Kentucky Derby 2026: Ted Noffey headlines 1st Future Wager
The first of six opportunities to bet on Kentucky Derby 2026 opens Wednesday and runs through Friday with pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, headlined by likely Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite Ted Noffey (10-1). The always-popular option of all other colts and geldings foaled in 2023 is listed as the overall 4-5 favorite among 40 betting choices.
Wagering for pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens Wednesday at noon EDT and will close prior to Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at approximately 6 p.m. EDT.
Ted Noffey is one of eight likely entrants to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and has stamped himself at the top of the class for Kentucky Derby 2026 with his impressive victories in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 4 at Keeneland and the Sept. 1 Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga.
Pool 1 includes eight horses in the care of six-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert: no. 2 Blacksmith (60-1), no. 3 Boyd (50-1), no. 4 Brant (15-1), no. 9 Desert Gate (75-1), no. 20 Kristofferson (80-1), no. 21 Litmus Test (80-1), no. 28 Plutarch (90-1) and no. 29 Provenance (80-1).
Pool 1 offers $2 win and exacta wagering. Fans can place wagers at simulcast outlets across the country and at ADWs.
| Horse | Trainer | Sire | ML |
| 1. Blackout Time | Kenny McPeek | Not This Time | 20-1 |
| 2. Blacksmith | Bob Baffert | Liam's Map | 60-1 |
| 3. Boyd | Bob Baffert | Violence | 50-1 |
| 4. Brant | Bob Baffert | Gun Runner | 15-1 |
| 5. Civil Liberty | Doug O'Neill | Independence Hall | 50-1 |
| 6. Comport | Eddie Kenneally | Collected | 50-1 |
| 7. Confessional | Brad Cox | Essential Quality | 40-1 |
| 8. Courting | Todd Pletcher | Curlin | 90-1 |
| 9. Desert Gate | Bob Baffert | Omaha Beach | 75-1 |
| 10. Dr. Kapur | Saffie Joseph Jr. | McKinzie | 90-1 |
| 11. Englashman | Cherie DeVaux | Maxfield | 90-1 |
| 12. Ewing | Mark Casse | Knicks Go | 30-1 |
| 13. Further Ado | Brad Cox | Gun Runner | 15-1 |
| 14. Gallivant | Ben Colebook | Into Mischief | 60-1 |
| 15. Golden Tornado | Danny Gargan | McKinzie | 90-1 |
| 16. Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Bold d'Oro | 40-1 |
| 17. Infiltrate | Brendan Walsh | Oscar Performance | 90-1 |
| 18. Intrepido | Jeff Mullins | Maximus Mischief | 50-1 |
| 19. It's Out Time | Tom Amoss | Not This Time | 80-1 |
| 20. Kristofferson | Bob Baffert | Nyquist | 80-1 |
| 21. Litmus Test | Bob Baffert | Nyquist | 80-1 |
| 22. Local Knowledge | Todd Pletcher | Yaupon | 75-1 |
| 23. Mr. A. P. | Vladimir Cerin | American Pharoah | 75-1 |
| 24. Napoleon Solo | Chad Summers | Liam's Map | 30-1 |
| 25. Oscar's Hope | Tom Amoss | Twirling Candy | 90-1 |
| 26. Outfielder | Wesley Ward | Speightstown | 80-1 |
| 27. Paladin | Chad Brown | Gun Runner | 75-1 |
| 28. Plutarch | Bob Baffert | Into Mischief | 90-1 |
| 29. Provenance | Bob Baffert | Into Mischief | 80-1 |
| 30. Rancho Santa Fe | Brad Cox | Tapit | 75-1 |
| 31. Renegade | Todd Pletcher | Into Mischief | 75-1 |
| 32. Soldier N Diplomat | Steve Asmussen | Army Mule | 75-1 |
| 33. Spice Runner | Steve Asmussen | Gun Runner | 90-1 |
| 34. Stradale | Steve Asmussen | Yaupon | 90-1 |
| 35. Talkin | Danny Gargan | Good Magic | 80-1 |
| 36. Ted Noffey | Todd Pletcher | Into Mischief | 10-1 |
| 37. Universe | Kenny McPeek | Global Campaign | 80-1 |
| 38. White Tiger | Brad Cox | Constitution | 90-1 |
| 39. All fillies foaled in 2023 | - | - | 75-1 |
| 40. All other colts and geldings foaled in 2023 | - | - | 4-5 |
All told, there will be six future wager pools for Kentucky Derby 2026. Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool 2 and the Sire Future Wager will run Thursday, Nov. 27-Sunday, Nov. 30. The final four pools will take place after the new year, with pool 3 from Jan. 16 to 18; pool 4 from Feb. 13 to 15; pool 5 from March 13 to 15, and pool 6 from April 2 to 4. The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will run concurrently with pool 5.
There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. If Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week’s pool that one of the wagering interests experiences an injury, illness or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.