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Eclipse Sportswire

Here is a look at 10 people who are likely to make an impact on the racing world in 2025.

Bob Baffert. Now that he has been reinstated by Churchill Downs, Baffert, 71, might waste no time in registering his seventh Kentucky Derby victory and moving past “Plain Ben” Jones for the all-time lead. The controversial Hall of Famer has the financial backing and expertise to make that happen sooner rather than later.

Ken McPeek. He will be hard-pressed to approach his accomplishments of this season, when he became the first trainer since Jones in 1952 to sweep the Oaks with Thorpedo Anna and Derby with Mystic Dan in the same season. But count on him to make his presence felt.

Flavien Prat. No one has ever come up bigger in big races than Prat did during his record-setting season in 2024. Irad Ortiz, Jr. had won the Eclipse Award as leading rider in North America five of the last six seasons. Is this year a sign that Prat, 32, is ready to displace him as the nation’s pre-eminent rider?

Cherie DeVaux. The former Chad Brown assistant has made huge strides since going out on her own in 2018, highlighted by More Than Looks’s victory in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile. She set her career high with $5,558,777 in earnings last year and could have a shot at doubling that before 2024 ends.

D. Wayne Lukas. He was a 88 years old when Seize the Grey splashed home in the Preakness to make him the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race. He already has accomplished the unthinkable, but is there any way he has a 15th Triple Crown win in him? Lukas turns 90 next September.

John Stewart. Resolute Racing’s Stewart is one of those people who goes big or not at all. He spent more than $25 million in a 10-week span last year. It will be interesting to see whether his big-spending approach is rewarded.

Brad Cox. The two-time Eclipse Award winner as leading trainer in North America owns Kentucky Oaks triumphs with Monomoy Girl in 2018 and Shedaresthedevil in 2020. The Louisville native is loaded in his bid for next year’s Oaks with Immersive, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner; Good Cheer, winner of the Golden Rod (G2); and Muhimma, who won the Demoiselle (G2). Chasten, a half-sister to retired star Idiomatic, is yet another of his 2-year-old fillies to follow.

Eoin Harty. The veteran trainer has had only three Kentucky Derby starters, with his best finish coming when Colonel John was sixth in 2008. He has high hopes for two Godolphin homebreds after First Resort took the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs and Poster struck a week later in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.

Saffie Joseph Jr. The Barbados native made a major breakthrough with his first Breeders’ Cup winner when 19-1 Soul of an Angel stormed from last to first in the Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. He asserted himself at Saratoga last summer and is bidding for his fourth consecutive championship meet title at Gulfstream Park this winter. He has arrived as a man for all seasons.

Michael McCarthy. The former Todd Pletcher assistant has two Kentucky Derby prospects who bear watching in Journalism and Bullard. Journalism, sired by two-time horse of the year Curlin, was very impressive when he won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), defeating a trio of Baffert hopefuls who included Gaming and Getaway Car, second and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Bullard is 2-for-2 after taking the Nov. 17 Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar.