguez scratched and Citizen Bull finished 15th.

This year, Baffert has two more opportunities to make history with a seventh Derby triumph when Potente and Litmus Test hit the track. At 20-1 odds, Potente and jockey Juan Hernandez will run out of the 14th gate; Litmus Test, who was added to the field Saturday, will wear blinkers and be ridden by Martin Garcia out of post No. 4 at 30-1 odds.