2025 Kentucky Derby Betting Kit: Profiles, Analysis, Odds & More

The 151st Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs is only eight days away. This year’s installment of the Run for the Roses, consisting of 20 talented horses, is a wide-open betting affair that sports bettors are hoping to capitalize on.

Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Michael McCarthy’s standout Journalism is expected to be named the morning-line favorite due to winning four consecutive stakes races, highlighted most recently by his score in the Santa Anita Derby. Despite his dominant resume and solid pedigree, facing smaller California fields is potentially his only drawback.

Behind Journalism, Bill Mott’s top closer Sovereignty, Arkansas Derby winner Sandman, Florida Derby winner Tappan Street, Japanese invader Luxor Cafe, and Blue Grass champion Burnham Square are among the top tier contenders.

After a three-year ban, six-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert is back with two longshots in Rodriguez and Citizen Bull as he looks to break a tie with Ben Jones for the most wins in Kentucky Derby history.

2025 Kentucky Derby Info: How to Watch

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025,

Time: Post time 6:57 p.m. EST, 3:57 p.m. PT

TV: NBC and Peacock

Distance: 1¼-mile, dirt

Purse: $5 million

Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

Updated Road to the #KyDerby Leaderboard! 🌹

Neoequos is in! pic.twitter.com/1fmkSjrUba
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 25, 2025

Betting on the Kentucky Derby Is Lucrative

The "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" has delivered very profitable payouts in recent years.

Just how lucrative?

The average odds of the last four Derby the winner has paid an average of 35-1, the exacta (top two runners) has paid an average of 649-1, while the trifecta (top three runners) has paid out at an average of 4,900-1!