When is the Kentucky Derby 2025? Jody Demling revealed his 2025 Kentucky Derby picks for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs
When is the Kentucky Derby 2025? Jody Demling revealed his 2025 Kentucky Derby picks for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs
Sovereignty surged from last to first to win the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, emerging as an early contender to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3. Sovereignty, who is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is in a three-way tie atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings. He has already locked up his spot in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field and is a 17-1 longshot in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds. Barnes (8-1) and Citizen Bull (9-1) are sitting atop the 2025 Kentucky Derby horses, with the odds set to change drastically over the next two months. Which ones should you target with your 2025 Kentucky Derby futures 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. He earned 20 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with his win at Tampa Bay Downs last month, claiming the victory in wire-to-wire fashion. John Hancock finished in 1:42.27 under the guidance of jockey Flavien Prat.
He debuted at Tampa Bay on Jan. 8, posting a three-length win in a six-furlong maiden special weight event. The son of Constitution is extremely inexperienced though, as those are the only two races of his career. Demling needs to see more from John Hancock before he is willing to pull the trigger, so he is a horse to avoid for the time being. 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. After breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 28 and then winning the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 1, Burnham Square finished a somewhat disappointing fourth at the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1 behind Sovereignty, River Thames and Neoequos.
It was a surprising outcome in his third consecutive start at Gulfstream Park, but the son of Liam’s Map out of Scat Daddy mare Linda still has pretty clear potential. He posted an HRN speed figure of 112 in his win at the Holy Bull and his fourth-place finish on Saturday still earned him 10 points in the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby standings. He’s got 30 points now and would likely have enough points to qualify with a top-five finish at the 2025 Florida Derby. 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
| Horse | Odds | Projection |
| Barnes | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Citizen Bull | 9-1 | SEE PICKS |
| All other 3-year-olds | 9-2 | SEE PICKS |
| Burnham Square | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Sandman | 16-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Sovereignty | 17-1 | SEE PICKS |
| East Avenue | 18-1 | SEE PICKS |
| John Hancock | 21-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Chancer McPatrick | 23-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Rodriguez | 29-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Disco Time | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Captain Cook | 35-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Patch Adams | 37-1 | SEE PICKS |
| River Thames | 38-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Built | 43-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Tappan Street | 46-1 | SEE PICKS |
| First Resort | 49-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Getaway Car | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Hypnus | 51-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Coal Battle | 58-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Grande | 61-1 | SEE PICKS |