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2026 Kentucky Derby picks, odds, predictions, favorites: Best bets by top expert who had $1,045 win last year
TL;DR
The 2026 Kentucky Derby features 20 horses with Renegade as the favorite starting from the No. 1 position. Other contenders include Commandment and Further Ado, both at 6-1 odds.
Key points
- The 2026 Kentucky Derby has 20 horses competing.
- Renegade is the favorite starting from the No. 1 position.
- Commandment and Further Ado are also strong contenders at 6-1 odds.
- Gene Menez is providing expert predictions and best bets.
- The race is scheduled for May 2, 2026.
Mentioned in this story
Gene Menez
Kentucky DerbyRenegadeCommandmentFurther Ado
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The 20 horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby have been given their post positions. In a race with such a massive field, where you start can be a key factor in where you ultimately finish. For example, Kentucky Derby 2026 favorite Renegade will begin in the No. 1 spot; it's been 40 years since a horse won from the rail. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the exclusiveTwinSpires offer codeCBSSPORTS to receive up to $400 in bonus bets here, double what's available to the general public:
While Renegade is the favorite at 4-1 Kentucky Derby odds, four other horses are at 10-1 or lower. That includes Commandment (6-1) and Further Ado (6-1), who may take the role of morning line favorite by the time race day is here, May 2. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions and best bets from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Gene Menez.
A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.
In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In 2024, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby.
Menez excels on horse racing's biggest days. In 2024 he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 windfall. Last year he nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score and the winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for a $761.96 jackpot. He hit the late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day for $915.48. In the Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout. And earlier this year, on Fountain of Youth day, he struck big, hitting the late Pick 5 for $4,648.
Q&A
What are the odds for the 2026 Kentucky Derby favorites?
Renegade is the favorite at 4-1 odds, while Commandment and Further Ado are both at 6-1.
Who is the expert making predictions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Gene Menez, a former Sports Illustrated reporter and horse racing expert, is providing predictions and best bets for the race.
When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby scheduled to take place?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is set for May 2, 2026.
What is the significance of post positions in the Kentucky Derby?
Post positions can greatly influence a horse's performance, with the starting position being a key factor in the race outcome.