Love him or hate him, Bob Baffert is a widely recognized name in the horse racing scene. The renowned trainer, a Hall of Famer, is tied for the record of most Kentucky Derby victories (six) and has claimed 17 Triple Crown races as he heads into the 2025 Derby after a three-year suspension.

The horse Journalism (3-1) stands out as the favorite for this year’s event. Despite Baffert’s influence potentially driving bets towards him, some wonder if backing Citizen Bull, currently at 20-1, might yield better returns at Churchill Downs.

Expert Jody Demling has successfully predicted the Oaks-Derby winner 11 times in 16 years. He has also accurately identified the Belmont Stakes winner four of the past seven times. Demling, whose predictions can be followed on multiple betting platforms, shares valuable insights on the upcoming Derby.

Demling has a few surprises up his sleeve, notably expressing skepticism about Sandman (6-1), the current third favorite. Despite his recent success at the Arkansas Derby, Demling fears Sandman may be too immature to clinch the victory. “He looks too immature to win the Derby,” he warned, citing the horse’s irregularity during his last race.

When it comes to Sovereignty, another notable contender, Demling points out that although he finished second in the Florida Derby at 5-1 odds, he has room for improvement and might surprise on race day.

Demling also backs Journalism, indicating its consistent performance with four wins in its last five races, but raises questions about whether the horse can adapt to a new environment at Churchill Downs.

For those interested, Demling’s complete forecasts, including predictions for additional horses, can be found at SportsLine.