The first leg of the 2023 Triple Crown takes place on Saturday from Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby 2023 will see 20 horses race 1 1/4 miles, with the winner collecting $1.86 million. That's not all the victor will receive, as the winning horse will be draped in a lush blanket of 554 red roses. Additionally, the winning connections will receive the Kentucky Derby Trophy, a set of four awards given to the owner, trainer, jockey and breeder. Can the 3-1 Kentucky Derby favorite in Forte live up to his billing and become the first favorite in five years to win? After Forte, the other main 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders include Tapit Trice (5-1) and Angel of Empire (8-1). Seven horses have 2023 Kentucky Derby odds of 12-1 or shorter for the annual Run for the Roses.
Practical Move (10-1), Lord Miles (30-1), and Continuar (50-1) were all scratched on Thursday. The 2023 Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. 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 Tapit Trice, even though he's one of the top favorites in the Kentucky Derby 2023 odds and has won four straight races. Another son of legendary distance sire Tapit, the Todd Pletcher-trained gray or roan colt is the most expensive in the field after being sold at yearling auction for $1.3 million.
He's won his last four starts, but he was tested by Verifying in his most recent win and will have a crowd to deal with if he's trying to stalk the pace. "Tapit Trice won the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes in his last two starts. He still needs to show some improvement, especially mentally, in my mind to face a 20-horse field," Demling told SportsLine. See which other 2023 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Derma Sotogake, even though he's a longshot at 10-1. He's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. In his last start, the Japan-based horse won the UAE Derby, one of just two prep races longer than 1 1/8 miles. That should uniquely prepare Derma Sotogake for the 1 1/4-mile 2023 Kentucky Derby distance, and the horse blazed the second-fastest winning time at the UAE in 14 years.
Maybe even more importantly, Derma Sotogake sprinted the final three-eighths of a mile of the UAE Derby in under 38 seconds. Over the last 25 editions of the Kentucky Derby, 19 winners have shaded the 38-second mark in their final prep race. Derma Sotogake has shown the ability to finish strongly, which is needed at Churchill Downs, and the stamina to go longer than 1 1/8 miles. Derma Sotogake has the key indicators you're looking for in a longshot to invest 2023 Kentucky Derby bets on, according to Demling. 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 "has looked outstanding training at Churchill Downs and will be there with a shot in the end." 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.
2023 Kentucky Derby odds, futures
| Horse | Odds | Program # | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forte | 3-1 | 15 | SEE PICKS |
| Tapit Trice | 5-1 | 5 | SEE PICKS |
| Angel of Empire | 8-1 | 14 | SEE PICKS |
| Derma Sotogake | 10-1 | 20 | SEE PICKS |
| Practical Move | SCR | SCR | |
| Kingsbarn | 12-1 | 6 | SEE PICKS |
| Two Phil's | 12-1 | 3 | SEE PICKS |
| Mage | 15-1 | 8 | SEE PICKS |
| Verifying | 15-1 | 2 | SEE PICKS |
| Confidence Game | 20-1 | 4 | SEE PICKS |
| Skinner | 20-1 | 9 | SEE PICKS |
| Cyclone Mischief | 30-1 | 21 | SEE PICKS |
| Disarm | 30-1 | 11 | SEE PICKS |
| Hit Show | 30-1 | 1 | SEE PICKS |
| Mandarin Hero | 20-1 | 22 | SEE PICKS |
| Rocket Can | 30-1 | 18 | SEE PICKS |
| King Russell | 50-1 | 23 | SEE PICKS |
| Jace's Road | 50-1 | 12 | SEE PICKS |
| Raise Cain | 50-1 | 16 | SEE PICKS |
| Sun Thunder | 50-1 | 13 | SEE PICKS |
| Reincarnate | 50-1 | 7 | SEE PICKS |