With 2025 Kentucky Derby prep races now complete and the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings locked, the field for the 151st Run for the Roses is becoming clear. The 2025 Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs, serving as the first of three Triple Crown races. Burnham Square finished atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 130 points, followed by Sandman (129) and Journalism (122.5). Journalism has won his last four starts and is the 3-1 favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds, followed by Sandman and Sovereignty at 8-1. Burnham Square is going off as a 15-1 longshot. The 2025 Kentucky Derby post draw will take place on Saturday, April 26.
Should you back one of the favored 2025 Kentucky Derby horses, or will a double-digit longshot like Burnham Square cross the finish line first? Before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, you’ll want to see what SportsLine writer 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. Sandman has been running well leading up to the Kentucky Derby, hitting the podium in each of his past five starts. He’s recorded two wins, one second and two third-place finishes during that span. However, he’s finished third, fifth and fifth in his three runs at Churchill Downs, a big reason why Menez is fading him on the first Saturday in May.
“There are many closers in this year’s field who could be the victim of a slow pace or a wide trip (or both), but the one I’m against the most is Sandman,” Menez told SportsLine. “He is coming off a win in the Arkansas Derby, but in that race he was the beneficiary of an enormous pace meltdown, which made his 2.5-length win look more impressive than it actually was.” 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.