The most prestigious horse race of the year takes place on Saturday when the 2023 Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs. The annual Running for the Roses is often called “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” and the 149th Kentucky Derby looks set to live up to the hype. The 2023 Kentucky Derby marks the first leg of horse racing’s coveted Triple Crown and will feature 20 Kentucky Derby horses competing for a $1.86 million payday to go to the winner. Forte is the 3-1 favorite in the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds and will leave the No. 15.
Other top contenders for the 2023 Kentucky Derby include Tapit Trice (5-1), Angel of Empire (8-1), Derma Sotogake (10-1) and Practical Move (10-1). Post time for the 2023 Kentucky Derby is 6:57 PM ET. Before you make your 2023 Kentucky Derby selection, be sure to check out SportsLine Elite Horse Racing Expert Jody Demling’s Horse Racing Predictions and Future Betting.
Demling is a horse racing fixture who has been writing, speaking and betting on the races for years. Demling will enter the 2023 Kentucky Derby having staked the Belmont Stakes winner four of the past five years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also secured Flightline’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November.
Demling is at his best in the world’s biggest horse races like the 2023 Kentucky Derby. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 14 Derby Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he has been on a ticket with the winners of both races in all but four of the last 14 years. He has also named nine of the last 18 Preakness winners and knew exactly when the Kentucky Derby winner was primed for victory or a massive upset, nailing the 2022 Preakness trifecta. All those who have followed him are great.
Now that the future of the 2023 Kentucky Derby is on board, Demling is sharing his tips and predictions with SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2023 Kentucky Derby Predictions
One of Demling’s surprise picks for the 2023 Kentucky Derby: He’s fading despite being a 3-1 favorite in the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds. It’s hard to argue with Forte’s resume as the stallion has won six of his seven starts and has earned more career earnings than any other horse in the 2023 Kentucky Derby field. Forte is ridden by Todd Pletcher, a veteran trainer, but Pletcher has since Always Dreaming not produced a 2017 Kentucky Derby champion.
Forte won the Florida Derby in his last outing, but it was far from a dominant performance. The colt used a late run after finishing most of the race to edge Mage by a length at the finish line. Forte also never stretched out in contention to run the mile-and-a-half feature of the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Forte will face traffic from the No. 15 post and will have to fight to establish an early gap in a favorable position. . See which other 2023 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Derma Sotogake despite being a long shot at 10-1. It’s a destination for anyone looking for a big payday. No horse in the 2023 Kentucky Derby field has a bigger lead than Derma Sotogake. The Japanese defeated their rivals in the United Arab Emirates derby to win by 5 and a half goals.
Derma Sotogake showed blistering pace in this win, going straight to the front in Dubai and never looking back. The chestnut stallion completed the 1 3/16 miles in Dubai in just 1:55.81. Jockey Christophe Lemaire may have to devise a similar tactic on Saturday after Derma Sotogake drew post no. 17 that has never produced a Kentucky Derby winner. Demling notes that “the route from Dubai to Derby has not been very successful in the past”, but Derma Sotogake’s speed is hard to ignore. See what other horses you can bet on at SportsLine.
How to make 2023 kentucky derby picks, betting
Demling is particularly high on the big shot, who “has shown great practice at Churchill Downs and will be there with a shot at the end.” Anyone who bets on this horse can make it big. Demling shares with SportsLine which horse he is for, along with his projected overall ranking.
Which horse will win the 2023 Kentucky Derby? And which giant villain should return? Check out the latest 2023 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s Kentucky Derby picks, all from the expert who scored 10 Derby Oaks doubles.
