The 2025 Kentucky Derby was just weeks away and now all the prep races are complete, the field of Rose’s 151st running is now in shape. After a three-year suspension following a disqualification of Medina Spirit from the Kentucky Derby four years ago, trainer Bob Buffato has three 2025 Kentucky Derby horses eligible to run in the first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3rd. Rodriguez is 10-1 at the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds, with Citizen Bull 20-1 and Madaket Road 54-1 after his victory at Wood Memorial. Journalism is a 3-1 favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby futures after a third-year stake win. Before you create the 2025 Kentucky Derby Pick, be sure to check out horse racing predictions and future bets from Sportsline’s elite horse racing expert Jodidemling.
Demling, a horse racing world fixture that has written, talked and gambled about races for years, has nailed the Kentucky Oaks Derby 11 times over the past 16 years. He also predicted winners of the Belmont Stakes for four years of the past seven years, calling 10 of the past 20 Preakness winners, including winners in 2023, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and 2023, who won Trifecta in 2024.
Currently, with 2025 Kentucky Derby futures already registered with the board, Demling shares its pick on the Sportsline and forecasts for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Go here to see them.
Top 2025 Kentucky Derby Prediction
One of Demling’s amazing 2025 Kentucky Derby picks: He’s waning Rodriguez. In fact, Demling says that Rodriguez didn’t attack the board with forecasts for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Rodriguez was trained by Bob Baffert and was widely considered a top candidate for legendary trainers in the 2025 Rose Run. Rodriguez won Santa Anita MSW and Wood Memorial in 2025. He also finished second with Robert B. Lewis and third with the San Felipe Stakes.
However, the demoring has concerns about the 3-year-old Colt’s performance at the San Felipe Stakes in March. He finished quite a bit behind Derby’s favorite journalism on a track similar to Churchill Downs. Demling isn’t Rodriguez thinking of in the top 205 Kentucky Derby horses and long shot picks. Check out other 2025 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid on the sports line.
Another shock: The Demon Ring is up high at Luxor Cafe despite being a 15-1 long shot at the latest Kentucky Derby odds of 2025. In 2015, the 37-year triple crown ended a drought at American horse racing, and became the first horse in history to complete the American Grand Slam, Laxlam, the Lax Café, which was raised in Japan.
Luxor Cafe has qualified for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, winning the Fukuida and Hyacinth Stakes, earning four career wins with six starts. Trainer Noriyuki Hori is one of the best in Japan and tries to give the country a chance to win America’s most prestigious race. Forever Young’s third place finish in the Kentucky Derby last year is the best finish ever for a Japanese horse, with Luxor Cafe having competing pedigrees for a victory in 2025. Check out other horses back to the sports line.
How to make a 2025 Kentucky Derby Pick, betting
The Demon Ring is particularly high with double digit long shots “having a legitimate shot.” Demling shares which horse it is along with the entire Sportsline 2025 Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.
Which horses won the Kentucky Derby 2025 and which double-digit long shots are a must-see? Check out the latest 2025 Kentucky Derby odds below, then head over to the Sportsline to see Kentucky Derby Demling picks from experts who nailed the 11 Derby Oaks doubles.