The 20-horse 2026 Kentucky Derby field is finalized with post time set for 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 2. Although there have already been some scratches, the Run for the Roses is one of the biggest races of the year in terms of field size, attendance and importance. The Kentucky Derby is the first of three Triple Crown races. Although no horse has won the Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, the possibility of a winner creates one of sports’ most exciting annual storylines. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the newest TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to claim up to $400 in bonus bets here, double what’s available to the general public:
Renegade is the 4-1 favorite in the newest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds, followed by Further Ado and Commandment, both at 6-1. Meanwhile, Fulleffort was a Thursday morning scratch and is being replaced by Ocelli (50-1). Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also predicted the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order and hit a $1,682 supefecta, and then went on to nail the exacta in last year’s Preakness. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up.
Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions, expert analysis
One of Demling’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He’s completely fading Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1. Renegade is coming off a win at the Arkansas Derby, but unfortunately for Renegade, success is not guaranteed at Churchill Downs despite the showing. In fact, only three other horses that won the Arkansas Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. American Pharoah in 2015 was the last horse to do so, while the other Arkansas Derby winners who went on to win at Churchill Downs were Sunny’s Halo in 1983 and Smarty Jones in 2004. That lack of success by Arkansas Derby winners is not lost on Demling, who is finding value elsewhere. See who to back at SportsLine.
Demling also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby prediction for Commandment, who is the half-brother of Renegade and is listed at 6-1 in the Kentucky Derby odds. There’s a case that Commandment should be the morning-line favorite, given that he’s won four straight races. That includes the prestigious Florida Derby, which has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other prep race. Both that win and the Fountain of Youth Stakes, however, came down to the wire, so he was a matter of inches from losing both against other Kentucky Derby horses like The Puma and Chief Wallabee. He’s shown the speed to be near the front at Churchill Downs, but will he be able to finish like he did in the prep races? Bet the Kentucky Derby with the newest FanDuel Racing promo, which lets users bet $5 and get $25 in bonuses:
Demling has also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for Further Ado (6-1). Further Ado was a longshot in the Kentucky Derby futures throughout the early spring, but he’s surged up the board after three wins in his last four races, including a victory at the Blue Grass Stakes on April 4. If there’s a question about Further Ado, it might involve his level of competition. His win at the Blue Grass Stakes wasn’t against a loaded field. “Is he really improving that much?” Demling stated to SportsLine. “Hard to tell, so I can’t throw him out.” See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby bets at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is also high on a longshot who “demolished the field” in his last start. Anyone who backs this colt could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which longshot is a must-back? Check out the newest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.
2026 Kentucky Derby odds
| Post |
Horse |
Odds |
Projection |
| 1 |
Renegade |
4-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 2 |
Albus |
30-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 3 |
Intrepido |
50-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 4 |
Litmas Test |
30-1 |
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| 5 |
Right to Party |
30-1 |
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| 6 |
Commandment |
6-1 |
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| 7 |
Danon Bourbon |
20-1 |
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| 8 |
So Happy |
15-1 |
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| 9 |
The Puma |
10-1 |
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| 10 |
Wonder Dean |
30-1 |
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| 11 |
Incredibolt |
20-1 |
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| 12 |
Chief Wallabee |
8-1 |
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| 13 |
Silent Tactic |
20-1 |
SCR |
| 14 |
Potente |
20-1 |
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| 15 |
Emerging Market |
15-1 |
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| 16 |
Pavlovian |
30-1 |
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| 17 |
Six Speed |
50-1 |
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| 18 |
Further Ado |
6-1 |
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| 19 |
Golden Tempo |
30-1 |
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| 20 |
Fulleffort |
20-1 |
SCR |
| 21 |
Great White |
50-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 22 |
Ocelli |
50-1 |
SEE PICKS |
