Journalism heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby as the 3-1 morning-line favorite following the post draw for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The Santa Anita Derby winner is followed by Sovereignty (5-1) and Sandman (6-1) in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds. Trainer Bob Baffert is making his first appearance at Churchill Downs since serving a ban after Medina Spirit failed a drug test following the 2021 Derby. 

Baffert, who is eyeing a record-setting seventh Kentucky Derby victory, has a pair of horses in the field in Rodriguez (12-1) and Citizen Bull (20-1). Post time for Saturday's race is set for 6:57 p.m. ET. Before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks for the annual Run for the Roses, you NEED to see what our resident horse racing guru, Jody Demling, has to say, given his historical DOMINATION of this race.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Derby-Oaks double 11 times in the last 16 years! He also predicted the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last seven years and called 10 of the last 20 Preakness winners, including 2023, when he hit the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta. He also hit the Preakness in 2024. Anyone who has followed him on those picks is WAY UP! Join SportsLine here to unlock his 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, and get 50% off with promo code "JOCKEY"!

For the 2025 Kentucky Derby, we can tell you Demling is fading Rodriguez, even though he is coming off a win in the Wood Memorial. Rodriguez lost to multiple Kentucky Derby horses in the lead-up to this race, including a distant third-place finish behind Journalism in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). Demling does not have Rodriguez hitting the board in his current leaderboard. 

Demling has also locked in his picks for Journalism and Sandman. Journalism is trying to become the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby since Justify (2018), while Sandman is looking to build on his Arkansas Derby (G1) victory. Join SportsLine here to get Demling's full 2025 Kentucky Derby picks for 50% off NOW with promo code "JOCKEY"!

Demling is especially high on a double-digit longshot who is coming off an "impressive" and unexpected showing in his last race! He's including this horse in his 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see his 2025 Kentucky Derby picks before locking in any of your own!

Who wins the 2025 Kentucky Derby, and which double-digit longshot is a MUST-BACK? ... Join SportsLine right now to get Jody Demling's 2025 Kentucky Derby projected leaderboard, all from the expert who has nailed a COLOSSAL 11 Derby-Oaks doubles! Plus, get 50% off for a limited time with the promo code "JOCKEY"!