Kentucky Derby 2026 futures: Into Mischief colts ascend

Into Mischief’s grip on Kentucky Derby 2026 futures tightened Saturday when his sons won both domestic Grade 1 preps. And the Kentucky Derby field lost its most prominent contender before either race reached the starting gate.

Undefeated Paladin suffered a condylar fracture in his right front ankle after a workout Saturday morning at Payson Park, trainer Chad Brown told Daily Racing Form. The Gun Runner colt had been the 6-1 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook and 8-1 at the Westgate Superbook. He was removed from both boards along with Brown-trained Canaletto, who also was sidelined by injury.

Renegade replaced him at the top. After drawing off to a four-length victory over Silent Tactic in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt was cut from 15-1 to 4-1 at Caesars and opened at 5-1 at Westgate – shorter odds than either of the two previous favorites who were sidelined by injury, Paladin (6-1) and juvenile champion Ted Noffey (7-1).

An hour earlier at Gulfstream Park, Commandment rallied from last in the six-horse Florida Derby (G1) to catch The Puma by a nose in a photo finish. Brad Cox’s colt, who also won the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream, was shortened from 10-1 to 6-1 at Caesars and 8-1 at Westgate and stands as the clear second choice. Into Mischief also is represented by Bob Baffert-trained San Felipe (G2) winner Potente (22-1 at Caesars, 20-1 at Westgate).

The Florida Derby reshuffled several other futures prices. The Puma picked up 50 qualifying points for his runner-up effort and shortened from 25-1 to 14-1 at Caesars and 16-1 at Westgate. Chief Wallabee, trained by Bill Mott, finished third and earned 25 points but drifted from 7-1 to 14-1 at both books. Nearly, the 7-5 mutuel choice in the Florida Derby for Pletcher, faded to fourth and plummeted from 11-1 to 40-1 at Caesars and 30-1 at Westgate in the most dramatic drift on the board.

Saturday’s biggest mover by raw odds came from overseas. Danon Bourbon, the Kentucky-bred who dominated the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama to earn the Japan road to the Kentucky Derby invitation, was slashed from 60-1 to 18-1 at Caesars and opened at 10-1 at Westgate. Undefeated in three starts by a combined margin of about 19 lengths, the colt is trained by Manabu Ikezoe. The $450,000 Keeneland September yearling is from the first crop of Maxfield, who himself was a would-be Kentucky Derby contender before an injury sidelined him as a 3-year-old in 2020.

Wonder Dean, the Japan-based colt who won the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan by 2 1/2 lengths over Six Speed, made his first appearance at 30-1 at both Caesars and Westgate. Trained by Daisuke Takayanagi, he became the fifth consecutive Japan-trained winner of the UAE Derby, though none of the previous four went on to win the run for the roses. Six Speed, who earned a Kentucky Derby invitation as the UAE Derby runner-up, was shortened from 80-1 to 70-1 at Caesars and is 50-1 at Westgate.

In the Arkansas Derby (G1), Silent Tactic held second for trainer Mark Casse and was shortened from 15-1 to 14-1 at Caesars, though the Westgate listed him at a longer 20-1. The Southwest Stakes (G3) winner competed in all four legs of Oaklawn’s Derby prep series this season. Class President, who won the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn earlier this month, was trimmed from 18-1 to 15-1 at Caesars and is 20-1 at the Westgate.

Between Caesars Sportsbook and the Westgate Superbook, 53 distinct horses were showing Monday morning in the futures. Caesars listed 47, and the Westgate had 40 for the May 2 classic.

The Caesars Sportsbook and Westgate Superbook futures are available for betting either in person or on their apps in Nevada. They also may be played legally from out of state using an existing account through a licensed proxy.