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2025 Kentucky Derby odds, horses, field: Racing insider offers best bets for top picks for the Run for the Roses

SportsLine racing analyst Michelle Yu, who already has hit the winners of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Saudi Cup, San Felipe Stakes and Arkansas Derby this year, offers her picks, wagers and analysis for the first leg of the Triple Crown

By@SportsLineUpdated: Apr 29, 2025 12:56AM UTC . 3 min read

Horse racing's Triple Crown kicks off on Saturday when the starting gate opens for the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism is the favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds at 3-1 and is riding a four-race winning streak. Fountain of Youth Stakes champion Sovereignty (5-1), Arkansas Derby sensation Sandman (6-1), Wood Memorial speedball Rodriguez (12-1) and Blue Grass Stakes hero Burnham Square (12-1) round out the top five favorites among the 20 Kentucky Derby horses. Post time for the $5 million race is 6:57 p.m. ET.

With the Kentucky Derby's 20-horse rodeo serving as the most difficult handicapping puzzle every year, you NEED to see what Santa Anita-based racing reporter and insider Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, considering her DOMINATION of this race.

Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.

In a wide-open Kentucky Derby in 2021, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. In Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager three years ago, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at a whopping 18-1 when Rich Strike won.

She started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she also predicted Forever Young's win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism's win in the San Felipe Stakes and Sandman's win in the Arkansas Derby this year. Anyone who has followed her is WAY UP! Join SportsLine now to unlock her 2025 Kentucky Derby picks here, and use promo code "JOCKEY" to unlock 50% off!

For the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Yu has made her picks and constructed her bets. One surprise: She is completely fading Sandman, even though he won the Arkansas Derby and is one of the top favorites! "His final quarter in the Arkansas Derby was pedestrian," Yu told SportsLine. Yu will not be using Sandman in any of her wagers.

Another curveball: Yu is high on Grande, even though he's a 20-1 longshot. "Grande had to overcome a wide journey in the Wood and couldn't reel in the frontrunner, who got a perfect trip," Yu told SportsLine. She is using Grande prominently in her 2025 Kentucky Derby bets. Join SportsLine now to get her full 2025 Kentucky Derby insider picks, and get 50% off using the promo code "JOCKEY"!

Moreover, Yu is high on a double-digit longshot who has been running "perfectly" at Churchill Downs this week! She is including this horse in her 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see her picks before locking in any of your own.

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