The 2025 Kentucky Derby’s draw is set for this Saturday, marking the onset of discussions on the horses to wager on. Last year, Mystik Dan clinched a close victory, becoming the first Derby horse to win from post No. 3 in over two decades. Statistically, post Nos. 5 and 20 hold the highest win rates historically, each at 10.5%, but neither had a top-five horse the previous year. In preparing your strategies for betting on the 2025 Derby, one must consider the trainers and jockeys involved. Notably, Journalism is favored at 3-1, followed by both Sandman and Sovereignty at 8-1.

Before placing your bets, delve into the predictions and futures from renowned horse racing specialist Jody Demling. A seasoned figure in the horse racing landscape, Demling has expertly identified the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double winner 11 times over the past 16 years, also highlighting the Belmont Stakes winner four times in seven years. He recently analyzed last year’s Preakness outcomes, accurately forecasting not just the winner but also the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta.

Here are some top predictions leading to the Derby:

• Fading Rodriguez: Despite being a favorite, Demling predicts Rodriguez won’t even rank among the top four based on his projections, as he struggled early in the season.
• High on Luxor Cafe: This longshot at 15-1 has shown significant potential, recently winning the Fukuryu Stakes and demonstrating impressive speed.

The Fukuryu Stakes mirrors the Kentucky Derby’s distance, providing insights into Luxor Cafe’s caliber as a contender. Demling underscores the value in Luxor Cafe’s odds given his lineage to American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner.

For complete details on how to make your 2025 Kentucky Derby picks and bets, check out Demling’s insights shared at SportsLine.

Current 2025 Kentucky Derby Odds

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