Kentucky Derby 2026 futures: Big weekend shakes up market

Photo: Juliana Colombo / Eclipse Sportswire

Three major preps over the weekend reshaped the Kentucky Derby 2026 futures market at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada. The Fountain of Youth, Gotham and Rebel stakes produced new contenders and knocked others down the board over the weekend, giving bettors plenty to reconsider.

Commandment made the biggest splash. After winning Grade 2 the Fountain of Youth on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, the Brad Cox–trained colt rocketed from 30-1 to 9-1 to become the second choice in Las Vegas. Commandment passed his first two-turn test with victory over Chief Wallabee. Cox identified the Florida Derby (G1) as his likely next start.

Paladin held firm atop the Caesars board at 8-1 on Monday morning, though his odds drifted from 6-1 a week ago. The Chad Brown-trained colt leads the road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points.

Brown strengthened his hand further Saturday at Aqueduct, where Iron Honor took the Gotham (G3). The colt edged away to a one-length victory and shortened from 40-1 to 22-1. Brown said the Wood Memorial (G2) is the next target.

Chief Wallabee’s determined runner-up effort in the Fountain of Youth brought the colt from 16-1 to 10-1. He's trained by Bill Mott, who won last year’s Fountain of Youth with horse of the year Sovereignty.

The Rebel (G2) brought its own shakeup Sunday at Oaklawn. Class President scored for Todd Pletcher, and the colt’s futures reflected it as he shortened from 125-1 to 45-1. Class President earned 50 Derby qualifying points in the race, grinding past Silent Tactic at the wire. Litmus Test set the early pace and faded to third for Bob Baffert.

The weekend was far less kind to several who had been expected to emerge. Silent Tactic, the Southwest (G3) winner who ran second in the Rebel for Mark Casse, drifted from 12-1 to 40-1. Litmus Test moved from 28-1 to 55-1 after fading. Blackout Time finished fourth and drifted from 30-1 to 65-1.

Napoleon Solo, the Champagne winner making his sophomore debut in the Fountain of Youth for trainer Chad Summers, could not sustain his early speed and finished fifth. He moved from 22-1 to 30-1.

Three horses were removed from the Caesars board: Plutarch (18-1), Jackson Hole (25-1) and Balboa (125-1). Jackson Hole, the Pletcher-trained colt who had been undefeated, faded after pressing the pace in the Fountain of Youth.

Among other movers, Boyd shortened from 18-1 to 14-1, and Canaletto went from 22-1 to 15-1. Cherokee Nation made one of the larger jumps, going from 80-1 to 40-1. Solitude Dude, who held third in the Fountain of Youth, tightened from 75-1 to 55-1.

Three horses were added to the board: Creole Chrome at 85-1, Tariff Mindset at 125-1 and Steel at 125-1.

In all, 139 horses were listed Monday morning in the Kentucky Derby 2026 futures at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada, which also operates William Hill outlets. They are available for betting in person or on an app in Nevada.

