Sports
2025 Kentucky Derby: Top Contenders and Longshots Revealed
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 151st Kentucky Derby is set to take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs. This year, 19 of the fastest horses will compete for the prestigious title, and all eyes are on the favorites as well as potential longshots.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby distance is 1 1/4 miles. Notable prep races longer than 1 1/8 miles include the Louisiana Derby, where Tiztastic triumphed, and the UAE Derby, won by Admire Daytona. Both horses are viewed as potential contenders in this year’s Derby, with odds of 20-1 and 30-1, respectively.
Journalism, a horse trained by Michael McCarthy, enters the race as the 3-1 favorite after a strong performance in the Santa Anita Derby, the longest race he has attempted. The race at Churchill Downs is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET, though the post time may be adjusted based on the horses’ readiness.
Expert horse racing analyst Demling has a solid history, having successfully predicted multiple Derby winners and the Oaks-Derby double 11 times over the last 16 years. He hints at some surprising picks, including dark horse Luxor Cafe, a 15-1 longshot sired by American Pharoah, who comes with a strong pedigree.
Another horse to watch is Sandman, currently at 6-1, who recently won the Arkansas Derby but is viewed with skepticism due to his performance down the stretch during that race. Demling notes, “He looks too immature to win the Derby.”
Admire Daytona, another contender from the UAE Derby, is also competing with a strong record but is perceived as a risky bet given his 30-1 odds.
The Derby will have a total purse of $5 million, with the winner taking home $3.1 million. Undercard races will occur throughout the day, leading up to the main event. Viewers can catch the Derby live on NBC, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Fans and experts alike are buzzing about the potential for an upset, recalling past victories by horses that were double-digit longshots. The pressure is on as the gates prepare to open for this thrilling annual tradition.
