Kentucky Derby 2023 predictions, odds: Top expert picks for win, place, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta

The overwhelming majority of Kentucky Derby winners have hailed from the state of Kentucky, but every year, horses from international stables are becoming a bigger part of the conversation. This year, one horse from Japan is among the 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders. Derma Sotogake has made the journey to race in the 149th Run for the Roses and is 10-1 in the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds ahead of Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs.

Derma Sotogake has won three of four starts since winning his final Maiden run in October and will break from the outside when the Kentucky Derby 2023 begins at 6:57 p.m. ET. Other 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders include Angel of Empire (8-1), Tapit Trice (5-1) and Forte (3-1) following the scratches of Practical Move, Continuar, Lord Miles, and Skinner. Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. With so much to consider while making your 2023 Kentucky Derby picks, a little expert help can go a long way.

International horses don’t have an extensive history of winning in the Kentucky Derby, but it’s not completely unheard of. The first two winners of the Kentucky Derby from outside of the U.S. both came from the U.K., starting with Omar Khayyam in 1917 and Tomy Lee in 1959. The next foreign winner was also one of the best of all-time in Canonero II (Venezuela), who won the 1971 Triple Crown. Besides that trio, the only other two international winners both came from just north of the border. Northern Dancer (1964) and Sunny’s Halo (1983) both made the trip down from Canada to win at Churchill Downs. Northern Dancer actually held the track record until Secretariat broke it in 1973.

Given all the history, there’s a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Kentucky Derby like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2023 Kentucky Derby picks possible.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2023 Kentucky Derby having nailed 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 win at the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November.

Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world like the Kentucky Derby 2023. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 14 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but four times in the last 14 years. 

He’s also called nine of the last 18 Preakness winners, keenly understanding when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset, and nailed the 2022 Preakness trifecta. Anyone who has followed him on those horse racing picks is up huge. Now, he’s sharing all of his 2023 Kentucky Derby bets here.

Top 2023 Kentucky Derby expert picks

Here’s a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine’s Jody Demling:

Kentucky Derby Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $4,101.20 at the 2022 Kentucky Derby with Rich Strike and Epicenter.

Kentucky Derby Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $14,870.70 at the 2022 Kentucky Derby with Rich Strike, Epicenter and Zandon.

Kentucky Derby Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned a colossal $321,500.10 at the 2022 Kentucky Derby with Rich Strike, Epicenter, Zandon and Simplification.

While Demling has no quibbles with the favorite status of Forte (3-1), he plans to hold tickets with Derma Sotogake (10-1) and a massive double-digit underdog who could really spice up the payouts. You can see his picks here. 

How to make 2023 Kentucky Derby bets

Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Kentucky Derby 2023. He’s sharing them over at SportsLine.

So which horses do you take? And in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling’s picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

2023 Kentucky Derby odds, futures