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Caesars Entertainment

It was not so much that Journalism bolted into the role of
Las Vegas favorite for Kentucky Derby 2025. It was what happened beneath the
winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity that could generate some
churn.

Journalism was the eye opener, though. His victory Saturday for
trainer Michael McCarthy was an exception to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert’s
dominance in eight of the last 10 runnings of the Los Al Futurity. That was one
thing. Becoming the 17-1 favorite in the fixed-odds Derby futures at Caesars
Sportsbook in Nevada was quite another.

Zipse: Journalism looks like legitimate Derby threat.

“After the Los Alamitos Futurity, Journalism saw more action
than Barnes and Citizen Bull,” said Jason Jingeleski, the oddsmaker who has his
hand on the racing throttle at Caesars. “The recency of Journalism’s win along
with his Curlin pedigree and connections were used to determine his status as
the Kentucky Derby favorite.”

Citizen Bull, still in the blush of his Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile victory Nov. 1 at Del Mar, went from the 11-1 favorite last week to a
20-1 third choice. Aside from what he eats from his feed tub in Baffert’s barn,
the only recent activity documented for the would-be division champion came
Friday with his 49.4-second, half-mile workout at Santa Anita.

Sovereignty, who has not raced or breezed since he won the
Street Sense (G3) for Hall of Famer Bill Mott on Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs,
shortened from 22-1 to 19-1 to become the second betting choice behind
Journalism.

Barnes, the $3.2 million colt whose triumphant Nov. 27 debut
brought Baffert back to Churchill Downs for the first time in more than three
years, drifted from 15-1 to 25-1.

“The pace of the market has been a key factor in the moves
that we have made,” Jingeleski said. “It’s just another example of us always remaining
flexible and nimble.”

Caesars added two of Baffert’s unraced colts to its Derby
board. San Saba, sired by Justify, opened at 28-1. Cornucopian, one of the
eight betting choices sired by Into Mischief, appeared for the first time at
75-1.

“The Baffert horses were added at the request of one of
Caesars’ pari-mutuel customers,” Jingeleski said. “We’re always in the business
of providing access to more markets for our customers. Justify colt San Saba
has garnered the most interest at this point.”

Japan-based Narukami, a Godolphin homebred colt by Thunder
Snow, was posted at 30-1 on the strength of his victorious, 1 1/8-mile debut
last month at Kyoto.

Coal Battle, the upset winner Friday night of the Remington
Springboard Mile, was installed as a 100-1 Derby long shot.

There were 91 horses showing Sunday in the Kentucky
Derby futures at Caesars in Nevada.