Kentucky Derby 2026 futures: Paladin emerges as second choice
Grade 2 Remsen Stakes winner Paladin shortened from 15-1 to 10-1 to become the clear second choice behind Ted Noffey in Kentucky Derby 2026 futures at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada.
Ted Noffey, the undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, held steady as the 8-1 favorite. Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) winner Further Ado drifted slightly from 12-1 to 15-1. Brad Cox's Cannoneer shortened from 30-1 to 20-1.
Mr. A.P., who finished second to Ted Noffey in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was removed from the futures board this week. The American Pharoah ridgling suffered a training setback reported last week that is expected to sideline him until the end of March, effectively ending his Kentucky Derby hopes.
Japan's Satono Voyage saw the largest drift of the week, moving from 35-1 to 66-1. The Into Mischief colt won the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo on Nov. 29 but has not attracted much stateside support.
Other horses with shortened odds included Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Napoleon Solo (28-1 to 25-1) and Blackout Time (33-1 to 30-1), who has been on the sidelines since scratching from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Five horses were added to the board this week: Strategic Risk at 95-1, Arabia Wild at 150-1, Herbs Bolt at 150-1, Horse of the Sea at 150-1, and Pyromancer at 200-1. Pyromancer won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun on Dec. 17 at Kawasaki Racecourse for Godolphin, earning 20 points on the Japan road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on Saturday drew a nine-horse field led by Universe (40-1), the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Kenny McPeek entered two in the 1 1/16-mile qualifier, adding Sleepingonfreedom (110-1) to Universe. Mark Casse has Strategic Risk (95-1) and Silent Tactic in the field, and Cox sends out Rancho Santa Fe (80-1). The race offers 10-5-3-2-1 Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.
The Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday drew just five horses, led by Remsen third-place finisher Balboa (28-1). Cox enters My World (90-1), and Flavien Prat picks up the mount on Enforced Agenda for George Weaver. The one-mile race offers 10-5-3-2-1 Derby points.
These odds were available Monday morning on the Caesars Sportsbook and William Hill apps in Nevada. They also may be played legally from out of state using an existing account through a licensed proxy.
| Horse | Previous | Current | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Noffey | 8-1 | 8-1 | |
| Paladin | 15-1 | 10-1 | Shortened |
| Further Ado | 12-1 | 15-1 | Drifted |
| Cannoneer | 30-1 | 20-1 | Shortened |
| Incredibolt | 20-1 | 22-1 | Drifted |
| Napoleon Solo | 28-1 | 25-1 | Shortened |
| Litmus Test | 25-1 | 25-1 | |
| Brant | 25-1 | 25-1 | |
| Boyd | 25-1 | 28-1 | Drifted |
| Balboa | 28-1 | 28-1 | |
| Blackout Time | 33-1 | 30-1 | Shortened |
| Englishman | 33-1 | 33-1 | |
| Courting | 33-1 | 33-1 | |
| Final Score | 33-1 | 33-1 | |
| Leading Change | 35-1 | 35-1 | |
| Provenance | 35-1 | 35-1 | |
| Rebel Instinct | 40-1 | 40-1 | |
| Renegade | 40-1 | 40-1 | |
| Universe | 40-1 | 40-1 | |
| Local Knowledge | 40-1 | 40-1 | |
| Plutarch | 45-1 | 45-1 | |
| Blacksmith | 45-1 | 45-1 | |
| Mob | 45-1 | 45-1 | |
| Big Dom | 50-1 | 50-1 | |
| Curtain Call | 50-1 | 50-1 | |
| Liberty National | 55-1 | 55-1 | |
| Igniter | 55-1 | 55-1 | |
| Desert Gate | 55-1 | 55-1 | |
| Soldier N Diplomat | 55-1 | 55-1 | |
| Intrepido | 55-1 | 55-1 | |
| Criteria | 60-1 | 60-1 | |
| Civil Liberty | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Romeo | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Stop the Car | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Commandment | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Cherokee Nation | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Talkin | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Buetane | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Stradale | 66-1 | 66-1 | |
| Satono Voyage | 35-1 | 66-1 | Drifted |
| The Big Con (GB) | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Intricate Spirit | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Boss Dylan | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Chambersville | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Later Than Planned | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Ewing | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Stirring Words | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Time for Music | 75-1 | 75-1 | |
| Greenwich Village | 80-1 | 80-1 | |
| White Tiger | 80-1 | 80-1 | |
| Smarty Hardy | 80-1 | 80-1 | |
| Attfield | 80-1 | 80-1 | |
| Rancho Santa Fe | 80-1 | 80-1 | |
| Bottas | 80-1 | 80-1 | |
| Chip Honcho | 85-1 | 85-1 | |
| Falcon Jet | 85-1 | 85-1 | |
| Proletariat | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| Street Beast | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| Epic Desire | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| My World | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| Very Connected | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| It's Our Time | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| Infiltrate | 90-1 | 90-1 | |
| Strategic Risk | 95-1 | NEW | |
| Mesquite | 95-1 | 95-1 | |
| Smoovin Saturday | 100-1 | 100-1 | |
| Into The Beast | 100-1 | 100-1 | |
| Confessional | 100-1 | 100-1 | |
| Arctic Beast | 100-1 | 100-1 | |
| Crown the Buckeye | 100-1 | 100-1 | |
| Hardtoblame | 100-1 | 100-1 | |
| Sleepingonfreedom | 110-1 | 110-1 | |
| Express Kid | 110-1 | 110-1 | |
| Mister Punch | 125-1 | 125-1 | |
| Max Ciao | 125-1 | 125-1 | |
| Liberty Valance | 125-1 | 125-1 | |
| Cruise Home | 125-1 | 125-1 | |
| Project Ace | 125-1 | 125-1 | |
| Schoolyardsuperman | 125-1 | 125-1 | |
| Exonerate | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Arabia Wild | 150-1 | NEW | |
| Herbs Bolt | 150-1 | NEW | |
| Classico | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Start the Ride | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Horse of the Sea | 150-1 | NEW | |
| Spice Runner | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Versed | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Grittiness | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Nine Ball | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Won for Lou | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Longshoreman | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Stable Hero | 150-1 | 150-1 | |
| Dr. Kapur | 175-1 | 175-1 | |
| Vitruvian Man | 175-1 | 175-1 | |
| Quality Mischief | 175-1 | 175-1 | |
| Maximus Prime | 200-1 | 200-1 | |
| Big Apple Patrick | 200-1 | 200-1 | |
| Kid Charlemagne | 200-1 | 200-1 | |
| Gallivant | 200-1 | 200-1 | |
| Pyromancer | 200-1 | NEW | |
| AP Again | 250-1 | 250-1 | |
| Acknowledgemeplz | 300-1 | 300-1 | |
| JJ Grey | 300-1 | 300-1 | |
| Mr. A.P. | 25-1 | REMOVED |