Kentucky Derby 2026 futures: Cox holds 2 of top 3 choices

Brad Cox picked up a second Kentucky Derby 2026 contender when Further Ado won the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on Saturday. Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Renegade remained the clear favorite in Las Vegas, holding at 4-1 at Caesars Sportsbook and listed at 7-2 at Westgate.

Further Ado, a Gun Runner colt trained by Cox, was cut from 9-1 to 8-1 at Caesars and listed at 8-1 at Westgate. Cox’s Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment held as the second choice at 7-1 at Caesars and 6-1 at Westgate.

The other two winners from Saturday’s final round of major preps were posted at longer prices. So Happy, who upset favored Potente in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), was 25-1 at Caesars and 16-1 at Westgate. Trained by Mark Glatt, the Runhappy colt earned his first Grade 1 victory.

Albus, a Yaupon colt trained by Riley Mott, won the Wood Memorial (G2) in the final running of the historic race at Aqueduct. He was 25-1 at Caesars and 60-1 at Westgate. Mott has two potential Derby starters, as Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt was 22-1 at Caesars and 40-1 at Westgate.

Right to Party, second in the Wood, returned to the Caesars board at 50-1 and was 100-1 at Westgate.

Chief Wallabee shortened from 12-1 to 10-1 at Caesars and was 10-1 at Westgate, making him the fourth choice at both books despite sitting 22nd on the qualifying-points leaderboard as an also-eligible. The Puma was 12-1 at Caesars and 8-1 at Westgate. Emerging Market was cut from 18-1 to 15-1 at Caesars and stood at 12-1 at Westgate.

Nearly was shortened from 40-1 to 35-1 at Caesars and listed at 16-1 at Westgate but was 27th on the leaderboard and in need of defections to make the 20-horse field. Chip Honcho was cut from 40-1 to 35-1 at Caesars and ranked 23rd. Intrepido was cut from 100-1 to 90-1 at Caesars and listed at 60-1 at Westgate after running in the Santa Anita Derby but was 24th on the leaderboard.

Potente, the San Felipe (G2) winner who went off as the favorite in the Santa Anita Derby, held at 25-1 at Caesars and was 20-1 at Westgate.

Class President, the Rebel winner who scratched from the Blue Grass, was 50-1 at Caesars and 16-1 at Westgate.

Three international qualifiers also were on both boards. Danon Bourbon, the Fukuryu Stakes winner on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, was 22-1 at Caesars and 20-1 at Westgate. Wonder Dean, who won the UAE Derby (G2) on the Euro-Mideast road, was 33-1 at Caesars and 30-1 at Westgate. Six Speed, runner-up in the UAE Derby, was cut from 75-1 to 70-1 at Caesars and listed at 60-1 at Westgate.

Both boards were pared as the Kentucky Derby approaches. Caesars went from 36 to 30, removing Blacksmith, Buetane, Boyd, Brant, Bravaro, Soldier N Diplomat and Start the Ride. Westgate cut from 40 to 26. Cherokee Nation, the Bob Baffert runner who had been 16-1 at Westgate, was taken off after running in the Santa Anita Derby.

Kentucky Derby, Oaks 2026 fields are penciled in for now

The futures at Caesars Sportsbook, which also operates William Hill outlets in Nevada, and at the Westgate Superbook are available in person or on an app. They also may be played from out of state through a licensed proxy.