2025 Kentucky Derby horses, futures, odds, date, preview: Expert who hit 10 Derby-Oaks Doubles unveils picks​on March 1, 2025 at 5:23 pm

The horse racing Triple Crown gets underway on Saturday, May 3 with the running of the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. This year’s race will be the 151st edition of the Run for the Roses and will mark the first year trainer Bob Baffert is eligible to return from his three-year suspension. The 2025 Kentucky Derby field remains a work in progress with multiple races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby still left on the schedule.

As it stands today, Barnes (8-1) and Citizen Bull (9-1), both trained by Baffert, are the top two favorites in the latest 2025 Kentucky Derby odds. Should you target either of those 2025 Kentucky Derby horses when making your 2025 Kentucky Derby bets? Before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the horse racing predictions and futures bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling. 

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 11 times in the last 16 years. He also predicted the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last seven years and called 10 of the last 20 Preakness winners, including in 2023, when he hit the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta, as well as the trifecta in 2024. Anyone who has followed him on those picks is up huge.

Now, with the 2025 Kentucky Derby futures already on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2025 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.

Top 2025 Kentucky Derby predictions

One of Demling’s surprising 2025 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading John Hancock, even though he is undefeated and coming off a win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The three-year-old colt made his debut at the MSW at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 8, where he won with a speed figure of 113. He finished ahead of Mad House (second place) and First Act (third place), both contenders to qualify for the Derby field.

Nonetheless, Demling is backing other horses at this point in the process. John Hancock isn’t as battle-tested as some of the other top contenders in the field, and Demling needs to see more from the Brad H. Cox-trained colt. “The Brad Cox-trained colt is 2-for-2 and won the Sam F. Davis Stakes in his last start,” Demling told SportsLine. “Solid, but still has a lot of room for improvement.” See which other 2025 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.

Another stunner: Demling is high on Burnham Square, even though he is a 15-1 longshot in the latest Kentucky Derby odds 2025. Burnham Square looks like a legitimate contender, winning the Holy Bull Stakes with an impressive stretch rally. He closed from last to defeat Tappan Street by 1 ¾ lengths on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park.

Burnham Square was able to navigate traffic all around him and has won both of his races since adding blinkers. He is built to run well at longer distances and his experience overcoming a poor start and crowded track bodes well for his future success. Demling has identified him as a horse to watch, especially since “he has gotten better and better each start.” See which other horses to back at SportsLine. 

How to make 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Demling is especially high on an epic double-digit longshot who has “lots and lots of potential.” Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2025 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2025, and which double-digit longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2025 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 11 Derby-Oaks doubles.

2025 Kentucky Derby odds, futures