With wins at the Louisiana Derby and Jeff Ruby Stakes, respectively, Catching Freedom and Endlessly have punched their ticket into the 2024 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4. They’re near the top of the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby standings and with major prep races still to come, the rest of the 2024 Kentucky Derby field will be largely settled soon. Who are this year’s top 2024 Kentucky Derby contenders and how can you find early value in the 2024 Kentucky Derby futures?
Sierra Leone is the early 7-1 favorite in the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds after his win at the Risen Star Stakes. Florida Derby winner Fierceness is 9-1 among the 2024 Kentucky Derby horses, followed by Forever Young and Timberlake at 12-1. Before making any 2024 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 enters the 2024 Kentucky Derby having nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last six years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also called Flightline’s win at the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November of that year.
Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world like the Kentucky Derby 2024. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 15 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but five times in the last 15 years. He’s also called 10 of the last 19 Preakness winners, including nailing his Preakness winner, exacta and superfecta picks in 2023, keenly understanding when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset. Anyone who has followed him is up huge.
Now, with the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds already on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2024 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2024 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling’s surprising 2024 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Fierceness, even though he’s one of the top favorites at 9-1 and just won the Florida Derby. Sired by City of Light out of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, this Todd Pletcher-trained colt has had an electric prep season.
However, he only took third at the Holy Bull Stakes in February and has been up and down early in his career. After breaking his maiden in his first start at Saratoga last August, he finished seventh in the Champagne Stakes, but then won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November. Ultimately Demling isn’t buying his status as second-favorite based on his results at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park. See which other 2024 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Honor Marie, even though he’s a 35-1 longshot. He’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. Sired by Honor Code out of Smart Strike mare Dame Marie, Honor Marie won the 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club as a two-year-old, but had a disappointing first start in his three-year-old season when he finished fifth at the Risen Star Stakes.
However, he bounced back with a second-place finish at the Louisiana Derby and is now a lock for the 2024 Kentucky Derby lineup if his connections decide to enter him. Honor Marie finished just a length behind Catching Freedom, who made a dazzling charge from the back of the pack, and will be Whit Beckman’s first entry into the Kentucky Derby after serving as an assistant to Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown. See which other horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2024 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is especially high on another massive longshot who has the pedigree to win the Run for the Roses and turn heads on Derby Day. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2024 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2024, and which massive underdog is a must-back? Check out the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who nailed 10 Derby-Oaks doubles.
