Kentucky Derby 2026: Draw, posts, odds for run for the roses

Renegade drew the rail and was tabbed the 4-1 morning-line favorite for Kentucky Derby 2026 next Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The two-time defending champion of his division ran his 2026 record to 2-for-2 with overpowering scores, a 3 3/4-length win in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and a four-length romp in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Todd Pletcher trains for Robert and Lawana L. Low and Repole Stable. Post time for the $5 million, 1 1/4-mile classic is 6:57 p.m. EDT, with NBC and Peacock carrying the broadcast as the 12th of 14 races on the card. The winner takes home $3.1 million.

Pletcher seeks a third Derby victory after winning with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). Irad Ortiz Jr. is looking for his first.

Post 1 has produced eight Derby winners since 1930, the last being Ferdinand in 1986. The rail has not hit the board in the race since Lookin At Lee finished second in 2017.

Brad Cox saddles co-second choices Commandment and Further Ado, both at 6-1. Cox won the 2021 Derby with Mandaloun. The Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Commandment, the Road to the Kentucky Derby points leader at 150, drew post 6 for Wathnan Racing on a four-race winning streak. Luis Saez has the call. Post 6 has produced just two winners since 1930, the last being Sea Hero in 1993. Further Ado drew post 18 for Spendthrift Farm and arrives off an 11-length romp in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 4. Three-time Derby-winning rider John Velazquez is aboard. Post 18 has produced two winners, including Country House in 2019. Cox also sends out Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort (20-1) for St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from the outside post 20. Rich Strike won from there in 2022.

Chief Wallabee, the Florida Derby third, drew post 12 at 8-1 for Bill Mott and Mike and Kay Kay Ball with Junior Alvarado named. The Mott trainee will race with blinkers added.

Mott can become the first trainer to win consecutive Derbys since Bob Baffert took the 1997 and 1998 runnings with Silver Charm and Real Quiet. Mott and Alvarado teamed last year with Horse of the Year Sovereignty. The last trainer-jockey combination to win consecutive Derbys was Lucien Laurin and Ron Turcotte with Riva Ridge (1972) and Secretariat (1973).

Mott's son Riley sends out his first two Derby starters for Pin Oak Stud. Wood Memorial (G2) winner Albus drew post 2 at 30-1 with Manny Franco. Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt is 20-1 from post 11 with Jaime Torres. The Motts are the second father-son duo to saddle horses in the same Derby. In 1964, Red Wingfield saddled Dandy K to an eighth-place finish behind Northern Dancer while son Bobby's Wil Rad ran 10th.

The Puma checked in at 10-1 from post 9. Gustavo Delgado's Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner and Florida Derby runner-up reunites with Javier Castellano, who teams with the trainer in pursuit of a second Derby win after their 2023 Mage triumph.

Mark Glatt's Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner So Happy is 15-1 from post 8 with Mike Smith aboard. Smith took the Derby with Giacomo (2005) and Justify (2018). Post 8 has produced nine winners, second-most among all stalls, including Mage in 2023. Chad Brown's undefeated Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market is also 15-1 from post 15 for Klaravich Stables. Flavien Prat, who rode Country House to victory in 2019 for Bill Mott, has the call. Post 15 produced Authentic in 2020 and has six winners overall.

Baffert pursues a record seventh Derby victory with two runners. Santa Anita Derby runner-up Potente picked up 20-1 odds from post 14 for Speedway Stables and Juan Hernandez. Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Litmus Test is 30-1 from post 4 with Martin Garcia and will run with blinkers added.

Mark Casse's Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic drew post 13 at 20-1 for John C. Oxley with Cristian Torres aboard. Nyquist won from that gate in 2016.

Doug O'Neill, who took the 2012 Derby with I'll Have Another and the 2016 running with Nyquist for Reddam Racing, returns with another Reddam runner in Sunland Park Derby winner Pavlovian (30-1). Edwin Maldonado has the mount from post 16. The 16 hole has been the hottest spot recently, producing winners in five of the last 16 runnings, including last year's victor Sovereignty.

Cherie DeVaux's Lecomte winner Golden Tempo drew post 19 at 30-1 with José Ortiz for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. I'll Have Another in 2012 is the only Derby winner from that stall.

Kenny McPeek seeks a second Derby score to go with Mystik Dan in 2024. The Hall of Famer's Wood Memorial runner-up Right to Party is 30-1 from post 5 for Chester Broman Sr. Chris Elliott, the 20-year-old son of Stewart Elliott who rode Smarty Jones to Derby glory in 2004, has the mount. Post 5 has produced 10 winners, the most of any stall.

Jeff Mullins's American Pharoah (G1) winner Intrepido is 50-1 from post 3 with Hector Berrios.

Steve Asmussen's Gun Runner winner Chip Honcho will bypass the race for the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park.

Three international invitees complete the field. Danon Bourbon ships in from the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby off a Fukuryu victory and is 20-1 from post 7 for Manabu Ikezoe with Atsuya Nishimura aboard. Post 7 has produced eight winners, including Justify in 2018. Wonder Dean and Six Speed advance from the Euro/Mideast Road after running one-two in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan. Wonder Dean drew post 10 at 30-1 for Daisuke Takayanagi and Ryusei Sakai. Six Speed is 50-1 from post 17 with Brian Hernandez Jr. for Bhupat Seemar. Post 10 has produced nine winners, including Secretariat in 1973. Post 17 has never produced a winner in 46 chances.

Also eligible at 50-1 are Great White (Alex Achard), Ocelli (Joe Ramos), Robusta (Emisael Jaramillo) and Corona de Oro (Brian Hernandez Jr.).

The Kentucky Derby field has been capped at 20 starters since 1975. Winner's share of the $5 million purse is $3.1 million. Scratch time is 9 a.m. EDT on Friday.