Horse Previous Current Status
Paladin 6-1 8-1 DRIFTED
Commandment 30-1 9-1 SHORTENED
Chief Wallabee 16-1 10-1 SHORTENED
Nearly 10-1 11-1 DRIFTED
Renegade 10-1 12-1 DRIFTED
Boyd 18-1 14-1 SHORTENED
Canaletto 22-1 15-1 SHORTENED
Further Ado 18-1 20-1 DRIFTED
Iron Honor 40-1 22-1 SHORTENED
Golden Tempo 25-1 25-1  
Cannoneer 28-1 28-1  
Napoleon Solo 22-1 30-1 DRIFTED
Brant 30-1 30-1  
Intrepido 35-1 35-1  
Potente 35-1 35-1  
Reagan's Honor 40-1 35-1 SHORTENED
Six Speed 33-1 35-1 DRIFTED
Al Haram 35-1 40-1 DRIFTED
Pyromancer 40-1 40-1  
Cherokee Nation 80-1 40-1 SHORTENED
Leading Change 40-1 40-1  
Ewing 40-1 40-1  
Silent Tactic 12-1 40-1 DRIFTED
Courting 40-1 40-1  
Emerging Market 45-1 45-1  
Class President 125-1 45-1 SHORTENED
Chip Honcho 50-1 50-1  
Buetane 50-1 50-1  
Final Score 50-1 50-1  
Pavlovian 50-1 50-1  
Englishman 40-1 50-1 DRIFTED
So Happy 60-1 50-1 SHORTENED
Litmus Test 28-1 55-1 DRIFTED
Solitude Dude 75-1 55-1 SHORTENED
Schoolyardsuperman 66-1 55-1 SHORTENED
Desert Gate 50-1 60-1 DRIFTED
Rebel Instinct 60-1 60-1  
Incredibolt 60-1 60-1  
Talk to Me Jimmy 60-1 60-1  
Soldier N Diplomat 60-1 60-1  
Big Dom 60-1 60-1  
Bravaro 60-1 65-1 DRIFTED
Blackout Time 30-1 65-1 DRIFTED
The Puma 66-1 66-1  
D'Code 66-1 66-1  
Project Ace 70-1 70-1  
Great White 85-1 75-1 SHORTENED
Blacksmith 75-1 75-1  
Curtain Call 75-1 75-1  
Provenance 75-1 75-1  
Liberty National 75-1 75-1  
Local Knowledge 75-1 75-1  
Grittiness 75-1 75-1  
Spartacus 75-1 75-1  
Stradale 80-1 80-1  
Strategic Risk 80-1 80-1  
Secured Freedom 80-1 80-1  
Igniter 80-1 80-1  
Powershift 80-1 80-1  
Stop the Car 80-1 80-1  
Creole Chrome - 85-1 NEW
Express Kid 90-1 90-1  
Ottinho 100-1 100-1  
Talkin 100-1 100-1  
Universe 100-1 100-1  
Crown the Buckeye 125-1 100-1 SHORTENED
Rancho Santa Fe 100-1 100-1  
Satono Voyage 100-1 100-1  
Carson Street 100-1 100-1  
Intricate Spirit 100-1 100-1  
Infiltrate 125-1 125-1  
Proletariat 125-1 125-1  
Hadrian's Wall 125-1 125-1  
Obliteration 125-1 125-1  
Arctic Beast 125-1 125-1  
Falcon Jet 125-1 125-1  
Tariff Mindset - 125-1 NEW
Confessional 125-1 125-1  
Later Than Planned 125-1 125-1  
Civil Liberty 125-1 125-1  
Boca Beach Club 125-1 125-1  
It's Our Time 125-1 125-1  
Brotherly Love 125-1 125-1  
Stirring Words 125-1 125-1  
Fulleffort 100-1 125-1 DRIFTED
Greenwich Village 150-1 125-1 SHORTENED
Steel - 125-1 NEW
Enforced Agenda 125-1 125-1  
The Big Con 125-1 125-1  
Bottas 125-1 125-1  
Smarty Hardy 125-1 125-1  
Boss Dylan 125-1 125-1  
Mob 125-1 125-1  
Time for Music 125-1 125-1  
Criteria 125-1 125-1  
Street Beast 125-1 125-1  
Amberjack 150-1 150-1  
Game for It 150-1 150-1  
Right To Party 150-1 150-1  
White Tiger 150-1 150-1  
Fifty Four Yarder 150-1 150-1  
Awesome Gun 150-1 150-1  
Exonerate 150-1 150-1  
Exosome 150-1 150-1  
Clocker Special 150-1 150-1  
Golden Tornado 150-1 150-1  
Nine Ball 150-1 150-1  
My World 150-1 150-1  
Two Out Hero 150-1 150-1  
Bull by the Horns 150-1 150-1  
Spice Runner 150-1 150-1  
Thunder Buck 150-1 150-1  
Crupper 150-1 150-1  
No Joke Joe 150-1 150-1  
Top Level 150-1 150-1  
Khon Han 150-1 150-1  
Romeo 150-1 150-1  
Reclamation 150-1 150-1  
Sockdolager 150-1 150-1  
Ocean Bear 150-1 150-1  
Into The Beast 175-1 175-1  
Liberty Valance 175-1 175-1  
Rockies Balboa 175-1 175-1  
Robusta 175-1 175-1  
Epic Desire 175-1 175-1  
Waymark 175-1 175-1  
Very Connected 175-1 175-1  
Smoovin Saturday 150-1 200-1 DRIFTED
Herbs Bolt 200-1 200-1  
Attfield 200-1 200-1  
Gallivant 200-1 200-1  
Quality Mischief 225-1 225-1  
Horse of the Sea 250-1 250-1  
Start the Ride 250-1 250-1  
Crossingthechannel 250-1 250-1  
Max Ciao 250-1 250-1  
Vitruvian Man 250-1 250-1  
Classico 250-1 250-1  
Cruise Home 250-1 250-1  
Plutarch 18-1 - REMOVED
Jackson Hole 25-1 - REMOVED
Balboa 125-1 - REMOVED

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