2025 Kentucky Derby Odds: Expert Picks and Contenders Revealed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 2025 Kentucky Derby is set to take place on Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs, where a field of up to 20 horses will race over a distance of 1 1/4 miles. Excitement builds as the last four winners of the prestigious event have triumphed by a margin of one length or less, raising the stakes for this year’s competitors.

Among the leading contenders, Barnes stands out with odds of 8-1. He is the grandson of American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner. Following closely is Citizen Bull at 9-1, also trained by renowned horse trainer Bob Baffert. Another competitor, Sovereignty, who recently won the Fountain of Youth Stakes, is marked as a longshot at 17-1.

Expert horse racing analyst, Mike Demling, highly regarded for his accurate predictions, has shared insights on the top horses to target for bets. Over the past 16 years, Demling has successfully called the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 11 times and predicted four Belmont Stakes winners in the last seven years.

Despite his undefeated streak, Demling warns against betting on John Hancock, who comes off a win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Although he achieved 20 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, Demling expresses skepticism due to Hancock’s limited racing experience, highlighting his only two career races.

In a surprising twist, Demling is optimistic about Burnham Square, a 15-1 longshot with a promising career trajectory. Having earned four top-three finishes in five starts, Burnham Square recently celebrated victory at the G3 Holy Bull Stakes. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square’s lineage is noteworthy, with both his sire and grandsire possessing multiple Grade I victories, indicating a strong potential for future success.

As the countdown to the Derby continues, Demling emphasizes that Burnham Square has shown consistent improvement, stating, “He has gotten better and better each start.” This could be the right moment to place bets on him for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

For those interested in the odds for the upcoming race, here are the latest projections:

• Barnes 8-1
• Citizen Bull 9-1
• All other 3-year-olds 9-2
• Burnham Square 15-1
• Sandman 16-1
• Sovereignty 17-1
• East Avenue 18-1
• John Hancock 21-1
• Chancer McPatrick 23-1
• Rodriguez 29-1
• Disco Time 30-1
• Captain Cook 35-1
• Patch Adams 37-1
• River Thames 38-1
• Built 43-1
• Tappan Street 46-1
• First Resort 49-1
• Getaway Car 50-1
• Hypnus 51-1
• Coal Battle 58-1
• Grande 61-1