Betting the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Oaks- A Full Playbook

If you’re ready to dive into the world of Kentucky Derby betting, you’ve come to the right place. But with 20 horses charging out of the gate and dreams riding on every one of them, it can feel a little overwhelming for first-timers.

Don’t worry — we’re breaking it all down in a simple, fun way so you can enjoy the thrill, make smart picks, and maybe even brag about your winning ticket when it’s all said and done.

Your Full Kentucky Derby Betting Playbook

Betting News has tons of content to help you select the winning horses. If you’re looking for more information on the horses in the race, check out our analysis articles for each of the main weekend.

• Thurby Full Card Analysis
• Kentucky Oaks Full Card Analysis
• Kentucky Derby Full Card Analysis

The purpose of this article is to take our selections and help develop them into profitable tickets to make your Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby betting even easier. Betting is an extremely personal endeavor. Everyone has their own style and preference. The absolute best way to use this guide is to merge these plays with your opinions to craft tickets that best match your betting profile.

Kentucky Oaks Betting Playbook (Friday May 2, 2025)

The following denominations are used to determine the cost of the wager. Players may choose to up their units from these denominations.

• Win: $2
• Exacta: $1
• Trifecta: $0.50
• Daily Double: $1
• Pick 3: $0.50

Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.

Race #1

This race seems light on chaos and a good way for us to start our day with a winning ticket. We’re going to key in on the lone speed in this race.

• Win: #3 at 2-1 or better ($2)
• Exacta: 3 with 1,4 ($2)
• Trifecta: 3 with 1,4 with 1,4,5,8,9 ($4)
• 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 would not be surprising. Hopefully we hit the double into this race, but let’s keep it tight

• Win:  The biggest price between #3, #4, and #9 if 6-1 or better ($2)

Race #3

This is another wide open race early in the card. Once again, this one will be best to stick to the win end

• Win:  The biggest price between #10, #11, or #12 at 6-1 or better ($2)

Race #4

The #3 does look to sit the perfect trip, but I think this pace will get hot and their could be a lot of chaos. With formful races on the horizon we’ll focus on the pick 3.

• Pick 3 (Races 4-6) : 1,3,7,9,10 with 5 with 2,4 ($5)

Race #5

Finally another horse we can lock into. 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 really 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 because it is 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 ($4)
• Trifecta:  7 with 2,3 with 1,2,3,4,8 ($74)

Race #9

I think the five is best, but this might be your best chance at a price in the late sequences. The key here will be 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 1,6,7,9,10,11 ($7.50)
• Pick 3 (Races 8-10) : 1,5,6,7,9,10,11/4,9/7 ($7)

Race #10

This feels like a 2 horse race between the logical ones. This is 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

Good Cheer will be tough to beat 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, 13  ($10)

Race #12

With the main event done, the last two races are just about taking a shot to make a little 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 ($2)

Race #13

• Win:  #8 at 4-1 or better ($2)
• Exacta: 8 with 2,3,7,9,10 ($5)

Kentucky Derby Betting Playbook (Saturday 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 look to 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 key 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 crap shoot.

• Exacta Box: 3,7 ($2)
• Trifecta: 3,7 with 3,7 with 2,9,11 ($3)
• Pick 3 (Races7-9): 3,7 with 2,3,7,11 with 7 ($4)

Race #8

So much talent in this race, but a lot of questions marks from these runners. This is 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 filler that look 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 its the Kentucky Derby, so anything is possible. We’ll lock into the likeliest outcome and let the chips fall where they may.

• 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 1,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,13,14,16,17,19 ($24)

*I normally 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 its good to be amongst friends. Have fun and fire away in the last two.

• 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!