The Kentucky Derby 2026 post positions and morning line odds were drawn on Saturday, April 25 at Churchill Downs. Renegade is the 4-1 favorite from Post 1, with Commandment (6-1) at Post 6 and Further Ado (6-1) at Post 18 as the next betting choices.
The 152nd Run for the Roses goes to post at 6:57 PM ET on Saturday, May 2 on NBC and Peacock.
Quick highlights from the post draw:
- Renegade drew the rail at Post 1, with Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Brad Cox has three horses in the field: Commandment, Further Ado, and Fulleffort
- Bob Baffert returns with two entries: Litmus Test (Post 4) and Potente (Post 14)
- The last horse to win from Post 1 was Ferdinand back in 1986
- Four also eligible horses stand by: Great White, Ocelli, Robusta, and Corona de Oro
Full 2026 Kentucky Derby Field & Morning Line Odds
The full 20-horse field with post positions, morning line odds, jockeys, and trainers, per the official Churchill Downs draw:
| PP | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | 4-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher |
| 2 | Albus | 30-1 | Manny Franco | Riley Mott |
| 3 | Intrepido | 50-1 | Hector Berrios | Jeff Mullins |
| 4 | Litmus Test | 30-1 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert |
| 5 | Right to Party | 30-1 | Chris Elliott | Kenny McPeek |
| 6 | Commandment | 6-1 | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon (JPN) | 20-1 | Atsuya Nishimura | Manabu Ikezoe |
| 8 | So Happy | 15-1 | Mike Smith | Mark Glatt |
| 9 | The Puma | 10-1 | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado |
| 10 | Wonder Dean (JPN) | 30-1 | Ryusei Sakai | Daisuke Takayanagi |
| 11 | Incredibolt | 20-1 | Jaime Torres | Riley Mott |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | 8-1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | 20-1 | Cristian Torres | Mark Casse |
| 14 | Potente | 20-1 | Juan Hernandez | Bob Baffert |
| 15 | Emerging Market | 15-1 | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown |
| 16 | Pavlovian | 30-1 | Edwin Maldonado | Doug O’Neill |
| 17 | Six Speed | 50-1 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Bhupat Seemar |
| 18 | Further Ado | 6-1 | John Velazquez | Brad Cox |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | 30-1 | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux |
| 20 | Fulleffort | 20-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brad Cox |
Also Eligible (in case of scratches)
| AE | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Great White | John Ennis |
| 22 | Ocelli | D. Whitworth Beckman |
| 23 | Robusta | (TBD) |
| 24 | Corona de Oro | (TBD) |
Scratch deadline is 9:00 AM ET on Friday, May 1.
2026 Kentucky Derby Favorites Explained
Renegade (4-1), Post 1
Renegade is the 4-1 morning line favorite. He is unbeaten in two starts as a 3-year-old after going winless in three races as a juvenile. His Grade 1 Arkansas Derby win on March 28 was a four length romp from off the pace, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.70.
Trainer Todd Pletcher already holds the record for most Derby starters in race history with 65 career runners. He has two career wins (Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017). Renegade gives him a real chance at his third Derby trophy.
The catch: Post 1 has produced only eight Derby winners since 1930. The last was Ferdinand in 1986. With Renegade’s deep closing style, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will likely drop him to the back early to avoid first turn traffic.
Commandment (6-1), Post 6
Commandment is the Brad Cox flagbearer after a dominant Florida Derby win on March 28. The colt has won four straight races, including the Fountain of Youth in February. He is also a half-brother to favorite Renegade. Luis Saez gets the mount.
Cox has saddled multiple Derby starters in recent years. His one Derby win was Mandaloun in 2021, who was elevated to first after Medina Spirit was disqualified.
Post 6 is historically tough. Only two horses have won from there since 1930, the last being Sea Hero in 1993.
Further Ado (6-1), Post 18
Further Ado is the buzz horse of the field. He destroyed the Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths on April 4, posting the fastest time in that race since Cox trainee Essential Quality in 2021. The son of Gun Runner has the stamina pedigree the Derby rewards.
