Post position No. 17 is the only gate that has never produced a Kentucky Derby winner, so Sandman will try to make history in the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 2025 Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. Sandman is one of the top 2025 Kentucky Derby contenders, listed at 6-1 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds following Saturday's 2025 Kentucky Derby post position draw. Only Journalism (3-1) and Sovereignty (5-1) sit ahead of him on the horse racing odds board. Post position No. 6 has also been an unfavorable gate in previous years, with just two winners being produced from 95 starts. Admire Daytona is a 30-1 longshot from that gate this year.
Should you include any of those longshots in your 2025 Kentucky Derby bets or target the favorites among the 2025 Kentucky Derby horses? Before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks, you'll want to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2025 Kentucky Derby picks or horse racing predictions.
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.
In May of last year, Menez nailed 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. In November, he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 jackpot. This year, he hit the winner and exacta in the Holy Bull Stakes and the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby.
For the Run for the Roses, Menez has handicapped the 2025 Kentucky Derby field, made his picks and constructed his best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2025 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Menez' surprising 2025 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Sandman (6-1), even though he won the Arkansas Derby and is one of the top 2025 Kentucky Derby favorites. Sandman drew the unlucky gate No. 17, putting him behind the 8-ball from a historical perspective. Not only are horses 0-for-45 from post No. 8, but only three horses have finished in the money.
Sandman is a closer who is coming off a win in the Arkansas Derby, but he was the beneficiary of a pace meltdown. Menez believes that 2.5-length victory looks more impressive than it was, which has led to a short price for the Derby.
Menez thinks a late charge to a third-place finish is the best-case scenario for Sandman, making him a horse to fade in the Run for the Roses. See which 2025 Kentucky Derby horses he likes at SportsLine.
How to make 2025 Kentucky Derby bets, picks
Menez' top pick is a horse who "is bred to only get better with the added distance." He's also high on a double-digit longshot who owns "the most awesome turn of foot of any of the Kentucky Derby hopefuls." Menez is sharing who he likes over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2025, and which double-digit longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2025 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Menez' picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who called Mystik Dan as an 18-1 live longshot in last year's race.
2025 Kentucky Derby odds, post positions
