The 2026 Kentucky Derby features a diverse group of horses and jockeys, including Irad Ortiz Jr. on Renegade and Luis Saez on Commandment. Jockeys come from various regions, including Japan and Puerto Rico, with some having prior Derby experience.
Key points
2026 Kentucky Derby features diverse horses and jockeys
Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Renegade, Luis Saez rides Commandment
Jockeys include participants from Japan and Puerto Rico
Some jockeys have extensive Derby experience
Others will be making their Churchill Downs debuts
With the 152nd Kentucky Derby just on the horizon, it's time to take a closer look at who the horses and their jockeys are.
This year's jockey field comes from a variety of places. Two jockeys, Atsuya Nishimura and Ryusei Sakai, hail from Japan. Seven jockeys call Puerto Rico home, while others call the United States home.
For horse races, examining who will have the reins in their hands is almost just as important as studying up on the horse's latest performance heading into The Run for the Roses. Some jockeys have extensive Kentucky Derby experience, while others will be making their Churchill Downs debuts this year.
Here's the rundown on every horse and jockey in this year's Kentucky Derby starting order.
Favorite Renegade, favored at 4-1, will take the no. 1 post at this year's Kentucky Derby. Commandment (post No. 6) and Further Ado (post No. 18) are the second co-favorites at 6-1 odds. Five horses currently sit with 50-1 odds.
Here's a look at the post positions and jockeys for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, as well as the morning-line odds for the race.
Q&A
Who are the jockeys participating in the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby jockeys include Irad Ortiz Jr. on Renegade, Luis Saez on Commandment, and others from Japan and Puerto Rico.
What is the significance of the jockeys' experience in the Kentucky Derby?
The experience of jockeys can greatly influence race outcomes, as some have extensive Derby experience while others are first-time participants.
How many jockeys are from Puerto Rico in the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Seven jockeys participating in the 2026 Kentucky Derby are from Puerto Rico.
What makes the 2026 Kentucky Derby unique in terms of its jockey lineup?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby features a diverse lineup of jockeys from various countries, including two from Japan, highlighting the global nature of horse racing.
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Despite being one of the most highly-touted jockeys in North America, Ortiz Jr. is still chasing his first podium. The Puerto Rican's best finish came in 2019, when he finished fourth on Improbable. His colt, Renegade, has won two prep races this spring with Ortiz in the saddle both times.
Albus: Manny Franco
Post position: 2
Kentucky Derby rides: Six
This year, Franco will jockey 30-1 underdog Albus. In 2020, Franco rode the post-time favorite Tiz the Law to a runner-up finish, which remains the jockey's best finish to date. Franco and Tiz the Law had won the Belmont Stakes in that year's Belmont Stakes, which, due to COVID, happened before the Kentucky Derby.
Intrepido: Hector Berrios
Post position: 3
Kentucky Derby rides: None
The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be the first for Berrios. The Chilean native is set to ride longshot Intrepido. Ahead of this year's race at Churchill Downs, Berrios' horse finished fourth at the Santa Anita Derby.
Litmus Test: Martin Garcia
Post position: 4
Kentucky Derby rides: Five
The Mexican jockey will be back for his sixth try at the Kentucky Derby, and he has a solid horse to do so. Despite 30-1 odds, Litmus Test was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has two Triple Crown winners under his belt (American Pharaoh, 2015; Justify, 2018). Garcia is known as a great pace jockey, so expect a late burst for his horse.
The 20-year-old New Jersey native is set to make his first ride at this year's Kentucky Derby. His father, Stewart, won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004 while riding Smarty Jones. That was also his father's first Derby mount, so maybe luck is on the Elliot family's side.
Commandment: Luis Saez
Post position: 6
Kentucky Derby rides: 12
In 2019, Saez believed he had won the Kentucky Derby with Maximum Security. However, an inquiry deemed that his horse had made contact with other racers, which bumped them down to a 17th-place finish. His best finish came in 2021, when he finished 3rd with Essential Quality. It is safe to expect success with Saez as he rides Commandment, a co-second favorite at 6-1.
Danon Bourbon: Atsuya Nishimura
Post position: 7
Kentucky Derby rides: None
This year's race at Churchill Downs will not only be Nishimura's first Kentucky Derby, but it will be his first race on American soil. Nishimura has ridden Danon Bourbon in two of his last three starts, who heads into this year's derby as an undefeated horse in Japan.
So Happy: Mike Smith
Post position: 8
Kentucky Derby rides: 28
Smith comes into this year's Derby as the oldest. At age 59, the jockey has participated in 28 Kentucky Derbies to date, and won two of them (Giacomo, 2005; Justify, 2018). He became the second-oldest jockey to win at the 2018 event, and with a win this year, he will break Bill Shoemaker's record (54).
