The 2025 Kentucky Derby is set to be an exciting event, particularly with the presence of Publisher, the son of the legendary Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah. American Pharoah made history in 2015 by winning all three prestigious races, starting off with a dominant win at Churchill Downs as a strong 3-1 betting favorite. This year, Publisher enters the Derby field, trained by Steve Asmussen, looking to make a name for himself despite not having a race victory under his belt yet. His last performance saw him finish second in the Arkansas Derby, which has positioned him as a 20-1 contender in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds.
Despite Publisher's current odds, it's important to note that the last four Kentucky Derbies have seen longshots take home the victory. The current favorite is Journalism, listed at 3-1, followed closely by Sovereignty at 5-1 and Sandman at 6-1. The question remains: should you place your bets on one of these favored horses, or could the longshot son of a Triple Crown winner be the one to watch?
With the Kentucky Derby traditionally featuring the largest field in North American racing, it’s crucial to gather insights from experts before making your betting decisions. Michelle Yu, a renowned Santa Anita-based racing reporter and analyst, has demonstrated significant success in handicapping this prestigious race. Notably, she predicted the victory of Medina Spirit at 12-1 in 2021 and made a strong call on All Other 3-Year-Olds in the Future Wager Pool, which paid off impressively when Rich Strike won at 18-1.
In 2025, Yu kicked off the year by backing Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, along with correctly forecasting wins for Forever Young in the $20 million Saudi Cup, Journalism in the San Felipe Stakes, and Sandman in the Arkansas Derby. Those who followed her picks on betting platforms like FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires, and 1/ST BET have seen significant returns.
As the excitement builds for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Yu is sharing her insights on SportsLine, detailing her betting picks and predictions. Notably, she is opting to fade Sandman, one of the top favorites, despite his recent victory in the Arkansas Derby. Trained by Mark Casse, who has yet to secure a Kentucky Derby win in 10 attempts, Yu expresses skepticism towards Sandman, especially given that he has only participated in one Grade 1 stakes race.
Interestingly, Yu is high on Luxor Cafe, a 15-1 longshot with a promising background. Originally bred in Kentucky, Luxor Cafe was purchased by a Japanese owner and has recently returned to the U.S. after racing in Japan. His noteworthy performances include wins in the Fukuryu Stakes and Hyacinth Stakes earlier this year. With a strong lineage as the son of American Pharoah and a comfortable grasp on the Churchill Downs distance, Luxor Cafe is definitely one to watch.
In addition to Luxor Cafe, Yu identifies another double-digit longshot that has been performing impressively on the Churchill Downs surface. She includes this horse in her 2025 Kentucky Derby bets and encourages bettors to take notice. For those eager to know which horses are worth backing, visit SportsLine for Yu’s expert selections.
As the race approaches, here are the current odds and post positions for the 2025 Kentucky Derby:
Citizen Bull - 20-1Neoequos - 30-1Final Gambit - 30-1Rodriguez - 12-1 (Scratched)American Promise - 30-1Admire Daytona - 30-1Luxor Cafe - 15-1Journalism - 3-1Burnham Square - 12-1Grande - 20-1 (Scratched)Flying Mohawk - 30-1East Avenue - 20-1Publisher - 20-1Tiztastic - 20-1Render Judgment - 30-1Coal Battle - 30-1Sandman - 6-1Sovereignty - 5-1Chunk of Gold - 30-1Owen Almighty - 30-1Baeza - 12-1As the excitement builds for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, make sure to stay informed and consider expert advice to enhance your betting strategy.
