If you were scrolling through TikTok or hanging out on horse racing Twitter back in the spring of 2025, you couldn't escape the hype. There was this big, flashy gray colt named Sandman. He wasn't just another horse; he was a viral sensation, a $1.2 million powerhouse with a name inspired by Metallica and a personality that practically demanded the camera’s attention. Everyone wanted to know if this was the one—the horse that would finally give legendary trainer Mark Casse his first walk to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs.
But when the dust settled on the 151st Run for the Roses, the results left a lot of casual fans scratching their heads. So, let's get straight to the point: What did Sandman place in the Kentucky Derby?
Sandman finished 7th in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Honestly, it wasn’t the fairy-tale ending the social media hype machine had promised. He went into the race as one of the heavy favorites, carrying 5-1 odds and a massive amount of momentum after a dominating win in the Arkansas Derby. But as anyone who spends time around the track will tell you, the Derby is a chaotic beast.
Why the 7th Place Finish Felt Like a Heartbreak
Sandman didn't just lose; he kind of got swallowed up by the circumstances.
He drew post position 17. Now, if you’re a betting person or a history buff, you know that post 17 is basically cursed. No horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby had ever won from that spot before 2025. It’s out in the "parking lot," as the old-timers say. You’re starting so far wide that you’re almost running in a different zip code.
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Jockey Jose Ortiz tried to work some magic, but Sandman is a "deep closer." This means he likes to hang out at the back, grab a sandwich, and then explode with speed in the final stretch.
In a field of 20 horses, that's a dangerous game.
By the first turn, Sandman was sitting second-to-last. He was nearly 14 lengths behind the leaders. Think about that for a second. That is a massive amount of ground to make up against the best three-year-olds in the world. He tried to make a move around the final turn, following a horse named Sovereignty, but the traffic was just too thick. He chugged along, passed a few tiring horses, and crossed the wire in 7th.
No glory. No roses. Just a "better luck next time" and a lot of disappointed TikTok followers.
Breaking Down the Road to Louisville
To understand why people were so obsessed with what Sandman would place in the Kentucky Derby, you have to look at how he got there. This wasn't some random longshot.
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- The Arkansas Derby Brilliance: On March 29, 2025, Sandman looked like a world-beater. He won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by 2 1/2 lengths, vaulting to the top of the leaderboard with 129 qualifying points.
- The Pedigree: He’s a son of Tapit. In the breeding world, that’s like saying you’re the son of royalty. Tapit is famous for producing "grey ghosts" that can run all day.
- The Price Tag: The ownership group—which included West Point Thoroughbreds and St. Elias Stable—dropped $1.2 million on him as a two-year-old. When you spend that kind of money, the expectations are "Derby or bust."
The "Influencer" Factor
One of the weirdest and coolest things about Sandman’s 2025 run was his connection to social media. Griffin Johnson, a massive TikTok star, was a minority owner through an initiative called "A Stake in Stardom."
Suddenly, millions of kids who didn't know a furlong from a fire hydrant were googling "what did Sandman place in the Kentucky Derby." He was the "people's horse." He loved the cameras. He would literally perk up and pose when he saw a lens. It made the 7th-place finish feel personal for a lot of people who were rooting for him.
What Happened After the Derby?
Usually, if a horse finishes 7th in the Derby, they fade into obscurity. Not Sandman.
He actually proved he was the real deal just a few weeks later. Mark Casse brought him back for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. In that race, Sandman showed much more of that Arkansas Derby spark. He didn't win, but he finished a very strong 3rd, proving that his Derby performance was probably more about the bad draw and the 20-horse traffic jam than a lack of talent.
Later in the summer of 2025, he even tried his hand on the turf at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy and eventually headed to the Nashville Derby. He’s been a bit of a "bridesmaid" in the big Grade 1s, but he’s remained a fan favorite because of that silver coat and his "Enter Sandman" walk-over music.
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Key Stats for the History Books
If you're settling a bet or just want the hard data, here’s how the 2025 Derby looked for him:
- Finish: 7th
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Trainer: Mark Casse
- Post Position: 17
- Closing Odds: 5-1
- Winner of the Race: (For context, Journalism won the 2025 Derby, with Sovereignty in the mix).
Takeaways for the Next Triple Crown Season
So, what can we learn from Sandman’s 7th-place finish?
First off, don't ignore the post position. We all want to believe a great horse can overcome anything, but post 17 is a statistical nightmare for a reason. Second, "closer" styles are incredibly risky at Churchill Downs. If you don't get the right "trip"—meaning you don't find the gaps in the wall of horses—you’re basically done before the home stretch.
If you’re looking to follow Sandman’s continued career or want to find the next "viral horse," keep an eye on the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings that start every fall. You can track the points, watch the workout videos on YouTube, and see which horses are handling the "greenness" (immaturity) better than others.
Sandman was a great horse who had a bad day at the office. But in the world of horse racing, a 7th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby is still more than 99% of horses will ever achieve.
To keep up with Sandman's current racing schedule as a four-year-old, you should check the latest entries on Equibase or the West Point Thoroughbreds stable updates. He’s still active and still a threat in the handicap division.