Kentucky Derby 2026 favorite is Renegade, says Churchill Downs oddsmaker
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Nick Tammaro says “there’s really virtually nothing separating” Renegade, Commandment and Further Ado for Kentucky Derby.
- Arkansas Derby winner Renegade was named the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the $5 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby during Saturday’s post-position draw at Churchill Downs.
- Further Ado and Commandment — both trained by Louisville’s Brad Cox — are the co-second choices at 6-1 odds in the morning line.
- Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher, drew the No. 1 post in a full field of 20 entered for the 2026 Run for the Roses on May 2.
Arkansas Derby winner Renegade was named the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the $5 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby during Saturday’s draw at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher, drew the No. 1 post in a full field of 20 entered for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Post time is set for 6:57 p.m., and the race will be televised live by NBC.
Further Ado and Commandment — both trained by Louisville’s Brad Cox — are the co-second choices at 6-1 odds in the morning line.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will have two horses in the field — Potente and Litmus Test — as he chases a record seventh Kentucky Derby victory. Baffert currently is tied with Ben Jones with six wins.
Four horses are on the also-eligible list and may enter the field if one of the top 20 scratches before 9 a.m. Friday. They are — in order of preference — Great White, Ocelli, Robusta and Corona de Oro.
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Click on a horse’s name to learn more:
1. Renegade, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., 4-1
2. Albus, Riley Mott, Manny Franco, 30-1
3. Intrepido, Jeff Mullins, Hector Berrios, 50-1
4. Litmus Test, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 30-1
5. Right to Party, Kenny McPeek, Chris Elliott, 30-1
6. Commandment, Brad Cox, Luis Saez, 6-1
7. Danon Bourbon, Manabu Ikezoe, Atsuya Nishimura, 20-1
8. So Happy, Mark Glatt, Mike Smith, 15-1
9. The Puma, Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, 10-1
10. Wonder Dean, Daisuke Takayanagi, Ryusei Sakai, 30-1
11. Incredibolt, Riley Mott, Jaime Torres, 20-1
12. Chief Wallabee, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 8-1
13. Silent Tactic, Mark Casse, Cristian Torres, 20-1
14. Potente, Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 20-1
15. Emerging Market, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 15-1
16. Pavlovian, Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, 30-1
17. Six Speed, Bhupat Seemar, Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1
18. Further Ado, Brad Cox, John Velazquez, 6-1
19. Golden Tempo, Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz, 30-1
20. Fulleffort, Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione, 20-1
Also eligible
21. Great White, John Ennis, Alex Achard, 50-1
22. Ocelli, Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos, 50-1
23. Robusta, Doug O’Neill, Emisael Jaramillo, 50-1
24. Corona de Oro, Dallas Stewart, Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [email protected]. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
