Five horses are highlighted as favorites to root for in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Notable contenders include Fulleffort and last year's runner-up Journalism.
Key points
Five horses are highlighted for the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Rich Strike won the 2022 Derby as an 80-1 longshot
Let’s face it: sports are always better when you have someone (or some horse) to root for.
There’s something special about an underrated two- or four-legged athlete going against the odds and reigning victorious. Rich Strike was one of the best examples of that in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, winning as an 80-1 longshot.
There are also those that draw on personal connections. Every reporter in America was likely rooting for Journalism to get a win during last year’s race. The 3-year-old colt finished second to Sovereignty, who had his own cool piece of history. He was the first Derby-winning colt for owners Godolphin in 13 attempts.
If you’re looking to pick a horse in the 152nd Run for the Roses for reasons unrelated to the morning-line odds, which were set on Saturday, here are five horses worth rooting for:
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2026 Kentucky Derby horse Fulleffort, trained by Brad Cox, was ridden by Edvin Vargas during a morning workout April 23, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Fulleffort has seven career races with three wins, two second-place finishes and one third-place finish.
2026 Kentucky Derby horse Fulleffort, trained by Brad Cox, was ridden by Edvin Vargas during a morning workout April 23, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Fulleffort has seven career races with three wins, two second-place finishes and one third-place finish.
First, the 3-year-old colt’s color makes it unique. It’s one of only two roan horses in the field. Only eight gray/roan horses have won in the past, with Giacomo being the most recent in 2005. Outside of his color, Fulleffort has never finished worse than fourth in seven career starts. His Jeff Ruby Steaks victory also bodes well for him: Rich Strike also won the race before winning the Derby, and Two Phil’s won the Ruby before finishing second in the 2023 Derby.
Although Fulleffort has never raced on dirt and is a relative longshot at 20-1, genetics could play in his favor. His sire, Liam’s Map, was versatile in producing wins on different track surfaces.
So Happy, a 2026 Kentucky Derby contender, relaxes after a morning workout at Churchill Downs. The horse is trained by Mark Glatt and has a 3-for-4 record. Jockey Mike Smith is slated to ride him.April 22, 2026
So Happy, a 2026 Kentucky Derby contender, relaxes after a morning workout at Churchill Downs. The horse is trained by Mark Glatt and has a 3-for-4 record. Jockey Mike Smith is slated to ride him.April 22, 2026
Courier Journal horse racing writer Jason Frakes wrote a wonderful, heartwarming story about So Happy's trainer, Mark Glatt. It's his first Derby, and it comes on the heels of Glatt losing his wife, Dena, on Feb. 12. Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners are co-owners of So Happy with only one prior Derby appearance between them (Norman Stables finished 11th with Coal Battle last year).
So Happy was fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 115 points after winning the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The colt, who has a 3-0-1 record in four starts, will run out of the eighth post at 15-1 odds.
Jockey Junior Alvarado aboard 2026 Kentucky Derby horse Chief Wallabee during morning workouts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The horse is trained by Bill Mott. The horse's most recent race was in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, where he finished third. April 20, 2026
Jockey Junior Alvarado aboard 2026 Kentucky Derby horse Chief Wallabee during morning workouts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The horse is trained by Bill Mott. The horse's most recent race was in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, where he finished third. April 20, 2026
Like Rich Strike, the colt wasn’t originally supposed to be in the Derby. But he earned a spot after Ottinho dropped out. Chief Wallabee is still fairly young as a racehorse with only three races under his belt. He’s never finished worse than third place in the three starts, though all of them have been at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
At 8-1 odds, Chief Wallabee comes from good pedigree as the offspring of Constitution, who recorded more than $1 million in career earnings, and is being trained by Bill Mott, a Hall of Famer who tutored Sovereignty to last year’s Derby victory.
2026 Kentucky Derby horse Incredibolt, trained by Riley Mott, works at Churchill Downs. The horse has raced five times on fast dirt, with three wins and $498,681 in earnings so far. Jockey Jaime Torres is slated to ride him. April 21, 2026
2026 Kentucky Derby horse Incredibolt, trained by Riley Mott, works at Churchill Downs. The horse has raced five times on fast dirt, with three wins and $498,681 in earnings so far. Jockey Jaime Torres is slated to ride him. April 21, 2026
Incredibolt has had incredible success at Churchill Downs. Two of his three career wins have taken place on the Louisville-based track. He broke his maiden on Sept. 28 before pocketing a first-place finish in the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes a month later. The colt’s other win came at the Virginia Derby on March 14.
Incredibolt’s Derby appearance will also be a first for trainer Riley Mott — which pits him against his dad, Bill — as well as jockey Jaime Torres and owner Dana Bernhard of Pin Oak Stud. He comes into the race at 20-1 odds.
The name alone is worth cheering for. Although it feels like a nod to the Beastie Boys, the colt has a lineage of party and music-inspired names. His dam is Havin’ a Party by Emcee. And although Right to Party has only one career win, he shares a sire with Chief Wallabee (Constitution) and was second to fellow Derby horse Albus in the Wood Memorial on April 4. A win in the Derby, at 30-1 odds, could be his coming-out party.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit atacubit@gannett.comand follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
