Kentucky Derby 2025: Which Underdog Could Steal the Spotlight from the Favorites?

They call it “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” but come Saturday, those 120 seconds might feel like an eternity—for fans, bettors, and horses alike. Yup, the 151st Kentucky Derby is barreling toward Churchill Downs, Louisville, on May 3rd, kicking off the Triple Crown chase with the Preakness and Belmont hot on its heels. Last year’s photo finish—a near three-way dead heat—still gives me goosebumps. Mystik Dan’s underdog story, toppling favorites like Sierra Leone and my 2024 pick, Forever Young, proved this race loves throwing curveballs. Speaking of odds, if you think morning lines tell the whole story, think again. Parimutuel betting pits you against every other gambler pooled together, not some bookie lurking in the shadows. It’s a gambling dance as intricate as the race itself. This year, Journalism leads the pack on paper with a prime gate spot and the legendary Bob Baffert making a high-profile return after a doping suspension. There’s more than just raw speed here—strategy, luck, whispers of controversy, and a touch of madness. So, are you ready to stress over two minutes that could make or break your weekend? Me too. Let the prep (and bets) begin! <ahref="https://twitter.com/GeofferyClark” target=”blank” rel=”noopener”>LEARN MORE.

We see The Fastest Two Minutes In Sports this weekend with the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The first jewel of the Triple Crown is Saturday, May 3, followed by the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course two weeks later, concluding with the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 7. 

Last year’s Run for the Roses was a thriller. There was a three-way photo finish with Mystik Dan edging out Sierra Leone, and my pick to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Japan’s Forever Young. Mystik Dan was 20-1 on the morning-line (ML), Sierra Leone was the second betting choice at 3-1, and Forever Young opened at 10-1. 

Since horse racing is a “parimutuel” betting event, these thoroughbreds closed at different odds than their MLs. Parimutuel is a French word that basically means “pool betting”. So, rather than betting against the “House,” you’re betting against your fellow gamblers. The official odds are set once all the money is collected and the race starts. 

The Kentucky Derby is a 1.25-mile race for three-year-olds on the dirt track of Churchill. It’s the longest race these horses have run and the largest field. Journalism is the betting favorite on the ML (3-1) and drew the favorable #8 post position. Also, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, a horse trainer for two Triple Crown champions, returns to the Derby after a three-year ban for doping. 

Keep in mind that the Kentucky Derby is the 12th race on a day full of “stakes” races, and the Kentucky Oaks for three-year-old fillies runs Friday. I’ll be back later this week with my picks to win and exotics, including an Exacta and/or Trifecta. In the meantime, I’m going to spend far too much time preparing for a race that only lasts two minutes. 

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