2025 Tampa Bay Derby picks, odds: Horse racing writer has best bets for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby prep race

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!

2025 Shriners Children’s 500: Top NASCAR DFS picks, lineups, Phoenix driver pool from a daily Fantasy pro

The 2025 Shriners Children’s 500 is set to take place this Sunday as NASCAR shifts from a road course back to a traditional speedway. The race will be held at Phoenix Raceway, with the green flag waving at 3:30 p.m. ET for the fourth race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Last year’s winner, Christopher Bell, enters this race with back-to-back victories, making him a prime candidate for daily Fantasy sports players. However, the question is: Should you include Bell in your NASCAR DFS lineup given his recent success, or is there a better option in the driver pool for the 2025 Shriners Children’s 500? Before locking in your NASCAR DFS picks for the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix, it’s crucial to see what daily Fantasy pro, Mike McClure, has to say. McClure is a seasoned DFS expert with over $2 million in career earnings. His NASCAR DFS model has been consistently profitable, helping players win big. Just this season, McClure’s model called Chase Elliott’s victory in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray with +300 odds, and also nailed William Byron’s +2000 odds at Daytona. His track record includes calling Kyle Larson’s historic 2021 season, where McClure accurately predicted five of Larson’s wins. All told, McClure has nailed an impressive 19 winners since 2021, with nine of those in 2023 alone. Following his advice has led to substantial returns for his followers. For the 2025 Shriners Children’s 500, McClure is offering his top DFS picks, lineup suggestions, and key drivers to target. One of McClure’s top picks for the Shriners Children’s 500 is Kyle Larson ($10,500 on DraftKings, $13,000 on FanDuel). Larson has been a consistent performer, and McClure sees him as a strong contender this week. Another key pick in his optimal lineup is Denny Hamlin ($9,700 on DraftKings, $11,000 on FanDuel). Hamlin was in contention for a strong start to the season before an unfortunate crash at the Daytona 500, but his performance at Phoenix Raceway in the past gives him an edge here. With seven finishes of 11th or better in his last nine Phoenix races, Hamlin is a solid DFS option. McClure has also identified an undervalued driver who could offer HUGE value in your NASCAR DFS lineup. This pick is poised to make a run at the top and comes at a price point that won’t break the bank. This sleeper pick could be the key to making your DFS lineups stand out and help you cash in big during your tournaments or cash games. Be sure to check out McClure’s full analysis and recommendations before locking in your DFS lineups for the 2025 Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway!