2025 Kentucky Derby predictions, odds, horses, date, post positions: Surprising picks by Triple Crown expert​on May 3, 2025 at 12:18 am

A longshot has won the Run for the Roses the last four years, but Journalism will try to buck that trend at the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The morning-line betting favorite has only won the first jewel of the Triple Crown 18 times in the race’s existence, but Journalism is visiting Churchill Downs on a four-race winning streak. This three-year-old colt was dominant in his victory in the Santa Anita Derby, making him a worthy 3-1 betting favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds.

Post time for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby 2025 is 6:57 p.m. ET. Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Sovereignty is next in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds at 5-1, followed by Arkansas Derby winner Sandman at 6-1. Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic is a 20-1 longshot among the 19 Kentucky Derby horses. Before locking in any 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, you’ll want to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman’s knowledge in horse racing is second to none, having grown up into the sport. He covered horse racing for Picks PAL from 2005 to 2007 and specializes in graded stakes races. Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 36 Triple Crown races. One example of his best picks was Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal’s easy win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure. Anyone who has followed him on those picks on betting sites like FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires and 1/ST BET could be up huge.

Now, with the 2025 Kentucky Derby post positions set and odds on the board, Hochman is sharing his 2025 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2025 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.

Top 2025 Kentucky Derby predictions

One surprise: Hochman is high on Coal Battle, even though he is a 30-1 longshot in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds. Coal Battle won the Rebel Stakes at 12-1 odds and was a contender in the Arkansas Derby before ultimately finishing behind Sandman and Madaket Road.

The expert still loves Coal Battle’s “tactical speed” and how he can use his slender frame to navigate through traffic and out of the middle of the pack. Hochman likens Coal Battle to reigning Kentucky Derby champion Mystic Dan, who surprised in last year’s Run for the Roses as a 20-1 longshot. See which other 2025 Kentucky Derby horses to consider at SportsLine.

How to make 2025 Kentucky Derby picks

Hochman is also high on another double-digit longshot who “is coming into his own at the right time.” He is including this horse in his 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. He’s sharing which 2025 Kentucky Derby horses to back at SportsLine.

So who wins the 2025 Kentucky Derby? And which double-digit longshot is a must-back? Visit SportsLine to see Hochman’s picks for the Kentucky Derby from the expert who has profited in 22 of the past 36 Triple Crown races, and find out.

2025 Kentucky Derby odds, post positions