Just 13 horses have accomplished the Triple Crown of horse racing entering the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Saturday. An even less common occurrence, however, is a horse winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and then claiming the Run for the Roses. Only Street Sense (2006) and Nyquist (2016) have completed the Juvenile/Derby Double, but that could change at the Kentucky Derby 2025. Citizen Bull won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November and is among the 20 Kentucky Derby horses who will race at Churchill Downs. Citizen Bull is 20-1 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds and drew the undesirable rail position. He’s one of two from Bob Baffert’s stable in the field, alongside Rodriguez (12-1).
Journalism (3-1) is the favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field and will try to give trainer Michael McCarthy his first Kentucky Derby victory in his second start at the Triple Crown race. 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. Anyone who has followed him on betting apps like TwinSpires and 1/ST BET could have been way up.
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 (6-1), even though he won the Arkansas Derby and is one of the top 2025 Kentucky Derby favorites. In that victory, Sandman displayed several red flags by dropping to eighth place in a nine-horse field before rallying. Even when he took the lead, his inexperience showed when he veered outside momentarily. His style of that as a closer means he’ll be reliant on a quick pace from the rest of the field, so a slow pace could doom his chances of winning.
Sandman’s 2025 Kentucky Derby connections leave plenty to be desired, starting with trainer Mark Casse. No trainer in Kentucky Derby history has more starters (10) without finishing in the money than Casse. As for jockey Jose Ortiz, he’s 0-for-9 in his Kentucky Derby career and three of his last four rides have placed 14th or worse. Add that up, and the two are 0-for-19 in Kentucky Derby history, making Sandman one to bypass with Kentucky Derby 2025 bets.
Menez thinks a late charge to a third-place finish is the best-case scenario for Sandman, making him a horse to fade when finalizing how to bet the Kentucky Derby 2025. 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, post positions