Three time Derby winner John Velazquez gets the mount. The 54 year old Hall of Famer skipped the 2025 Derby after his planned ride was scratched. This is his return shot.
Post 18 has produced two winners, including Country House in 2019.
Chief Wallabee (8-1), Post 12
Chief Wallabee was third in the Florida Derby. He is trained by Bill Mott, who won the 2025 Derby with Sovereignty and the 2019 Derby with Country House. Junior Alvarado, last year’s winning rider, has the mount.
Mott can become the first trainer to win back to back Derbys since Bob Baffert in 1997 and 1998 with Silver Charm and Real Quiet.
The Puma (10-1), Post 9
The Puma was second in the Florida Derby and won the Tampa Bay Derby. Trainer Gustavo Delgado pairs with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano. Castellano won his first Derby in 2023 with Mage.
Longshots and Sleepers to Watch
Emerging Market (15-1), Post 15
The Chad Brown trainee is undefeated in two starts after winning the Louisiana Derby in March. Brown is one of the most successful trainers in North American racing but has never won the Kentucky Derby. Flavien Prat rides.
So Happy (15-1), Post 8
The Santa Anita Derby winner trained by Mark Glatt. Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who has two Derby wins (Giacomo 2005, Justify 2018), has the mount. Smith is 60. A win would make him the oldest jockey to win the Derby, breaking Bill Shoemaker’s record set in 1986 with Ferdinand at age 54.
Albus (30-1), Post 2
The Wood Memorial winner debuts trainer Riley Mott (Bill Mott’s son) at the Kentucky Derby. The Mott father and son tandem is only the second father-son duo to saddle horses in the same Derby (after Red and Bobby Wingfield in 1964).
Right to Party (30-1), Post 5
Trainer Kenny McPeek won the 2024 Derby with Mystik Dan. Right to Party was the Wood Memorial runner-up. Jockey Chris Elliott is the 20 year old son of Stewart Elliott, who won the 2004 Derby on Smarty Jones. This is Chris Elliott’s first Derby ride. Post 5 has produced 10 winners, the most of any post position.
International Invaders
Three horses ship in from outside the United States:
- Danon Bourbon (JPN) at Post 7: undefeated in three starts in Japan, won the Fukuryu by combined 18 lengths
- Wonder Dean (JPN) at Post 10: won the UAE Derby at Meydan
- Six Speed at Post 17: finished second in the UAE Derby behind Wonder Dean
Trainer and Jockey Storylines
Brad Cox: Three Horses, Hometown Trainer
Brad Cox is the story of the 2026 Derby trainer division. The Louisville born conditioner has three horses in the field: Commandment, Further Ado, and Fulleffort. His horses train daily over the Churchill Downs surface they will race on.
Cox has registered over 2,500 career wins and won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 2020 and 2021. He has one Derby victory (Mandaloun via DQ in 2021).
Todd Pletcher: Going for Number Three
Pletcher already holds the record for most Derby starters in history. His two career wins came with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017. None of his last 13 Derby starters have finished in the money. Renegade gives him his best shot in years.
Bob Baffert: Two Horses, Returns to Form
Baffert has six Derby wins (Silver Charm 1997, Real Quiet 1998, War Emblem 2002, American Pharoah 2015, Justify 2018, Authentic 2020). His unofficial 2021 win with Medina Spirit was disqualified after a positive test. He returned to Churchill Downs in 2025 with Citizen Bull (15th). He runs Litmus Test at Post 4 and Potente at Post 14.
Mike Repole: Trying to Break the Curse
Renegade co-owner Mike Repole is 0-for-8 at the Kentucky Derby. Two of his Derby favorites scratched on the eve of the race (Uncle Mo in 2011, Forte in 2023). Fierceness, his 2024 favorite, finished 15th. The beverage magnate (Vitaminwater, Bodyarmor) co-owns Renegade with Robert and Lawana Low.
Bill Mott: Back to Back?
Mott won the 2025 Derby with Sovereignty. He runs Chief Wallabee at Post 12. A win would make him the first trainer to win consecutive Derbys since Bob Baffert in 1997 and 1998.
