Strategizing Bets for the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Oaks: Comprehensive Guide
If you're all set to dive into the thrilling world of Kentucky Derby betting, you've hit the jackpot! But with 20 steeds galloping out of the gate, and dreams on every horizon, it can feel a tad overwhelming for novices. Fear not! We're breaking it down in a fun, simple way so you can enjoy the ride, make smart picks, and maybe even boast about your winning ticket by the end of it all.
Here's your full Kentucky Derby Betting Playbook:
Your Full Kentucky Derby Betting Guide
(Updated May 2, 11:00 am Eastern to reflect scratches)
Betting News offers a wealth of content to help you pick the winning horses. For more information on the racehorses competing, check out our analysis articles for each race of the weekend:
- Thurby Full Card Analysis
- Kentucky Oaks Full Card Analysis
- Kentucky Derby Full Card Analysis
The objective of this article is to take our selections and help you craft them into profitable bet slips, making your Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby wagering easier. Betting is a deeply personal endeavor; everyone has their own style and preference. The best use of this guide is to merge these plays with your opinions to create bet slips that align with your betting profile.
Kentucky Oaks Betting Guide (Friday, May 2, 2025)- UPDATED WITH SCRATCHES
The following denominations are used to determine the cost of the wager:
- Win: $2
- Exacta: $1
- Trifecta: $0.50
- Daily Double: $1
- Pick 3: $0.50
Kentucky Oaks Full Card Analysis (May 2, 2025)
Bet all of today's selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.
Race #1
This race seems light on chaos and a great way to kick off our day with a winning slip. We're zeroing in on the sole speed in this race:
- Win: #3 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 3 with 4,9 ($2)
- Trifecta: 3 with 4,9 with 4,7,8,9 ($3)
- Daily Double (Race 1 & 2): 3 with 3,4,9,10 ($4)
Race #2
I see this as a 4-horse race, but all 4 may not surprise. Hoping the double pays off, but let's keep it tight:
- Win: The biggest price between #3, #4, and #9, if 6-1 or better ($2)
Race #3
Another wide-open race early in the card. Stick to the win end again:
- Win: The biggest price between #10, #11, or #12, if 6-1 or better ($2)
Race #4
The #3 appears to sit a perfect trip, but the pace could get hot, and there could be a lot of chaos. Focus on the Pick 3 instead:
- Pick 3 (Races 4-6): 1,3,7,9,10 with 5 with 2,4 ($5)
Race #5
Here's another horse we can lock in: smash the favorite and work the logicals underneath. If the pick 3 is still alive, ride it out. If not, you should be able to come back with a daily double or pick 3 here:
- Win: #5 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 5 with 2,4,7 ($3)
- Trifecta: 5 with 2,4,7 with 1,2,4,7 ($4.50)
Race #6
It seems like a quick pace, but that sets up for a formful outcome. This exacta won't pay much, so if you play it, you'll want to up your units to make it worth your time:
- Win: #4 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta Box: 2,4 ($2)
Race #7
The champ is back. She should win. If she doesn't, throw darts, as it's wide open after that:
- Exacta: 2 with 4,5 ($2)
- Trifecta: 2 with 4,5 with 1,4,5,7 ($3)
Race #8
Feels like we should be able to sneak by with the main players in this spot:
- Win: #7 at even money or better ($2)
- Exacta: 7 with 2,3 ($2)
- Trifecta: 7 with 2,3 with 2,3,8 ($2)
Race #9
I think the five is best, but this might be your best chance at a price in the late sequences. Focus on value underneath in verticals and beating a favorite in the pick 3:
- Win: #5 at even money or better ($2)
- Exacta Box: 5,7,10 ($6)
- Trifecta: 5 with 7,9,10 with 6,7,9,10,11 ($7.50)
- Pick 3 (Races 9-11): 5,6,7,9,10,11/4,9/7 ($6)
Race #10
This feels like a 2-horse race between longshots. Here's another pressed up exacta opportunity:
- Win: #4 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta Box: 4,9 ($2)
- Trifecta: 4,9 with 4,5,9 with 1,3,4,5,7,9 ($8)
Kentucky Oaks Race #11
La Cara, Kentucky Oaks Longshot, takes the lead
Good Cheer will be a tough nut to crack, but maybe La Cara can help us cash some tickets
- Win: #7 at 4-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta Box: 7,11 ($2)
- Oaks Derby Double (Kentucky Oaks & Kentucky Derby): 7,11 with 1, 3, 7,8,14 ($10)
Race #12
With the main event done, the last two races are about taking a shot to make some extra cash to bet on the Kentucky Derby
- Win: #7 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 7 with 11, 12 ($2)
- Daily Double (Race 12 & 13): 7 with 8 ($1)
Race #13
- Win: #8 at 4-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 8 with 2,7,9,10 ($4)
Kentucky Derby Betting Guide (Saturday, May 3, 2025)
Kentucky Derby Full Card Analysis (May 3, 2025)
Bet all of today's selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.
