Nashville Derby Picks, Odds, and Preview (Aug 30)
One of the biggest dates in the horse racing schedule at Kentucky Downs is set for this Saturday, as the G3 Nashville Derby will be run over 1 5/16 miles. A huge purse of $3.5 million is up for grabs, making it the second richest turf race in the United States. A talented field will go to post, and you can find the odds and picks here.
How To Watch
- When: Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 5:46 PM ET
- Where: Kentucky Downs, Kentucky
- How To Watch: FanDuel TV
Nashville Derby Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Wimbledon Hawkeye | +225 |
| Test Score | +400 |
| Hill Road | +700 |
| Final Gambit | +750 |
| Burnham Square | +1000 |
| Simulate | +1000 |
| Sandman | +1100 |
| Tiztastic | +1400 |
| Noble Confessor | +1600 |
| Other Selections | +2000 |
Recent Winners of Nashville Derby
| Year | Winning Horse |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Bellum Justum |
| 2023 | Anglophile |
| 2022 | Kitodan |
| 2021 | Accredit |
| 2020 | Moon Over Miami |
Race Preview
The G3 Nashville Derby has become one of the standout turf races on the U.S. schedule since increasing its purse ahead of last year’s edition. Once again, a highly competitive renewal of the race is likely this weekend, with an international raider providing an interesting yardstick.
Wimbledon Hawkeye undeniably has the best form in the race, and the James Owen raider will have the services of Frankie Dettori. The three-year-old has been competitive at the highest level throughout the season, finishing second to recent U.S. winner El Cordobes in the G2 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Has finished in the top three on three of his last four starts, and has superiority based on the ratings.
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Test Score looks the best of the American chances this weekend for trainer Graham Motion. The three-year-old was last seen being narrowly beaten by World Beater in the G1 Saratoga Derby. But, this step up in distance aids his chances.
Final Gambit and Sandman are two runners that were previously involved in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The former has been disappointing in two starts on the turf, while this is a tall order for the latter to make an impression on his first start on the grass.
Burnham Square also follows the same path as the two previously mentioned. The three-year-old was last seen finishing fifth in the G1 Haskell. Tiztastic could also be a lively contender back on the turf. He ran a disappointing race when ninth in the G1 Saratoga Derby, but he has won twice from four starts on the grass.
Nashville Derby Picks
If transferring his British form to the U.S., Wimbledon Hawkeye will be very difficult to beat. However, the value could be with Hill Road.
The three-year-old has chased home Sovereignty on his last two starts, but he was hugely progressive on the turf before moving to the States. Among his efforts in Ireland included an excellent win over Shackleton at Leopardstown and a decent enough seventh in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
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