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2026 Kentucky Derby predictions, odds, contenders: Picks from expert who had $1,045 win last year
TL;DR
The 2026 Kentucky Derby features 19 horses, with Renegade as the 4-1 favorite. The race starts at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.
Key points
- 2026 Kentucky Derby features 19 horses
- Renegade is the 4-1 favorite
- Race starts at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday
- Puma was scratched from the race
- Expert Gene Menez offers predictions
Mentioned in this story
Gene MenezChurchill DownsLouisville, KY
Kentucky Derby 2026
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The 2026 Kentucky Derby is just hours away and the field of 19 horses is set following the surprising news that the Puma scratched on Saturday morning. The 152nd "Run for the Roses" is set for Saturday with cool and dry conditions in the forecast. Post time from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., is slated for 6:57 p.m. ET. 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:
Renegade enters as the 4-1 favorite. Other contenders include Commandment and Further Ado, both at 6-1, Chief Wallabee at 8-1 and Emerging Market and So Happy, both at 15-1. 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. In last year's Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout. Anyone who has followed his horse racing betting advice could be way up.
Q&A
Who are the top contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The top contenders include Renegade at 4-1, Commandment and Further Ado at 6-1, Chief Wallabee at 8-1, and Emerging Market and So Happy at 15-1.
What time does the 2026 Kentucky Derby start?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday.
What happened to the horse Puma in the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Puma was scratched from the race on Saturday morning, reducing the field to 19 horses.
Who is Gene Menez and what are his predictions for the Kentucky Derby?
Gene Menez is a horse racing expert who has previously predicted Kentucky Derby winners and is providing predictions and best bets for the 2026 race.
