Mark Pope, Kentucky MBB staff reveal their picks for 2025 Kentucky Derby

The 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.


And if you’re someone who is still unsure of which horse you’ll be placing a wager on for this year’s Kentucky Derby, perhaps mark pope can sway your decision. The Kentucky men’s basketball social team posted Derby picks from all six members of the coaching staff. Pope is going with Render Judgement (16-1 odds) as his winner, a horse that is trained by UK fan Kenny McPeek (who recently threw the Ls down next to PAT KELSEY) and is partially owned by the late Toby Keith.


Pope’s right-hand man, alvin brooks iii, is going with the betting favorite, Journalism (4-1), while CODY FUEGER is going with the biggest longshot amongst his peers, Publisher (30-1). Below are the rest of the staff’s picks. Post time is set for 7:02 p.m. ET.


  • MARK POPE (Head Coach): Render Judgement (16-1)
  • JASON HART (Assistant Coach): Sandman (5-1)
  • MARK FOX (Associate Coach): Sovereignty (9-1)
  • CODY FUEGER (Assistant Coach): Publisher (30-1)
  • mikhail mclean (Assistant Coach): Burnham Square (17-1)
  • alvin brooks iii (Associate Head Coach): Journalism (4-1)

Kenny Brooks, WBB staff also shared Derby picks

Head coach KENNY BROOKS and the Kentucky women’s basketball staff also shared their Kentucky Derby picks ahead of tonight’s race. Brooks is riding with one of the largest underdogs in the entire 19-horse field, Owen Almighty (37-1), while assistant coach Ciara Gregory is the one picking Journalism to win.


151st Kentucky Derby Odds (via fanduel)

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1 Citizen Bull Bob Baffert Martin Garcia 13-1
2 Neoequos Saffie Joseph Jr. Luis Saez 38-1
3 Final Gambit Brad Cox Luan Machado 15-1
4 Rodriguez Bob Baffert Mike Smith SCR
5 American Promise D. Wayne Lukas Nik Juarez 12-1
6 Admire Daytona Yukihiro Kato Christophe Lemaire 39-1
7 Luxor Cafe Noriyuki Hori Joao Moreira 8-1
8 Journalism Michael McCarthy Umberto Rispoli 4-1
9 Burnham Square Ian Wilkes Brian Hernandez Jr. 17-1
10 Grande Todd Pletcher John Velazquez SCR
11 Flying Mohawk Whit Beckman Joe Ramos 28-1
12 East Avenue Brendan Walsh Manny Franco 39-1
13 Publisher Steve Asmussen Irad Ortiz Jr. 30-1
14 Tiztastic Steve Asmussen Joel Rosario 21-1
15 Render Judgment Kenny McPeek Julien Leparoux 16-1
16 Coal Battle Lonnie Briley Juan Vargas 24-1
17 Sandman Mark Casse Jose Ortiz 5-1
18 Sovereignty Bill Mott Junior Alvarado 9-1
19 Chunk of Gold Ethan West Jareth Loveberry 27-1
20 Owen Almighty Brian Lynch Javier Castellano 37-1
21 Baeza John Shirreffs Flavien Prat 17-1

Which horse should you go with? Watch the video below for Nick Roush and Peter T. Fornatale’s picks. Get in the game with some help from our friends at NYRA Bets.




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