Race #1
The start of the card looks pretty wide open. We'll zero in on a couple plays and try to get on house money for the rest of the day:
- Win: #11 Win at 7-2 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 11 with 9,12 ($2)
- Trifecta: 11 with 9,12 with 3,5,9,10,12 ($4)
- Pick 3 (Races 1-3): 11 with 6,7,8,9,10 with 2 ($2.50)
Race #2
This race looks to have a lot of pace and a high potential for chaos. Spread around:
- Win: #10 at 2-1 ($2)
- Exacta: 10 with 6,7,8,9 ($4)
Race #3
Pace should be fair, but there are so many in with a shot here. We're going to zero in on a price:
- Win: #2 at 7-2 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 2 with 5,6,7,11 ($4)
- Trifecta: 2 with 5,6,7,11 with 1,5,6,7,11 ($8)
Race #4
This race looks pretty slow in terms of pace and should be reasonably formful:
- Exacta Box: 6,9 ($2)
Race #5
This one is a wide-open affair, but two stand out from the rest, so we'll lean on them:
- Win: #6 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta Box: 6,10 ($2)
Race #6
This one should be hot on the front end and there are few results that would shock me here:
- Exacta Box: 5,7 ($2)
- Trifecta: 5,7 with 5,7 with 4,9 ($2)
Race #7
A really tough race at this point in the card. These turf sprints can be a real crapshoot:
- Exacta Box: 3,7 ($2)
- Trifecta: 3,7 with 3,7 with 2,9,11 ($3)
- Pick 3 (Races 7-9): 3,7 with 2,3,7,11 with 7 ($4)
Race #8
So much talent in this race, but a lot of question marks from these runners. Another tough one in the middle of a lot of key sequences:
- Win: #11 at 2-1 or better ($2)
Race #9
A big field, but it feels like you can lean into a couple here:
- Win: #7 at 3-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 7 with 3,10 ($2)
- Trifecta: 7 with 3,10 with 2,3,6,10,11,13,17 ($6)
Race #10
Top-heavy race here with a lot of padding that looks to add unnecessary chaos:
- Win: #1 at 7-2 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 1 with 2,7,8,9 ($4)
- Trifecta: 1 with 2,7,8,9 with 2,7,8,9 ($6)
- Pick 3 (Races 10-12): 1,2,7,8,9 with 1,7,10 with 8 ($7.50)
Race #11
This race feels like it goes through the top of the market. Zero in on those ones here:
- Exacta Box: 1,7,10 ($6)
Race #12
The main event seems to have a single standout, but then again, it's the Kentucky Derby, so anything is possible. We'll lock into the likeliest outcome and let the chips fall where they may:
Journalism favored in the Kentucky Derby
- Win: #8 at 2-1 or better ($2)
- Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,4,7,17 ($8)
- Trifecta: 8 with 1,4,7,17 with 1,3,4,5,6,7,9,13,14,16,17,19 ($22)
Note: Normally, I don't play trifectas with the favorite on top for that amount, but in 2015, the American Pharoah trifecta paid $101 with three of the top 4 in the trifecta.
Race #13
If you're still playing at this point, you're an absolute degenerate, and all I can say is that it's good to be amongst friends. Have fun and fire away in the last two races.
- Win: #11 at 2-1 or better ($2)
Race #14
Tons of pace on here. This one could end up being a roulette wheel, but the favorite is the most logical:
- Win: #12 at 5-2 or better ($2)
- Exacta: 12 with 5,13,14 ($3)
- Trifecta: 12 with 5,13,14 with 1,5,13,14 ($4.50)
Kentucky Derby betting doesn't have to be intimidating – in fact, it should be part of the fun! With a little knowledge and a smart approach, you can soak up all the excitement and give yourself a real shot at cashing in. Whether you're betting a favorite, a longshot, or crafting the perfect trifecta, the most important thing is to enjoy the ride. After all, there's nothing quite like seeing your horse thunder down the stretch under the Twin Spires!
- In the Kentucky Derby Full Card Analysis, a winning ticket for Race 1's Win is suggested for horse #3 at a odds of 2-1 or better, with an exacta for 3 with 4,9.
- For Race 7 in the Kentucky Oaks Full Card Analysis, an exacta is recommended, pairing horse #2 with 4,5.
- In the Kentucky Derby Full Card Analysis (Saturday, May 3, 2025), a winning ticket for Race 1's Win is suggested for horse #11 at odds of 7-2 or better.
- For Race 13 in the Kentucky Derby Full Card Analysis (Saturday, May 3, 2025), a winning ticket for the Win is suggested for horse #11 at odds of 2-1 or better.
