Kentucky Derby Prep Races: East-Southeast Horses

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205 Kentucky Derby Prep Races Analysis

Key Horses from the East-Southeast Division

The east-southeast division of the Kentucky Derby Prep Races continues to heat up, adding 12 promising contenders to its scouting report for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. 

Highlighted by recent victories in the Jerome and Lecomte Stakes, this region covers races across New York, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana at iconic tracks like Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, and Fair Grounds. For those tracking Kentucky Derby odds or exploring Kentucky Derby betting, these horses represent the next wave of Derby hopefuls.

Cyclone State, an Iowa-bred trained by Chad Summers, captured the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct with a front-running performance over a mile. With three wins from seven starts and earnings of $208,250, Cyclone State has established himself as a legitimate Derby trail competitor with 10 points toward qualifying. 

Meanwhile, Brad Cox-trained Disco Time remains undefeated in three starts after rallying on a sloppy track to win the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds by a neck. Disco Time now leads this group with 20 Derby points.

Key Contenders in the East-Southeast Division

This year’s report includes 25 horses from trainers like Todd Pletcher, Brad Cox, and Chad Brown, representing nearly half the field. Notable entries include:

Poster

A Chad Brown trainee and winner of the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, Poster boasts three victories in as many starts and 10 Derby points. He’s targeting the upcoming Withers Stakes.

East Avenue

Trained by Brendan Walsh, East Avenue earned 10 Derby points with a strong campaign that included three January workouts.

Rated by Merit

A Florida-bred standout, Rated by Merit, is undefeated in four starts, including the In Reality Stakes at Gulfstream, amassing $400,000 in earnings.

Aviator Gui

Second in the Remsen Stakes, this Chad Brown colt earned five Derby points and looks poised to make a deeper run on the trail.

Other rising stars include Naughty Rascal, a three-time stakes winner in Florida; Sand Devil, a dominant allowance winner in New York; and Donut God, undefeated in two starts at Tampa Bay Downs.

Upcoming Races and Points Allocation

The path to the Kentucky Derby is intensifying, with critical prep races offering qualifying points in February and March. Upcoming events in the east-southeast region include:

Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on February 1 (20-10-6-4-2 points)

Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on February 15 (50-25-15-10-5 points)

Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream on March 29 (100-50-25-15-10 points)

These races will provide pivotal opportunities for horses like Guns Loaded, Magnitude, and Praetor to solidify their Derby credentials.