Kentucky Derby Contender Profile: Admire Daytona

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Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Admire Daytona: UAE Derby Winner Targets 2025 Kentucky Derby Upset

Horse Racing Betting fans searching for a high-risk, high-reward option at Churchill Downs will find Admire Daytona an interesting case. Listed at long odds in the Kentucky derby odds, he enters the first Saturday of May with a lot to prove. 

Those evaluating Kentucky derby betting strategies may wonder if his overseas success can translate against the deepest field he has faced yet.

With Yukihiro Kato as his trainer, Admire Daytona has put together two wins and two runner-up efforts across six career starts. His most recent achievement, a nose victory in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse, earned him a spot in the 151st Run for the Roses.

Strong Pedigree but Big Challenges Ahead

Admire Daytona is bred for versatility. His sire, Drefong, was a dominant sprinter who captured the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and was honored as the Eclipse Award-winning sprinter that year. 

Drefong’s dam, Eltimaas, is by Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, a champion known for excelling at longer distances. On the dam side, Admire Daytona is out of Ice Pastel, a daughter of Shackleford, the 2011 Preakness Stakes winner who proved his strength on dirt over route distances.

This pedigree hints that Admire Daytona should have enough stamina for the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby distance, but his racing history suggests the competition will be significantly tougher than what he has faced so far.

International Experience and Race History

Admire Daytona needed time to mature, falling short in his first three starts. He finally broke through with his maiden win early in 2025, setting up his rise in form. After finishing second behind fellow Derby rival Luxor Cafe as a two-year-old, he placed fourth again behind the same horse in the Hyacinth Stakes.

Rather than face Luxor Cafe again in the Fukuryu Stakes, his connections chose an international route, shipping him to Dubai for the UAE Derby. That decision paid off as Admire Daytona captured the UAE Derby by a nose, using a front-running style at odds of 10-1. 

Christophe Lemaire, who guided him to victory in Dubai, will ride him again in the Kentucky Derby, hoping to improve on his previous Derby finish of 13th aboard Crown Pride in 2022.

Yukihiro Kato is set for his Kentucky Derby debut, aiming to deliver a historic win for Japan.

Kentucky Derby Betting Outlook

Admire Daytona is currently listed at +3000 in Derby Futures, making him one of the longest shots on the board. Horse Racing Betting history is not on his side, as UAE Derby winners have failed to hit the board in 19 previous Kentucky Derby attempts. Master of Hounds produced the top UAE Derby finish to date, running fifth in 2011.

Despite his gritty UAE Derby victory and a pedigree that suggests he can handle the distance, many handicappers believe Admire Daytona will be severely outclassed against elite American competition.

Still, for bettors willing to take a swing at a major payoff, Admire Daytona offers an intriguing option for exotic wagers.

For updated Kentucky Derby odds, expert picks, and full race day coverage, be sure to visit our racebook today.