Gene Menez, who gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot to win last year’s Run for the Roses, has made his picks and bets for the Kentucky Derby 2025 at Churchill Downs
Gene Menez, who gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot to win last year’s Run for the Roses, has made his picks and bets for the Kentucky Derby 2025 at Churchill Downs
Legendary trainer Todd Pletcher is a two-time Kentucky Derby winner who has sent more horses to the starting gates in the first leg of the Triple Crown than any trainer in history. In fact, he has sent 65 different horses to participate in the Run for the Roses dating back to 2000. However, Pletcher will only have one horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field after deciding that River Thames would bypass the Kentucky Derby 2025 despite qualifying. That leaves Pletcher with one shot at winning a third Kentucky Derby with Grande. Grande’s sire, Curlin, finished third at the 2007 Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness Stakes, and was the American Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008.
Grande is 20-1 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds after a runner-up finish at the Wood Memorial in just his third career start. Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism is the 3-1 favorite among the 2025 Kentucky Derby horses. Before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, you’ll want to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks or horse racing predictions.
A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI’s handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.
In 2015, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta, which paid $1,268.20 for $2. In 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.
In May of last year, Menez nailed 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. In November, he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders’ Cup Saturday for a $5,303 jackpot. This year, he hit the winner and exacta in the Holy Bull Stakes and the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby.
For the Run for the Roses, Menez has handicapped the 2025 Kentucky Derby field, made his picks and constructed his best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2025 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Menez’ surprising 2025 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Sandman, even though he won the Arkansas Derby and is one of the top favorites. After failing to win in four previous graded-stakes starts over his two-year-old and three-year-old seasons, Sandman took advantage of a fast track and a blistering pace to punch his ticket to the Kentucky Derby at Oaklawn Park.
He outran fellow closer Publisher to win that race by 2 1/2 lengths and stewards briefly reviewed an erratic move to the outside by the Tapit colt before leaving the finish unchanged. He’ll have a much tougher time against a 20-horse field at Churchill Downs that includes plenty of early speed and a handful of fellow closers that will be looking to come from off the pace.
Sire Tapit has produced four Belmont Stakes winners, but has never produced a Kentucky Derby winner and trainer Mark Casse is 0-for-10 in his Kentucky Derby career as well. See which 2025 Kentucky Derby horses he likes at SportsLine.
How to make 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, picks
Menez’ top pick is a horse who “is bred to only get better with the added distance.” He’s also high on a double-digit longshot who owns “the most awesome turn of foot of any of the Kentucky Derby hopefuls.” Menez is sharing who he likes 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 Menez’ picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who called Mystik Dan as an 18-1 live longshot in last year’s race.
2025 Kentucky Derby odds, futures
| Horse | Odds | Projection |
| Journalism | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Sandman | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Sovereignty | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Rodriguez | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Tappan Street | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Burnham Square | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Luxor Cafe | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Citizen Bull | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| East Avenue | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Grande | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Owen Almighty | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Tiztastic | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| American Promise | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Chunk of Gold | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Coal Battle | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Final Gambit | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Publisher | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Admire Daytona | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Flood Zone | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Flying Mohawk | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |