With three wins over his last four starts, Dornoch was a sleeper in many 2024 Kentucky Derby picks at 12-1 odds. Then, the Remsen Stakes winner drew the rail in the 2024 Kentucky Derby post draw, which knocked his 2024 Kentucky Derby odds down to 20-1. The No. 1 post hasn’t produced a winner since 1986, as the starter from that spot is often victim of bumping and jostling for position from those outside the rail. Thus, Dornoch isn’t looking quite as attractive for 2024 Kentucky Derby picks ahead of Saturday’s race from Churchill Downs. With a 20-horse field, post position has a major impact on the Kentucky Derby odds 2024.
The favorite, Fierceness (5-2) will run from the No. 17 post, while the second-favorite among the 2024 Kentucky Derby horses, Sierra Leone (3-1), drew the No. 2 post. The 2024 Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. 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 the top favorite and just won the Florida Derby. Fierceness will be racing out of stall No. 17, which has not produced a winner in 44 tries. Since the starting gate was introduced in 1930, it is the only post that has not featured a Kentucky Derby winner.
Fierceness has also never won back-to-back races during his young career, and it will not be easy to follow up his dominant showing in the Florida Derby. He finished seventh in the Champagne Stakes last October and finished third in his 3-year-old debut at the Holy Bull. There are multiple other proven 2024 Kentucky Derby horses, so Demling is going in a different direction with his pick to win the race. See which other 2024 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Dornoch, even though he’s a 20-1 longshot. He’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. Dornoch is coming off a disappointing fourth-place showing at the Blue Grass Stakes on April 6. However, prior to that start, Dornoch had won his last three races, which included a victory over Sierra Leone at the Remsen Stakes in December.
Dornoch posted a 98-speed figure in that race and he’ll have to showcase his speed early at Churchill Downs on Saturday. That’s because Dornoch drew the No. 1 post, so he’ll be fighting for positioning right out of the starting gate. “Trainer Danny Gargan changed up his race tactics and tried to rate him in the Blue Grass and he was fourth,” Demling told SportsLine. “He’ll use his speed this time in the No. 1 post position.” See which other horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2024 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is especially high on an epic double-digit longshot who “keeps getting better and better.” Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2024 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2024, and which double-digit longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2024 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.
