The turkey leftovers aren’t even gone yet, but the road to the Kentucky Derby waits for no one. The Saturday after Thanksgiving brings us the 2025 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs — a 1 1/16-mile, 10-point Derby prep where seven rising stars look to turn holiday weekend energy into early Derby momentum. This race matters. It launches prospects, exposes pretenders, and shapes the first true pecking order of the 2-year-olds heading into winter. Here are the contender

🐎 1. Spice Runner — Steve Asmussen If you like your Derby trail with a little kick, Spice Runner has you covered. He’s proven he loves Churchill, packs a sharp late punch, and has the benefit of Asmussen — a three-time winner of this very race — adding just the right seasoning.

🐎2. Cherokee Nation — Bob Baffert Not a lot of starts, but brings grit, two-turn experience, and a pedigree that screams this distance. Add Baffert and Prat to the mix, and you’ve got a runner who could surprise the whole nation.

🐎 3. Dr. Kapur — Saffie Joseph Jr. This horse brings speed and a meaningful story — named after the doctor who gave owner Ken Ramsey a life-saving kidney transplant. Dr. Kapur is a sprint specialist, but now he must prove he can write the prescription for 1 1/16 miles.

🐎 4. Soldier N Diplomat — Steve Asmussen Part soldier, part statesman. He’ll stretch out for the first time, face tougher foes, and need to level up his speed. But he has a Churchill win and victories over serious names like Further Ado.

🐎 5. Very Connected — Kenny McPeek If this race turns into a late-running frenzy, Very Connected is plugged in and ready. Proven at the distance, proven at Churchill, and the strongest late pace in the field — he keeps improving with every start. If the early fractions get hot, he might just make the right connections at the wire.

🐎 6. Further Ado — Brad Cox Without Further Ado, let’s get to the buzz horse. He demolished his last field by 20 lengths at this very distance — earning a speed figure nearly identical to Ted Noffey. If he repeats that effort, everyone else may just be running for second.

🐎 7. Universe — Kenny McPeek This one has the whole Universe ahead of him — and maybe this race within his grasp. Perfect stalking style and proven at the distance in the Street Sense. He’ll need a speed boost if Further Ado shows up with maximum firepower, but make no mistake: this is a talented 2-year-old with sky-high potential.

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