Sandman finished in 7th place out of 19 horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. He was beaten by Sovereignty, Journalism, Baeza, Final Gambit, Owen Almighty, and Burnham Square, with Sovereignty taking first place
. Despite not winning, Sandman and his owner Griffin Johnson were reported to be in good spirits after the race, with Johnson expressing optimism about Sandman's future racing career and growth
. Sandman had entered the Derby with strong credentials, including a win in the Arkansas Derby and being one of the favorites with 6-1 morning-line odds. However, he drew post position 17, a spot that historically has never produced a Kentucky Derby winner, which was seen as a challenging draw
. The horse is trained by Mark Casse and carries the legacy of the late Minnesota breeder Bob Lothenbach, for whom Sandman was a significant and meaningful horse
. In summary, Sandman ran a respectable race but did not place among the top finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, finishing 7th and showing promise for future races