Castellano's Kentucky Derby win with Mage was his best, and one of the Derby's best in recent memory. Mage came into the race as a 15-1 favorite to win, and Castellano's move to swing his horse wide proved to be the right move. Expect a solid showing from The Puma as a 10-1 favorite, who has the same trainer as Mage.
Wonder Dean: Ryusei Sakai
Post position: 10
Kentucky Derby rides: 1
Despite his lone Kentucky Derby appearance resulting in a third-place finish (Forever Young, 2024), Sakai's ride that day was far from beginner's luck. He is one of Japan's best riders and has won the Saudi Cup twice and last yearâs Longines Breedersâ Cup Classic.
Incredibolt: Jaime Torres
Post position: 11
Kentucky Derby rides: None
While Torres has yet to race at Churchill Downs, he did win the 2024 Preakness Stakes with Seize the Grey. His horse, Incredibolt, won last fall's Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County this March at Colonial Downs.
Chief Wallabee: Junior Alvarado
Post position: 12
Kentucky Derby rides: 6
Alvarado is best known for his win with Sovereignty at last year's Kentucky Derby. Now, the Venezuelan is back for more. His horse this year, Chief Wallabee, has only raced three times, but reports show that Alvarado's horse has quite a potential. He currently sits at 8-1 odds to win at Churchill Downs.
Despite being a leading jockey on the Southern California circuit in recent years, this year's Kentucky Derby will be Hernandez's first. His horse, Potente, was trained by Hall-of-Fame trainer Bob Baffert, so a better-than-anticipated result may be on the horizon in Hernandez's first Kentucky Derby start.
Emerging Market: Flavien Prat
Post position: 15
Kentucky Derby rides: 8
Prat's Kentucky Derby resume is nothing short of remarkable. Across eight rides throughout his career, the Frenchman has accumulated one win (Country House, 2019), one second, and four third-place finishes. Experience is key on a track like Churchill Downs, and Emerging Market's 15-1 odds may be a steal with Prat at the helm.
Pavlovian: Edwin Maldonado
Post position: 16
Kentucky Derby rides: None
Veteran California jockey Edwin Maldonado is making his first Kentucky Derby appearance aboard 30-1 longshot Pavlovian. Prior to Maldonado's jockeying on Pavlovian, the horse had won just one of its eight race starts. In two starts with the Puerto Rican, the horse won by a nose and lost by a head in two straight races. Maldonado is highly touted as a pace jockey.
Six Speed: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Post position: 17
Kentucky Derby rides: 6
Louisiana native Brian Hernandez Jr. has some winning experience at Churchill Downs. In 2024, he led Mystik Dan to a nose-victory after leading for the majority of the race. Hernandez Jr.'s style is getting out in the front of the pack and hoping the chaos that unfolds behind him and his horse is enough to drag the field further behind.
Further Ado: John Velazquez
Post position: 18
Kentucky Derby rides: 26
Velazquez enters the Derby as the winningest jockey at the Kentucky Derby. The Puerto Rican has won three derbies at Churchill Downs (2011, Animal Kingdom; 2017, Always Dreaming; 2020, Authentic). He will jockey Further Ado, who is currently tied as the second favorite to win Sunday's race.
Golden Tempo: Jose Ortiz
Post position: 19
Kentucky Derby rides: 10
Jose is the younger brother of Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey for the favorite Renegade). Ortiz and his horse, Golden Tempo, are riding high heading into this year's Kentucky Derby. At New Orleans' Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Ortiz and Golden Tempo accumulated two wins and two third-place finishes coming into the Kentucky Derby.
Great White: Alex Achard
Post position: 21
Kentucky Derby rides: None
After Silent Tactic was forced to withdraw from this year's Kentucky Derby, Achard and his horse, Great White, got the replacement nod. They will be racing out of post No. 21. This will be Achard's fifth career start on the back of Great White, which is the horse he has frequented throughout his career.
Ocelli: Joe Ramos
Post position: 22
Kentucky Derby rides:Â 1
Ramos and his ride, Ocelli, were recently called up to the Derby after post No. 20 Fulleffort was scratched due to a chipped ankle. Ramos' first Kentucky Derby race came last year, when he jockeyed Flying Mohawk to an 18th-place finish. Ocelli is a Maiden, meaning the horse has yet to win a race. According to the Courier-Journal, only three maidens have been victorious at the Kentucky Derby, with the latest coming in 1933.
