The 152nd Kentucky Derby will take place on May 1, 2026, at Churchill Downs with a total purse of $5 million. The favorite is Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher, who is undefeated in two starts this year.
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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 01: Horses break from the starting gate during the 147th Running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2021 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 6:57pm on Saturday from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, as 20 of the best three-year old horses in the world compete in the Run for the Roses.
A total of $5 million is on the line for the owners, trainers and jockeys, but more than $234.4 million was wagered on last year’s race. Expect that number to be even bigger in 2026 on what should be a cloudy-but-dry track, as opposed to last year’s questionable weather at Churchill Downs.
The favorite is Renegade, trained by two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher (2010 Super Saver, 2017 Always Dreaming) with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard from the rail. The sire of Into Mischief and Spice Is Nice was 0-3 from the chute as a two-year-old, but is undefeated in two starts during 2026. The wins came at the Sam F. Davis Stakes in Tampa, and the Grade I Arkansas Derby where he posted a flashy 107 speed figure in his four-length victory.
Churchill Downs new oddsmaker Nick Tammaro, who replaced the legendary Mike Battaglia earlier this year, has Renegade as the projected 4-1 chalk.
The second choice is Commandment, with Luis Saez aboard the Brad Cox trainee. Another son of Into Mischief, Commandment broke his maiden at Churchill Downs last November 1 in a special weight race. Since then he’s undefeated, winning three stakes races all at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. He took the Florida Derby by a nose over fellow Derby entrant The Puma, paying 5.80 for the win, and is 6-1 on the morning line.
Here are the opening odds, followed by the latest track odds, from Churchill Downs ahead of the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start at 6:57 PM on May 1, 2026.
The favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher.
More than $234.4 million was wagered on the Kentucky Derby last year.
The total purse for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is $5 million.
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Updated: May 1, 11:35 p.m.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Current Odds | Morning line odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | 6-1 | 4-1 |
| 2 | Albus | Manuel Franco | Riley Mott | 46-1 | 30-1 |
| 3 | Intrepido | Hector I. Berrios | Jeff Mullins | 48-1 | 50-1 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 31-1 | 30-1 |
| Scratch | Scratch | ||||
| 6 | Commandment | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | 6-1 | 6-1 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | Atsuya Nishimura | Manabu Ikezoe | 15-1 | 20-1 |
| 8 | So Happy | Mike E. Smith | Mark Glatt | 6-1 | 15-1 |
| 9 | The Puma | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | 9-1 | 10-1 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | Ryusei Sakai | Daisuke Takayanagi | 23-1 | 30-1 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Jaime A. Torres | Riley Mott | 26-1 | 20-1 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| Scratch | Scratch | ||||
| 14 | Potente | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | 22-1 | 20-1 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Flavlen Prat | Chad C. Brown | 10-1 | 15-1 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Edwin A. Maldonado | Doug F. O’Neill | 49-1 | 30-1 |
| 17 | Six Speed | Brian J. Hernandez, Jr. | Bhupat Seemar | 35-1 | 50-1 |
| 18 | Further Ado | John R. Velazquez | Brad H. Cox | 7-1 | 6-1 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Jose L. Ortiz | Cherie Devaux | 30-1 | 30-1 |
| Scratch | Scratch | ||||
| 21 | Great White | Alex Achard | John Ennis | 25-1 | 50-1 |
| 22 | Ocelli | Joseph D. Ramos | D. Whitworth Beckman | 99-1 | 50-1 |
| 23 | Robusta | Emisael Jaramillo | Doug F. O’Neill | 99-1 | 50-1 |
| Scratch | Scratch |