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Kentucky Derby Picks, Tips, Expert Betting Predictions


Get our 2025 Kentucky Derby Picks and coverage including Guaranteed Expert Picks and Odds

Kentucky Derby trivia questions and answers


by Devon Rymarchuk - 5/4/2022

There are few American sporting events with the history and popularity of the Kentucky Derby. From the traditions of having a mint julep, to singing “My Old Kentucky Home”, the Kentucky Derby is more than a race, it is a true celebration of Americana.

Kentucky Derby contenders will Run for the Roses.


by Chris Vasile - 4/29/2021

We are now just a few days away from the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. And for those of you who may not know the history of the Derby, it’s the longest-running horse race in North America, having run every single year since 1875. It took a global pandemic for the Derby to make changes to its run date as it got pushed to Sept. 5, 2020, from its most famous first weekend in May time slot.

Kentucky Derby 2019


by Chris Vasile - 4/22/2021

Wherever Todd Pletcher goes, and whatever Todd Pletcher does, the whole horse racing industry and betting public is watching. Pletcher will send out four runners in this year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby, and perhaps none of them have a better chance to win the race than Known Agenda, who is looking to pick up his third win in a row in one of the most famous races in the horse racing industry. Can he do it? Only time will tell.

Santa Anita Derby


by Chris Vasile - 4/21/2021

We are now less than 10 days away from the running of the Kentucky Derby, and the field is starting to take shape. Barring any late scratches, we have a pretty good idea of who will be running and a similar idea of how the race will play out. Based on that, we think Hot Rod Charlie, who is a top-four betting favorite, will be in a prime position to make some noise as they turn from home and come barrelling down the stretch.

Kentucky Derby contenders will Run for the Roses.


by Chris Vasile - 4/20/2021

When Essential Quality goes into the gate for the 147th edition of the Kentucky Derby, he’ll be looking to be snap a string of two straight Derbies in which the favorite at post time has not won the race. Before the upsets of Authentic (8/1) in 2020 and Country House (65/1) in 2019, the favorites were on a bit of a roll, having won the Derby in 2018 (Justify), 2016 (Nyquist), 2015 (American Pharoah), 2014 (California Chrome), and 2013 (Orb). In all, 51 of the 146 Derbies have been won by the favorite, and it is my belief that Essential Quality is a horse that has what it takes to make that number 52.

Preakness Stakes


by Chris Vasile - 4/20/2021

Outside of last year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby when Authentic won at a price of 8/1, the Derby hadn’t had much by way of a group of horses that are seemingly all interchangeable and capable of winning the Run for the Roses. In 2019, Country House was the default winner because Maximum Security got disqualified for interference in the stretch. Prior to that, the Derby featured stone-cold locks to win the race such as Justify, Nyquist, American Pharoah, and California Chrome. This year, there are a handful of horses that could find themselves in the winner’s circle, and Rock Your World is one of them.

Stay Thirsty, trained by Todd Pletcher


by Trevor Whenham - 5/2/2019

Likely Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach was scratched Wednesday afternoon, shaking up the Derby situation dramatically. It's a frustrating and disappointing situation which brings me back to the last time I attended the Derby in person. In 2009, I Want Revenge was poised to be the Derby favorite, but just as we were preparing to leave for the track Derby morning he was scratched, and the race changed dramatically.

Kentucky Derby contenders will Run for the Roses.


by Trevor Whenham - 5/2/2019

Pretty much the only people truly happy about the very unfortunate last scratch of likely Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach are the connections of Bodexpress. For a few years now, the Derby has taken up to two more entries than there are spots in the race. If a horse is scratched before Friday morning, then the first also-eligible - or the only one this year - draws in.

Kentucky Derby contenders will Run for the Roses.


by Robert Ferringo - 4/30/2019

With little fanfare and even less drama, the post draw for this weekend's Kentucky Derby took place on Tuesday at the Churchill Downs clubhouse. And while no horse ever won the race with its post position, the draw certainly does help shape the contours of the weekend's race.

