The 2022 Kentucky Derby field features a number of experienced horses, but none more so than Barber Road. The son of Race Day and Encounter, Barber Road has made eight starts in his career, recording a runner-up finish in four of his last five outings. However, Barber Road’s trainer (John Ortiz), jockey (Reylu Gutierrez) and owner (Bill Simon) are all making their debuts at the Kentucky Derby 2022, which gets underway on Saturday. Does Barber Road have a realistic shot at winning the first jewel in horse racing’s coveted Triple Crown? According to the latest 2022 Kentucky Derby odds, Barber Road is a 30-1 long shot. Zandon is the 3-1 favorite, while Epicenter (7-2), Messier (8-1), Mo Donegal (10-1) and White Abarrio (10-1) are also among the top 2022 Kentucky Derby contenders. The 2022 Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. With so much to consider, you’ll want to see what SportsLine’s Jody Demling has to say before entering any 2022 Kentucky Derby picks or horse racing predictions of your own.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has been on-point with his horse racing bets. He hit the exacta in the Wood Memorial in April. Last year, he hit the exacta, trifecta and superfecta in the Belmont Stakes. This is the same handicapper who hit the Derby-Oaks double at Churchill Downs nine times in the last 13 years. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby all but four times in his last 13 tries.
In addition, at one point in 2020, he picked the winners of six straight races: the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby, and Belmont Stakes. On Friday, he nailed the exacta in the 2022 Kentucky Oaks. Anyone who has followed him on these races is way up.
Now, with the 2022 Kentucky Derby lineup locked in, Demling is sharing his picks and predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2022 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling’s surprising 2022 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Epicenter, saying one of the top favorites barely even cracks the top three. Epicenter is one of the only 2022 Kentucky Derby horses to earn both Beyer and Brisnet speed figures of 100 or more. However, Epicenter’s runner-up finish at the Lecomte Stakes in January gives the expert some pause.
“I really hoped he would be the favorite so I could get a better price on my top two,” Demling told SportsLine. “Epicenter’s only race he didn’t finish first or second was at Churchill Downs in his first game. He’s won on the lead and stalking and has really good speed numbers. I can see him capturing the roses, but I’m going elsewhere.”
Another stunner: Demling is high on Mo Donegal, even though he’s a double-digit long shot and will race from the inside post. Mo Donegal will break from the No. 1 post on Saturday. Ferdinand, the 1986 champion, was the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby from that spot.
Despite drawing the inside post, Demling still believes Mo Donegal will have a legitimate shot to win at Churchill Downs. “Typically the No. 1 post position is a bad draw, but he’s going to drop back and make a run,” Demling told SportsLine. The three-year-old Colt showed impressive acceleration and determination in his win at the Remsen Stakes in December, beating 2022 Kentucky Derby-favorite Zandon in the process.
How to make 2022 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is especially high on an evening bigger double-digit long shot who has “been training great at Churchill Downs,” and is set to hit the board hard. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2022? And which huge underdog is a must-back? Check out the latest 2022 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who nailed nine Derby-Oaks doubles and six straight races.
