2026 Kentucky Derby Horses
Race: 152nd Kentucky Derby — Saturday, May 2, 2026
Venue: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
Post Time: 6:57 p.m. ET | TV: NBC & Peacock
Distance: 1¼ Miles (10 Furlongs)
Related: → See: Field Rankings 1st to Last | Expert Picks & Predictions
The post position draw for the 152nd Kentucky Derby took place on April 25, 2026, setting the starting gate for one of the most anticipated Run for the Roses in recent history. With 20 horses confirmed and a full field of elite three-year-olds competing across 1¼ miles at Churchill Downs, bettors and fans are now studying post positions, jockeys, trainers, and morning-line odds. Here is everything you need to know.
Key Race Details: 2026 Kentucky Derby
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Race Name | 152nd Kentucky Derby (Run for the Roses) |
| Date | Saturday, May 2, 2026 |
| Post Time | 6:57 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Distance | 1¼ Miles (10 furlongs) |
| TV Coverage | NBC & Peacock (noon ET day coverage begins) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Field Size | 20 horses (maximum cap) |
| Morning-Line Favorite | Renegade (4-1), Post 1 — Trainer: Todd Pletcher |
About Post Positions: What the Numbers Mean
The starting gate assignment can significantly influence race strategy and outcome. Churchill Downs has 20 gates, and historical data shows middle posts have generally performed best. Post 5 has produced the most Kentucky Derby winners in history (10), followed by Post 10 with nine winners. The inside rail (Post 1) has not produced a winner since 1986 — a fact especially relevant given morning-line favorite Renegade drew Post 1.
Jockeys with horses in the middle of the field tend to have more positioning options and easier paths through traffic. Outside posts require wider trips around the first turn but can provide cleaner runs for closers.
Complete 2026 Kentucky Derby Field: Post Positions, Horses, Jockeys, Trainers & Odds
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | 4-1 | Repole/Low |
| 2 | Albus | Manny Franco | Riley Mott | 30-1 | Pin Oak Stud |
| 3 | Intrepido | Hector Berrios | Jeff Mullins | 50-1 | Dutch Girl Holdings |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 30-1 | SF Racing et al. |
| 5 | Right to Party | Chris Elliott | Kenny McPeek | 30-1 | McPeek Racing |
| 6 | Commandment | Luis Saez | Brad Cox | 6-1 | Wathnan Racing |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon (JPN) | Atsuya Nishimura | Yoshito Yahagi | 20-1 | Danox Co. |
| 8 | So Happy | Mike Smith | Mark Glatt | 15-1 | Norman Stables |
| 9 | The Puma | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | 10-1 | OGMA Investments |
| 10 | Wonder Dean (JPN) | Ryusei Sakai | Daisuke Takayanagi | 30-1 | Y. Yamamoto |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Jaime Torres | Riley Mott | 20-1 | Pin Oak Stud |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott | 8-1 | M & K Ball |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | Cristian Torres | Mark Casse | 20-1 | John Oxley |
| 14 | Potente | Juan Hernandez | Bob Baffert | 20-1 | Speedway Stables |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown | 15-1 | Klaravich Stables |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Edwin Maldonado | Doug O’Neill | 30-1 | Reddam Racing |
| 17 | Six Speed | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Bhupat Seemar | 50-1 | Brunetti/Black Type |
| 18 | Further Ado | John Velazquez | Brad Cox | 6-1 | Spendthrift Farm |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | Cherie Devaux | 30-1 | Phipps/St. Elias |
| 20 | Fulleffort | Tyler Gaffalione | Brad Cox | 20-1 | St. Elias/Starlight |
Trainer Breakdown: Power Players in the 2026 Derby
Brad Cox is the dominant trainer presence in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field, saddling three horses: Commandment (Post 6, 6-1), Further Ado (Post 18, 6-1), and Fulleffort (Post 20, 20-1). Cox holds the record for most Kentucky Derby prep points earned in 2026 across his stable. Commandment leads all horses with 150 Road to the Kentucky Derby points, with Further Ado second at 135.
Hall of Famer Bill Mott trains Chief Wallabee (Post 12, 8-1), winner of last year’s Run for the Roses with Sovereignty under the same Junior Alvarado-Bill Mott pairing. His son Riley Mott trains Albus and Incredibolt, making this a notable family affair at Churchill Downs — three Mott-trained horses in the field.
Todd Pletcher — a two-time Derby winner with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017) — saddles the morning-line favorite Renegade. Bob Baffert, seeking a record-breaking seventh Derby victory, fields Potente and Litmus Test.
Jockey Spotlight: Elite Riders in the 2026 Field
| Jockey | Horse (Post) | Odds | Derby History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irad Ortiz Jr. | Renegade (1) | 4-1 | Chose this horse over Commandment & Further Ado |
| John Velazquez | Further Ado (18) | 6-1 | 3-time Derby champion — most in active field |
| Javier Castellano | The Puma (9) | 10-1 | Won 2023 Derby with Mage; won 2023 Belmont |
| Junior Alvarado | Chief Wallabee (12) | 8-1 | Won 2025 Derby with Sovereignty for Bill Mott |
| Luis Saez | Commandment (6) | 6-1 | 2 Kentucky Oaks wins; 0 Derby top-2 in 12 starts |
| Mike Smith | So Happy (8) | 15-1 | 2-time Derby champion; Hall of Famer |
| Flavien Prat | Emerging Market (15) | 15-1 | Top Chad Brown jockey; won 2021 Belmont |
International Horses in the 2026 Derby
Two Japanese-trained horses add international intrigue to the 2026 field. Wonder Dean (Post 10, 30-1), owned by Yoshinari Yamamoto and trained by Daisuke Takayanagi, will be ridden by Japanese jockey Ryusei Sakai. Danon Bourbon (Post 7, 20-1), conditioned by Yoshito Yahagi, is another Japan-based starter. Both face significant challenges acclimating to Churchill Downs and the American dirt track surface.
Post Position Historical Context
Since 1900, Post 5 has produced 10 Kentucky Derby winners — more than any other gate. Posts 1 (no winner since 1986) and 6 (second-lowest win rate among the 20 posts) are historically among the most disadvantaged starting positions. Notably, both the morning-line favorite Renegade (Post 1) and co-second choice Commandment (Post 6) drew two of the least historically successful gates in the race.
The 35-day rest trend is another crucial angle: each of the last four Kentucky Derby winners had exactly 35 days between their final prep and Derby Day. Horses that last raced on March 28 — including Renegade and Commandment — match that pattern precisely.
When and Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Coverage of the 152nd Kentucky Derby begins at noon ET on Saturday, May 2 on NBC and Peacock. The race goes off at 6:57 p.m. ET. The companion Kentucky Oaks is being broadcast in primetime for the first time on Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, featuring favored Zany from Post 2.
→ Read Next: Kentucky Derby 2026 — Ranking the Full Field 1st to Last → Read Next: Expert Who Hit 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles Unveils 2026 Kentucky Derby Picks → Read Next: Surprising Expert Predictions, Odds & Post Positions for 2026 Kentucky Derby