Mike Smith gets the chance to ride Mine That Bird in the Preakness.


by Trevor Whenham - 4/30/2019

The Kentucky Derby is always one of the toughest races to bet on every year, and this year it shapes up to be tougher than usual - potentially much tougher. There is no clear standout, and many runners in the field are legitimately in the mix. Just thinking about it gives me a headache, and there are still five days to go before the race. Narrowing it down to the best bets is going to be very tough, but to help you in that pursuit here are three free Kentucky Derby tips:

Kentucky Derby Winner Mine That Bird.


by Trevor Whenham - 4/30/2019

The horses are all in Louisville. The draw has been made, and the morning line is set. Now all we can do is wait until post time of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. In the meantime, we can start to think about how to bet on the race and how to make sense of what is a very deep and wide-open race.

Rachel Alexandra is one of only three fillys to race in the Preakness Stakes in modern times.


by Trevor Whenham - 4/29/2019

The field is set for the Kentucky Oaks, and it shapes up to be a very good race. The Oaks is not nearly as high-profile as the Kentucky Derby, but it is still a very significant event. It is the headline event of the Friday of Derby weekend and the most important race for three-year-old fillies outside of the Breeders' Cup. Great horses win this race, including Rags to Riches and Rachel Alexandra, who went on to win the Belmont and Preakness, respectively.

Justify in the Kentucky Derby


by Trevor Whenham - 4/29/2019

We have been really, really spoiled lately. We had a Triple Crown in 2015 with a wildly-impressive horse dominating the three races. And just three years later we had another horse, even more impressive by my eyes, doing it again. We had not seen a Triple Crown since 1978, and many very good horses had tried and come up short. Silver Charm. Smarty Jones. Ream Quiet. Big Brown. Sunday Silence. Alysheba. Afleet Alex. Point Given - the most heartbreaking of all in my opinion.

Garrett Gomez will be aboard Pioneerof the Nile in the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.


by Trevor Whenham - 4/25/2019

The Kentucky Derby is one of the very few days that casual sports fans acknowledge that horse racing exists. A lot of bettors only bet on the sport one or two days per year. Horse racing is a unique betting challenge and is different in many ways than betting on other sports. It's not so different that you have to be intimidated or avoid betting on the ponies.

Comma to the Top


by Trevor Whenham - 4/18/2019

The field is tentatively set for the Kentucky Derby. Entries aren't in, and things could still change with a defection, but at this point it feels like we have a strong sense of which 20 horses are going to get into the gate and dash for the roses. But there is a lot of ground to travel between now and when the gates open on the first Saturday in May.

Game on Dude


by Trevor Whenham - 4/18/2019

Some people like to bet the 'other' horse. When a trainer has two horses in a race, there is usually one who is getting most of the attention. Some people believe that the other horse is the one to bet on - he gets the attention of a strong trainer but is neglected by bettors and can offer real value. If you buy into that, then Country House could be your horse.

One Lucky Dane horse racing


by Trevor Whenham - 4/18/2019

The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs is just a giant, almost out-of-control party that happens to have horses at it. I've been to the event twice, and both times there were multiple people around who didn't even make it to the race - or didn't remember it if they did. It's all about the party, and it is so much fun. Even if you can't make the trip to Churchill Downs, though, you can have your own party at home. And with a few good Kentucky Derby betting party ideas and tips your party will be one that people won't soon forget:

Wood Memorial


by Trevor Whenham - 4/18/2019

This is shaping up to be a good Kentucky Derby for bettors. It's going to be tough to figure out, but those who do will be rewarded by strong prices. There is no obvious superstar like Justify last year, but the field runs deep, and it feels like you can make a case for a lot of horses to be a part of things. Races like this are what makes betting on horse races so fun. Assuming you want to bet on the race - and who wouldn't? - the next challenge is to figure out where to bet on the Kentucky Derby. Luckily, you have several options:

American Pharoah, racehorse


by Trevor Whenham - 4/17/2019

Bob Baffert, the reigning Triple Crown winner, is likely to have three of the four favorites in the Kentucky Derby this year. But he very well might not have the overall favorite, as that honor could easily fall to Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach. In 2015 Arkansas Derby winner American Pharoah won the Triple Crown, and 2016 winner Creator won the Belmont.

Garrett Gomez riding Lookin At Lucky


by Trevor Whenham - 4/17/2019

Long Range Toddy has a lot of elements going for him - at least for people who like good stories. His trainer is the most successful ever but has never won a Derby. His jockey is an ageless veteran who has never had a breakthrough in the biggest races.

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