2024 Kentucky Derby horses, futures, odds, date: Expert who nailed 10 Derby-Oaks Doubles gives out picks
The fifth running of the Saudi Cup followed the same trend from the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic, as a Japanese horse and an American horse battled for the victory. Senor Buscador edged out reigning Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro, setting the stage for a thrilling horse racing season. The Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard has been constantly changing, with Timberlake sitting atop the standings after winning the Rebel at Oaklawn Park. The Brad Cox-trained horse had not raced since finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he kicked away to win by two lengths.
Timberlake is a 15-1 longshot in the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds, while Sierra Leone is the 6-1 favorite among the 2024 Kentucky Derby horses. Which 2024 Kentucky Derby contenders should you target with your 2024 Kentucky Derby bets? Before making any 2024 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 2024 Kentucky Derby having nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last six years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also called Flightline's win at the Breeders' Cup Classic in November of that year.
Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world like the Kentucky Derby 2024. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 15 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but five times in the last 15 years. He's also called 10 of the last 19 Preakness winners, including nailing his Preakness winner, exacta and superfecta picks in 2023, keenly understanding when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset. Anyone who has followed him is up huge.
Now, with the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds already on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2024 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2024 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling's surprising 2024 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Fierceness, even though he's one of the favorites at 16-1. Sired by City of Light out of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, Fierceness was the first horse from this crop to reach the $1 million mark in career earnings (Timberlake has since joined him in that club) thanks to his win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last November.
However, he was a wildly disappointing seventh in the Champagne Stakes less than a month before his big two-year-old win and then finished third in the Holy Bull Stakes earlier this month to start his three-year-old season. Trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to send him to the Florida Derby next month where he'll probably need to at least hit the board to earn enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. See which other 2024 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Honor Marie, even though he's a 36-1 longshot. He's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. The last three Kentucky Derby winners have closed with double-digit odds, including Rich Strike at 80-1 two years ago. Honor Marie has the potential to make it four straight longshot winners, especially since he won twice at Churchill Downs last year.
He won the MSW in September before looking even more impressive when he won the 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in November, improving his speed figure. Honor Marie most recently raced in the 2024 Risen Star (G2) earlier this month, finishing in fifth place. He is the son of Honor Code, who won multiple Grade 1 stakes races in 2015, so Demling feels good about backing Honor Marie as a longshot for the Kentucky Derby. See which other horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2024 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is especially high on another massive longshot who has the pedigree to win the Run for the Roses and turn heads on Derby Day. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2024 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
