Following Epicenter’s victory in the Risen Star Stakes last February, horse racing experts are considering his importance when it comes to handicapping the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Several of the 2023 Kentucky Derby horses have been shown in this year’s race, including Angel of Empire, who won at Fair Grounds but is 99-1 in the latest Kentucky Derby 2023 odds. He edged out another exciting competitor, Two Phil’s, who finished third and is just as long a 95-1 Kentucky Derby 2023 target.
Victory Formation, who is 23-1 in 2023 Kentucky Derby odds, may have seen his value in the 2023 Kentucky Derby Futures take a hit after a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Risen Star Stakes. Before you make any picks for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, be sure to check out the horse racing predictions and futures betting from SportsLine’s top horse racing expert, Jody Demling.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing, speaking and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2023 Kentucky Derby having pinned the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last five years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also nailed Flightline’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November.
Demling is at his best in the world’s biggest horse races, such as the 2023 Kentucky Derby. In fact, he has won 10 of the last 14 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he has held a ticket with the winners of both races all but four times in the last 14 years. He’s also named nine of the last 18 Preakness winners, knowing very well when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for a win or a huge upset, and nailed the 2022 Preakness trifecta. Anyone who has followed him is huge.
Now, with the 2023 Kentucky Derby futures already on the table, Demling shares his picks and predictions with SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top Kentucky Derby 2023 Predictions
One of Demling’s surprising picks for the 2023 Kentucky Derby: He fades Forte, saying the favorite doesn’t even make the top five. One of the unquantifiable things about horses that is difficult to predict is the transition from their two-year-old form to their three-year-old form. While it’s just as likely that Forte will prove to be as dominant as he started out to be, there’s still a chance that he’ll stagnate from his recent rise.
Forte has proven more comfortable as a stalker, and his post position could ultimately play a role in his upside in the 2023 Kentucky Derby. While there’s no doubt Forte is strong enough to close out the stretch, a slow break from a less than ideal position could derail his entire race. With other exciting horses at higher odds, a return to Forte is not as enticing. See what other 2023 Kentuchors to avoid at SportsLine.
Another surprise: Demling is high in the Blazing Sevens, even though he’s a long-shot 27-1. It’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. While Blazing Sevens may not have the win total that some of the other potential 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders boast, he is putting together an impressive resume.
Each of Blazing Sevens’ last three races have been Grade 1 Stakes, including a victory in the Champagne Stakes last October. After finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he has been in steady training since the start of 2023. Blazing Sevens steps up at the right time after gaining enough experience to close last year and will have a former Derby-winning jockey in Flavien Prat (2019). to guide him in the fight for the roses. See what other horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2023 Kentucky Derby picks, betting
Demling is particularly high on an even longer long shot who has “a lot of room for improvement” and could make a serious charge at Churchill Downs. Anyone who backs this horse could hit it hard. Demling shares which horse he is, along with his entire projected leaderboard, with SportsLine.
Which horse wins the 2023 Kentucky Derby? And which huge underdog is a must back? Check out the latest 2023 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine for Demling’s Kentucky Derby picks, all from the expert who nailed 10 double Derby-Oaks.