Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Sovereignty can solidify himself as one of the major contenders for the Kentucky Derby when he leaves the starting gate in the 2025 Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty has two wins and one second-place finish in four career starts. On Saturday, Sovereignty is the 8-5 favorite in the 2025 Florida Derby odds. Madaket Road (7-2), Disruptor (4-1) and Tappan Street (5-1) round out the top four favorites among the ten 2025 Florida Derby horses. Post time for the $1 million Kentucky Derby prep race is 6:42 p.m. ET.

With talented but inexperienced 3-year-olds set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any 2025 Florida 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, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then 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 gave out 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 score. And he hit the winner and exacta in the Holy Bull Stakes in February for a $422.50 payday. Anyone who followed his lead on those picks is WAY UP!

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2025 Florida Derby field, made his picks and constructed his tickets. We can tell you that Menez's top pick is not Sovereignty, even though he's the 8-5 favorite. "He clearly is the horse to beat, but is he good enough to win this race again at less than 100%, knowing the big goal, the Kentucky Derby, is on the horizon?" Menez told SportsLine.

Instead, Menez's top pick is a horse who has been "training up a storm." He also is high on a double-digit longshot who is coming off a "sneaky good" effort! Menez is including these horses in his 2025 Florida Derby bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2025 Florida Derby picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2025 Florida Derby? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get the top 2025 Florida Derby picks and bets, all from the expert who gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby and crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday!