One of the biggest sporting events of the year will take place on Saturday when the starting gate opens for the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Santa Anita Derby winner and Michael McCarthy-trained Journalism is the favorite at 3-1 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds following the 2025 Kentucky Derby post draw. Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Sovereignty (5-1), Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (6-1), Santa Anita Derby runner-up Baeza (12-1) and Blue Grass Stakes winner Burnham Square (12-1) round out the top five favorites in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field. Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. Entering the 2025 Kentucky Derby, the last 10 champions have averaged 5.2 starts, and none of them had more than seven races total.

With talented but inexperienced 3-year-olds set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks or horse racing predictions, considering what he did in this race last year.

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, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta, which paid $1,268.20 for $2. 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. Unlock his 2025 Kentucky Derby picks now and take 50% off with promo code "JOCKEY"!

In last year's Kentucky Derby, Menez nailed 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot. In November, he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 jackpot. Anyone who followed his lead on those picks is WAY UP.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2025 Kentucky Derby field and revealed his picks. We can tell you that Menez is fading Sandman, even though he is one of the favorites and just won the Arkansas Derby. Instead, Menez is high on Blue Grass Stakes winner Burnham Square, a 12-1 longshot. "He has shown a willingness to pass horses on the inside, which, in the 20-horse Derby field, can be the difference between winning and losing," Menez told SportsLine. Menez is using Burnham Square prominently in his wagers. Join SportsLine NOW to unlock his full 2025 Kentucky Derby picks for 50% off with promo code "JOCKEY"!

Moreover, Menez is high on a double-digit longshot who is "the best value in the race." Menez is including this horse in his 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horse it is before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks of your own!

So which horse wins the 2025 Kentucky Derby? What double-digit longshot is a MUST-BACK? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get the top 2025 Kentucky Derby picks and bets, all from the expert who nailed Mystik Dan as a live longshot in last year's Kentucky Derby! Take 50% off with promo code "JOCKEY"!