The 2026 Kentucky Derby will run Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, as the opening leg of the Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. The full field of 20 horses will go in the 12th race on the card with an approximate post time of 6:57 p.m. ET. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018.
Morning-line favorite and the field
Oddsmaker Nick Tammaro installed Renegade as the morning-line favorite at 4-1. Two scratches since the post-position draw (Fulleffort and Silent Tactic) created spots for late additions. The entrants, listed by post with morning-line odds, are:
1. Renegade, 4-1
2. Albus, 30-1
3. Intrepido, 50-1
4. Litmus Test, 30-1
5. Right to Party, 30-1
6. Commandment, 6-1
7. Danon Bourbon, 20-1
8. So Happy, 15-1
9. The Puma, 10-1
10. Wonder Dean, 30-1
11. Incredibolt, 20-1
12. Chief Wallabee, 8-1
14. Potente, 20-1
15. Emerging Market, 15-1
16. Pavlovian, 30-1
17. Six Speed, 50-1
18. Further Ado, 6-1
19. Golden Tempo, 30-1
21. Great White, 50-1
22. Ocelli, 50-1
Renegade drew the No. 1 post, the rail, which can sometimes leave a horse vulnerable to being boxed in early. No Derby winner has come from post 1 since Ferdinand in 1986; the most recent top-three from that slot was Lookin At Lee, who finished second in 2017. Renegade is a bay colt who qualified on points with victories in the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Remsen Stakes. Hall-of-fame jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Renegade in his 10th Derby start; Ortiz has yet to finish in the money in the Derby but has two Belmont victories to his credit.
Contenders to watch
– Commandment (6-1): Winner of the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth. Luis Saez will ride; this marks his 13th Derby appearance.
– Further Ado (6-1): Captured the Blue Grass Stakes and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. John Velazquez picks up the mount and is hunting a fourth Derby triumph.
– Chief Wallabee (8-1): Trained by Bill Mott with Junior Alvarado aboard. Mott trained last year’s Sovereignty, who later won the Belmont. Alvarado was fined and suspended after the Sovereignty Derby ride for excessive use of the crop; that penalty was reduced on appeal.
– The Puma (10-1): Javier Castellano teams with trainer Gustavo Delgado. Castellano rode Arcangelo to the 2023 Belmont and has multiple Preakness victories.
– So Happy (15-1): Santa Anita Derby winner with Mike Smith named to ride. Smith has the most Derby mounts in history (28), rode Justify in 2018 and won the Derby aboard Giacomo in 2005.
– Emerging Market (15-1): Louisiana Derby winner. Flavien Prat picks up the mount; he was aboard Country House in the controversial 2019 Derby after a disqualification.
Other notable entries and connections
– Potente (20-1) and Litmus Test (30-1) are trained by Bob Baffert, who is tied for the all-time Derby wins lead with six and is seeking a record-breaking seventh.
– Danon Bourbon and Incredibolt are both listed at 20-1.
– Several longshots were pegged at 30-1, including Albus, Litmus Test, Right to Party, Wonder Dean, Pavlovian and Golden Tempo.
– Four horses carry 50-1 morning-line prices: Intrepido, Six Speed, Great White and Ocelli. Great White and Ocelli were added to the field after the two scratches.
– Emerging Market’s Louisiana Derby victory included Pavlovian and Golden Tempo finishing second and third. The Puma finished third in the Sam F. Davis, a race Renegade won.
How they qualified
Every starter earned a Derby berth through the Road to the Kentucky Derby points system, with qualifying races stretching back to last September. Spring preps that shaped this field included the Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass Stakes and Louisiana Derby.
Jockey and trainer notes
– Irad Ortiz Jr. brings strong graded-stakes experience aboard Renegade but is still seeking his first Derby in-the-money finish; he has two Belmont wins.
– Luis Saez has finished in the top four in past Derbies and owns two Belmont victories.
– John Velazquez is aiming for a fourth Derby win; his most recent was Authentic in 2020.
– Mike Smith’s long Derby resume includes riding Justify in the 2018 Triple Crown and leading active riders in Derby mounts.
– Bill Mott, trainer of Chief Wallabee, is a veteran conditioner of classic winners.
Race context
The Kentucky Derby is contested at 1 1/4 miles on dirt and is the series opener for the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Morning-line odds will fluctuate as bettors weigh form, post positions and late scratches. Historical patterns—like the challenges of winning from the rail and how spring preps can shift bettors’ opinions—often influence late movement in the betting pools.
This edition’s field blends established classic winners, major prep victors and late additions. Saturday’s results will determine which horses advance to the Preakness and which connections might pursue a Triple Crown campaign.