John Velazquez: Veteran Return
Velazquez has three Derby wins (Animal Kingdom 2011, Always Dreaming 2017, Authentic 2020). The 54 year old Hall of Famer rides Further Ado after Irad Ortiz Jr. chose Renegade.
Post Position Statistics: Has Post 1 Ever Won?
Post position matters at the Kentucky Derby. The starting gate has been used since 1930. Some posts have produced champions. Others have never produced a winner.
| Post | Winners | Last Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Ferdinand (1986) |
| 5 | 10 (most) | Always Dreaming (2017) |
| 6 | 2 | Sea Hero (1993) |
| 7 | 8 | Justify (2018) |
| 10 | 9 | Giacomo (2005) |
| 15 | 6 | Authentic (2020) |
| 17 | 0 (worst) | Never won |
| 18 | 2 | Country House (2019) |
Last year, Sovereignty drew Post 18 and won from Post 16 after two horses (Rodriguez and Grande) scratched and the field shifted inward. Mystik Dan won from Post 3 in 2024.
The middle gates (Posts 5 through 10) are generally considered the best draws. Post 17 is the only position never to produce a Derby winner in race history.
2026 Kentucky Derby Predictions and Analysis
The 2026 Derby has no clear standout. Renegade enters as a lukewarm favorite at 4-1. The field has multiple legitimate contenders with different running styles, which sets up an unpredictable race.
Key factors to watch on Derby Day:
Pace scenario. Renegade and Right to Party are deep closers who run their best races when the early pace is fast. A slow early pace would hurt both contenders.
Brad Cox’s depth. With three horses in the field, Cox has the strongest barn representation. Watch how his runners are positioned in the early stages.
Renegade’s draw. Post 1 is historically tough. Ortiz will likely drop Renegade to the back, then swing wide on the far turn. Traffic is the biggest concern.
The Florida Derby trio. Commandment, The Puma, and Chief Wallabee finished 1-2-3 in the Florida Derby. All three drew well and could run big races.
Further Ado’s freshness. His 11 length Blue Grass win came on 28 days rest. Each of the last six Derby winners had at least 35 days off. The four week turnaround is a historical concern.
Alternates and Late Scratches Watch
Scratches happen in Derby week. The deadline to officially withdraw is 9:00 AM ET on Friday, May 1. Last year, two scratches caused the entire field to shift inward.
Four also eligibles stand by:
- Great White (Three Chimneys Farm, John Ennis)
- Ocelli
- Robusta
- Corona de Oro
If a horse from the main field of 20 scratches, the highest ranked also eligible takes the spot. All horses inside that scratched horse stay in their drawn post position. Horses outside the scratched horse move one stall closer to the rail.
Also Check: Kentucky Derby Winners List by Year
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The 152nd Kentucky Derby runs at 6:57 PM ET on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Who is the favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Renegade is the 4-1 morning line favorite. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the colt drew Post 1 in the post position draw on April 25.
How many horses run in the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby field is capped at 20 starters. Up to four also eligibles stand by in case of scratches. The cap has been in place since 1975.
What is the purse for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby purse is $5 million. The winner’s share is $3.1 million.
When will the official odds be set?
The morning line odds shown here are the oddsmaker’s estimate. Final official odds are determined on race day. The morning line is published before the race as a guide to how each horse is expected to be received by the public.
Has Post 1 ever won the Kentucky Derby?
Yes, but rarely. Post 1 has produced eight Derby winners since 1930. The most recent was Ferdinand in 1986, a 40 year drought. Renegade starts as the favorite trying to break that streak.
The Kentucky Derby 2026 odds and post positions are now set. Renegade leads at 4-1 from the rail. Commandment and Further Ado follow at 6-1. Brad Cox has three live horses.
Post time is 6:57 PM ET on Saturday, May 2 on NBC and Peacock. With no clear standout in the field, the 152nd Run for the Roses promises a wide open race.
By Manuel Harris | Last updated: April 26, 2026