Kentucky Derby 2023 contenders, horses, field, lineup, odds: Expert ...

Trainer Brad Cox will try to win the Run for the Roses the traditional way when he sends out four horses in the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Two years ago, the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby but was disqualified days later after failing a postrace drug test. Mandaloun, who was second that day and trained by Cox, was elevated to first, giving the Louisville native his first Kentucky Derby win. At the Kentucky Derby 2023, Cox's contingent is led by Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire, who is 8-1 in the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds. Cox also has Verifying (15-1), Hit Show (30-1) and Jace's Road (50-1) in the 19-horse 2023 Kentucky Derby field.

Post time for the first leg of the Triple Crown is 6:57 p.m. ET. With very little separating the top choices in this wide-open 2023 Kentucky Derby lineup, you'll want to see what SportsLine horse racing guru Gene Menez has to say before making any Kentucky Derby picks.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010. In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.

On Dec. 26, Menez hit the Pick 5 at Santa Anita Park for $798.70. And in his last seven races for SportsLine he has cashed the winner of the Lecomte Stakes ($172.50), the exacta in the Southwest Stakes ($468), the winner of the Holy Bull Stakes ($180), the winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes ($228), the place horse of the Rebel Stakes ($102.50) and the trifecta in the Jenny Wiley Stakes ($255.50).

Now, he has handicapped the 2023 Kentucky Derby lineup, made his picks and constructed his bets. You can only see them here.

Top 2023 Kentucky Derby expert predictions

One surprise: Menez is fading Forte, even though he is the reigning two-year-old champion and the 3-1 Kentucky Derby favorite. Forte enters the 2023 Kentucky Derby lineup on a five-race winning streak. In his last start, he won the Florida Derby with a late surge to catch Mage.

However, Forte's Beyer speed figures have declined from 100 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to 98 in the Fountain of Youth to 95 in the Florida Derby. "Only one horse in the last 31 years, Street Sense in 2007, entered the Kentucky Derby with two straight declining Beyer Speed Figures and won the race," Menez told SportsLine. Menez is using Forte only sparingly in 2023 Kentucky Derby bets. See which other horses to fade here.

Another curveball: Menez is bullish on the chances of Two Phil's, even though he is a 12-1 longshot. The horse already has a Graded Stakes victory at Churchill Downs, courtesy of his Street Sense Stakes win in October. The horse drew post No. 3, which hasn't had a winner since 1998 but has an average finish of 8.33, which is sixth-best of the 20 posts. Menez also points out that the running styles of the horses surrounding the No. 3 post could work in Two Phil's advantage as a stalker.

"Take a close look at the other horses around him: Verifying and Confidence Game are expected to go forward, while Tapit Trice is projected to drop back," Menez told SportsLine. "That could leave Two Phil's a very comfortable spot on the inside just behind the first flight of horses." See which other horses to back here.

How to make 2023 Kentucky Derby bets

Menez's top pick is a horse who's "getting better at the right time." He also is high on a massive double-digit longshot who "always passes horses late." He is including these horses in his 2023 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. He's sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.

So what double-digit longshot wins the Kentucky Derby? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? Check out the latest 2023 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Menez's picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed this year's prep races.

2023 Kentucky Derby odds, horses, post draw