The 152nd Kentucky Derby: A Definitive Guide to the "Run for the Roses"
The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown, is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Post time is approximately 6:57 p.m. ET. The forecast calls for cool but dry weather.
The field will feature 19 three-year-old horses competing over the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles.
Morning-Line Favorite and Key Contenders
Bay colt Renegade (morning-line odds of 4-1), ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., is the betting favorite. Renegade enters the race after consecutive wins at the 2026 Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The horse drew post position No. 1; the last winner from that post was Ferdinand in 1986.
Other leading contenders include Commandment (6-1), ridden by Luis Saez, who won the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth Stakes; and Further Ado (6-1), ridden by John Velazquez, who won the Blue Grass Stakes and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.
Additional horses in the field include Chief Wallabee (8-1), So Happy (15-1), and Emerging Market (15-1).
Scratches and Field Changes
Several horses were scratched from the original field. On Saturday morning, The Puma (10-1) was scratched. Other scratches included No. 20 Fulleffort, No. 5 Right to Party, and No. 13 Silent Tactic. They were replaced by Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta, each assigned morning-line odds of 50-1.
Trainer and Jockey Records
Trainer Bob Baffert, who has six Kentucky Derby wins (tied with Ben Jones for the record), will have two horses in the race: Potente (20-1) and Litmus Test (30-1). A win by either horse would give Baffert a record seventh Derby victory.
Jockey Mike Smith has the most Derby mounts with 28. John Velazquez has 26 mounts and three previous Derby wins.
Broadcast and Streaming Schedule
- Initial coverage: FanDuel TV from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET
- Undercard coverage: Peacock and NBC Sports Network
- Primetime coverage: NBC and Peacock from 2:30 p.m. ET
Analyst Predictions
Multiple horse racing analysts have published predictions for the race.
Gene Menez (SportsLine) is not backing Renegade, citing a tendency to fade in traffic near the end of races. Menez is high on Chief Wallabee, citing strong strength-of-competition ratings and contender-worthy Speed ratings. He recommends a horse described as "the big winner of the post draw" as his top pick and a double-digit longshot as "the best value in the race."
Michelle Yu is fading Commandment, noting that the horse's win margins have diminished as races have gotten longer and that jockey Luis Saez has never finished better than third in 12 Derby starts. Yu is high on The Puma, though the horse was scratched. Her top pick is a horse she describes as "screaming for more ground," and she also likes a longshot with "connections that can get it done."
Jody Demling is not picking Renegade, noting that the last Arkansas Derby winner to win the Kentucky Derby was American Pharoah in 2015. Demling does not have Commandment winning, citing questions about his closing speed at 1 1/4 miles. He considers Further Ado for exacta and trifecta picks but not as the winner, citing uncertainty based on previous speed figures. Demling is high on a longshot horse that "demolished the field" in its last start.