Saturday marks the highly anticipated 2025 Tampa Bay Derby, the signature event of the year at Tampa Bay Downs. Seven promising 3-year-olds will line up for the Tampa Bay Derby, a crucial race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The Chad Brown-trained Chancer McPatrick, a two-time Grade 1 winner, enters as the 8-5 favorite in the 2025 Tampa Bay Derby odds. This will be his first race since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Other top contenders include Patch Adams (2-1), Hill Road (4-1), and Owen Almighty (5-1). Post time is set for 5:34 p.m. ET, and the forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies.

With a field of talented yet inexperienced 3-year-olds, you’ll want expert insight before placing any bets on the Tampa Bay Derby. Enter Gene Menez, a seasoned horse racing writer who has had a track record of success in big races. Menez crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, and his predictions have consistently proven profitable.

A former Sports Illustrated reporter and editor, Menez has spent years covering a variety of sports, including horse racing. From 2010 to 2012, he served as SI’s handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010. His expertise continued when, in 2015, he nailed the Kentucky Derby superfecta, which paid $1,268.20 for a $2 bet. He followed that success with another superfecta hit in 2017, while also predicting Always Dreaming as the Kentucky Derby winner, hitting the Pick 4 for nearly $6,900.

In 2023, Menez gave out Mystik Dan as an 18-1 longshot for the Kentucky Derby and crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders’ Cup Saturday with a $5,303 payout. His insights have been a gold mine for those following his picks.

Now, Menez has carefully handicapped the 2025 Tampa Bay Derby field and made his top selections for the race. He’s ready to share his best picks, ticket constructions, and strategy for the big race.

One key piece of advice: Menez is fading Chancer McPatrick, despite the colt being the 8-5 favorite. According to Menez, Chancer McPatrick has had a delayed start to his 2025 campaign due to injury, and trainer Chad Brown has stated that the horse is only “80 percent ready” for this race. Menez is not using Chancer McPatrick in any of his wagers.

Instead, Menez’s top pick is a horse with a perfect draw that has been performing well. He also has his eye on a double-digit longshot that hasn’t raced since 2024 but has been consistently training for a strong return. Menez is confident these horses have a good chance in the Tampa Bay Derby, and so should you.

You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses Menez is backing before placing your own 2025 Tampa Bay Derby bets!