The road to the Kentucky Derby hits Dubai on Saturday when the starting gate opens in the 2025 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse. The winner of the prep race will receive 100 qualifying points toward the first leg of the Triple Crown, guaranteeing a spot in the Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. In overseas betting, the Brad Cox-trained Flood Zone is the 2-1 favorite in the 2025 UAE Derby odds. Already with 50 qualifying points, he is in good shape to make the Kentucky Derby regardless of what happens on Saturday. Shin Forever (11-4) and Heart of Honor (9-2) round out the top three choices among the nine 2025 UAE Derby horses according to oddsmakers. Post time for the Kentucky Derby prep race is 11 a.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 UAE 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 jackpot. In February he hit the winner and exacta in the Holy Bull Stakes in February for a $422.50 payday. And just last week he nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score.

Anyone who followed his lead on those picks could be way up.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2025 UAE Derby field, made his picks and constructed his tickets. We can tell you that Menez is completely tossing Shin Forever, the 11-4 second choice. "I'm fading Shin Forever, who was unable to hold off Golden Vekoma at one mile in his last start," Menez told SportsLine. Menez isn't using Shin Forever in any of his wagers.

Instead, Menez's top pick is a horse whose "works have been 'fantastic'" since his last race. Menez is including this horse in his 2025 UAE Derby bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horse it is before making any 2025 UAE Derby picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2025 UAE Derby? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get the top 2025 UAE Derby picks and bets, all from the expert who just nailed the Florida Derby!