2023 Kentucky Derby horses, futures, odds, date: Expert who nailed 10 Derby-Oaks Doubles lists best picks
Tapit Trice won the Blue Grass Stakes in his last outing, but needed quick decision-making by his jockey, Luis Saez. While it was encouraging to see that Tapit Trice could win after a less-than-ideal start, the margin for error is minimal when it comes to the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which runs on Saturday, May 6 from Churchill Downs. Tapit Trice was neck-and-neck with Verifying, one of the other 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders, and managed to win with a late burst. Tapit Trice is 8-1 in the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds, while Verifying checks in at 36-1, and both are expected to be chasing longtime favorite Forte (3-1). Before making any 2023 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the horse racing predictions and futures bets from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2023 Kentucky Derby having nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last fives years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also nailed Flightline's win at the Breeders' Cup Classic last November.
Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world like the Kentucky Derby 2023. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 14 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but four times in the last 14 years. He's also called nine of the last 18 Preakness winners, keenly understanding when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset, and nailed the 2022 Preakness trifecta. Anyone who has followed him is up huge.
Now, with the 2023 Kentucky Derby futures already on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2023 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling's surprising 2023 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Forte, even though he's the top 2023 Kentucky Derby favorite and has won five straight races. There are questions surrounding Forte's ability to win on the big stage, as he was sired by a horse (Violence) who never raced in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes or Belmont Stakes. Forte was a 1-5 favorite at the Florida Derby, but he did not take the lead until the final 16th of a mile.
Forte will facing the toughest field of his career on May 6, as the Kentucky Derby 2023 field is loaded with quality horses. He will be ridden by a jockey who has never won this race, so it is difficult to justify his current betting price. Demling thinks Forte will be in contention, but his Kentucky Derby odds 2023 are not worth backing when there are other contenders offering favorable payouts. See which other 2023 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Two Phil's, even though he's a long shot at 88-1. He's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. He got back on track at the right time with a win in his most recent race at the Jeff Ruby Stakes. Although his Kentucky Derby odds 2023 reflect that he hasn't won the majority of his races, he is one of just a few horses in the 2023 Kentucky Derby field that boasts a career-high triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure.
Those that continue to doubt Two Phil's may argue that his Jeff Ruby win came on a synthetic surface rather than dirt, but the eye test told more than that. After the first quarter-mile, Two Phil's got stronger as the race carried on, and the best horses to back are ones that break fast and finish strong. Additionally, he won Jeff Ruby from an outside position, showing that he doesn't need to hold the inside to challenge for a win. See which other horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2023 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is especially high on a big longshot who will give you "juicy odds" and a potentially hefty payday. Anyone who backs this horse could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2023? And which huge underdog is a must-back? Check out the latest 2023 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who nailed 10 Derby-Oaks doubles.
