There are no shortage of opinions and angles when handicapping the Kentucky Derby. With up to 20 horses leaving the starting gate on the First Saturday in May, let our experts help you find good plays and picks for your Kentucky Derby betting. Once you find your favorite personality or a good looking pick, head over to TwinSpires.com to back your pick with a $2 win bet!

Kellie Reilly

Kellie Reilly

Kellie Reilly, a staff writer in the Editorial Department at Brisnet.com, is a regular contributor to the TwinSpires.com blog and KentuckyDerby.com. Her articles have also been featured on NBCSports.com and in the official Kentucky Derby program. Kellie's academic background is in history, culminating in an M.A. from her hometown University of New Orleans. A racing fan since childhood, Kellie is especially interested in pedigrees and the international racing scene. Follow Kellie on Twitter: @GallantFox1930

Derby

1. Angel of Empire
2. Tapit Trice
3. Reincarnate
4. Kingsbarns
5. Disarm
6. Derma Sotogake
7. Confidence Game
8. Mandarin Hero
9. Rocket Can
10. Two Phil's


Oaks

1.Southlawn
2. Wet Paint
3. Pretty Mischievous
4. Wonder Wheel
5. Defining Purpose
6. Botanical
7. Promiseher America
8. Gambling Girl
9. Affirmative Lady
10. Mimi Kakushi


Vance Hanson

Vance Hanson

Vance Hanson is a contributing writer and editor for BRISnet.com, TwinSpires.com and KentuckyDerby.com with over 20 years of Thoroughbred racing experience. Prior to joining the Churchill Downs Inc. family, he served as a publicity assistant at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where he began following the sport in the late 1980s, and as a handicapper/writer for Daily Racing Form in Lexington, Kentucky. 

Derby

1. Mandarin Hero
2. Forte
3. Tapit Trice
4. Angel of Empire
5. Two Phil's
6. Derma Sotogake
7. Verifying
8. Kingsbarns
9. Disarm
10. Hit Show


Oaks

1. Botanical
2. Southlawn
3. Pretty Mischievous
4. The Alys Look
5. Wet Paint
6. Flying Connection
7. Affirmative Lady
8. Wonder Wheel
9. And Tell Me Nolies
10. Mimi Kakushi

Joe Kristufek


The senior producer & racing analyst for Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Ellis Park, Joe Kristufek began his career in his native Chicago, climbing the ladder at the local racing venues. The 1989 rivalry between Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence and his nemesis Easy Goer cemented Joe's love for horse racing. A self-proclaimed "horse racing ambassador", Joe's industry experience spans from Dubai to Hong Kong to nearly 40 tracks across North America. An award winning TV producer and fan development specialist and the founding member of Brilliant Racing, he relishes the challenge of scouting Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls months in advance. From the infield to the suites and now the on-air host chair, Joe has attended 15 Kentucky Derbies in person.  Follow Joe on Twitter: @JoeyDaKRacing


Derby

1. Kingsbarns

2. Angel of Empire

3. Disarm

4. Tapit Trice

5. Two Phil's

6. Confidence Game

7. Mage

8. Derma Sotogake

9. Verifying

10. Sun Thunder 



Oaks

1. Botanical

2. Southlawn

3. Wet Paint

4. Pretty Mischievous

5. Defining Purpose

6. Affirmative Lady

7. Gambling Girl

8. Flying Connection

9. The Alys Look

10. Mimi Kakushi


James Scully

James ScullyJames Scully writes/handicaps for Brisnet.com, TwinSpires.com and KentuckyDerby.com. He started working for Brisnet.com in 1998. A graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, James has been a lifelong University of Kentucky and Cincinnati Bengals/Reds fan. He remembers watching Seattle Slew on TV and attended his first Kentucky Derby in 1981 (Pleasant Colony). Follow James on Twitter: @James_Scully111

Derby

1. Angel of Empire
2. Verifying
3. Tapit Trice
4. Forte
5. Rocket Can
6. Practical Move 
7. Disarm
8. Skinner 
9. Derma Sotogake
10. Kingsbarns


Oaks

1. Southlawn
2. Wonder Wheel
3. Wet Paint.
4. Defining Purpose
5. Botanical 
6. Pretty Mischievous
7. Affirmative Lady 
8. Promiseher America
9. The Alys Look
10. Gambling Girl 

Scott Shapiro

Scott Shampiro for TwinSpires and Kentucky Derby

Scott Shapiro is the Senior Racing Analyst for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. He fell in love with thoroughbred racing when his father took him to Garden State Park in 1985 to see Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck race in the Jersey Derby instead of the Preakness Stakes. Scott graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1996 and remains a die-hard Badger football and basketball fan today. His favorite horses are A.P. Indy, Fly So Free, Victory Gallop, and Ghostzapper.  

Follow Scott on Twitter:@ScottShap34

Derby
  1. Angel of Empire
  2. Verifying
  3. Tapit Trice
  4. Forte
  5. Two Phil's
  6. Practical Move
  7. Kingsbarns
  8. Derma Sotogake
  9. Skinner
  10. Disarm
Oaks
  1. Southlawn
  2. Wet Paint
  3. Botanical
  4. Pretty Mischievous
  5. Defining Purpose
  6. The Alys Look
  7. And Tell Me Nolies
  8. Wonder Wheel
  9. Dorth Vader
  10. Gambling Girl

Kaitlin Free

Kaitlin Free for Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby

Kaitlin Free is currently a reporter and analyst for Churchill Downs. She began her relationship with Churchill Downs in 2021 and has been doing work for Turfway Park since 2021. She will report full time at Churchill Downs in early 2023 and will be at their tracks year round. Kaitlin grew up around horses with horse racing being a lifelong a passion of hers. She claims that she was one of those "horse girls" in school as a kid. This led her to further study Equine Science in college, being apart of Hocking College's Equine program and equestrian team. The Kentucky racing circuit is by far her favorite domestic racing circuits, but she also very much enjoys racing across the globe specifically in Europe, France, and the UAE. Kaitlin’s goal in this industry is to report and find information in order to bring that knowledge and analysis to the public.


Follow Kaitlin on Twitter: @kaitlinfree

Derby
  1. Forte
  2. Kingsbarns
  3. Derma Sotogake (JPN)
  4. Two Phil's
  5. Tapit Trice
  6. Mandarin Hero (JPN)
  7. Practical Move
  8. Angel of Empire
  9. Mage
  10. Confidence Game
Oaks
  1. Wet Paint
  2. Botanical
  3. Punchbowl
  4. Southlawn
  5. Pretty Mischievous
  6. Affirmative Lady
  7. Julia Shining
  8. Mimi Kakushi
  9. And Tell Me Nolies
  10. Wonder Wheel

Got a favorite? Bet online at TwinSpires.com