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The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby arrives with an unusual level of uncertainty. There is no clear favorite, no frontrunner this time around. On Satrday, one of the top horses to watch for - The Puma - was scratched from the race, leaving the field to 19 horses.
Churchill Downs officials announced The Puma was out because of a swollen leg from a skin infection. He was ruled out less than 12 hours before the 6:57 PM EDT post time, past the deadline for Corona de Oro to draw into the field off the also-eligible list.
While Renegade opened as the 4-1 morning-line favorite, horses like Commandment, Further Ado and Chief Wallabee remain firmly in the conversation heading into post time. Multiple trainers and analysts believe as many as half the field could realistically win under the right conditions.
“There’s a lot of different ways you could go if you were handicapping this race,” trainer Chad Brown said. “You could really make an argument at this point for maybe half the horses in the field if they ran their very, very best race and had a good trip that could win this race.”
Despite entering as the early favorite, Renegade drew the dreaded No. 1 post position - a spot that has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986. Trainer Todd Pletcher acknowledged the challenge after reviewing previous Derby starts from the rail position.
"It’s not the one we would have chosen," Pletcher said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s what we got and we’ll do the best we can with it."
Trainer Brad Cox originally entered three horses before Fulleffort was scratched because of an ankle issue. Even after the late withdrawal, Cox still has two of the Derby’s strongest contenders in Commandment and Further Ado.
Commandment enters the race riding a four-race winning streak, including a Florida Derby victory, while Further Ado rebounded from a lengthy layoff to capture the Blue Grass Stakes.
“There's a lot of talent, obviously, coming from different regions, whether it’s California, Florida, Louisiana, New York,” Cox said. “I do feel like the horses in Florida were definitely the strongest region this year.”
The field also includes major challengers from across the country, including Potente from trainer Bob Baffert and Oaklawn Park standout Litmus Test.
Meanwhile, Japan again arrives with serious Derby hopes through Danon Bourbon and Wonder Dean, continuing the country’s push for a breakthrough Kentucky Derby victory after recent near-misses.
One of the major talking points surrounding this year’s Derby is the absence of a clear generational horse similar to Triple Crown winners Justify or American Pharoah.
“There’s by no means an American Pharoah in here, at least up to this point, going into the race,” Brown said. “Now, whoever wins this race and goes on, maybe one emerges and turns into one of the best 3-year-olds in the last few years. Who knows?”
Renegade — 4-1
Albus — 30-1
Intrepido — 50-1
Litmus Test — 30-1
Right to Party — 30-1 (SCR)
Commandment — 6-1
Danon Bourbon — 20-1
So Happy — 15-1
The Puma — 10-1 (SCR)
Wonder Dean — 30-1
Incredibolt — 20-1
Chief Wallabee — 8-1
Silent Tactic — 20-1 (SCR)
Potente — 20-1
Emerging Market — 15-1
Pavlovian — 30-1
Six Speed — 50-1
Further Ado — 6-1
Golden Tempo — 30-1
Fulleffort — 20-1 (SCR)
Great White — 50-1
Ocelli — 50-1
Robusta — 50-1
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to run on Saturday, May 2, 2026, with a post time of 6:57 PM ET. The winner will only be announced then.
The winning horse in will collect a massive $3.1 million payout. Meanwhile, the runner-up will still receive a seven-figure reward, taking home $1 million.
The full 2026 Kentucky Derby purse distribution is structured as follows:
First place: $3.1 million
Second place: $1 million
Third place: $500,000
Fourth place: $250,000
Fifth place: $150,000
Beyond the owners, jockeys and trainers also stand to earn substantial payouts depending on where their horse finishes. While riders receive a guaranteed mount fee of at least $500 for participating in the Kentucky Derby, the major earnings come from prize-money splits after the race. Traditionally, winning connections divide the purse with approximately 80% going to the owners, while the trainer and jockey each receive 10%.
(With AP inputs)
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