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The anticipation is building for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, slated for Saturday, May 2, at the historic Churchill Downs. Scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET, this year’s Derby will mark the 152nd running of the celebrated “Run for the Roses.” The field includes 20 horses, with two alternates ready to step in should any withdrawals occur during the week. Renegade, under the guidance of veteran trainer Todd A. Pletcher, is currently the frontrunner with 4-1 odds.
Close behind Renegade in the betting stakes are Further Ado and Commandment, each with 6-1 odds. Other notable contenders include Chief Wallabee at 8-1, The Puma at 10-1, and both So Happy and Emerging Market at 15-1. Before placing any bets on the 2026 Kentucky Derby, consider checking out the predictions from SportsLine’s esteemed horse racing authority, Jody Demling.
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Jody Demling is a well-respected figure in horse racing circles, known for his insightful analysis and betting expertise. Over the past 17 years, Demling has successfully predicted the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times. In 2025, he astutely forecasted the top three Derby finishers in the exact order, securing a $1,682 superfecta win, and followed up by correctly predicting the Preakness exacta. Those who have heeded Demling’s advice on various horse racing betting platforms have reaped significant rewards.
As the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaches, with futures odds available on the board, Demling is ready to unveil his betting insights and predictions at SportsLine. To access his expert picks, head over to their website.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions, expert analysis
In a surprising twist, Demling is advising against backing Renegade, despite being the morning-line favorite at 4-1. He predicts that Renegade might struggle to even break into the top 10 on race day.
Renegade comes to Churchill Downs off wins at the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes. He drew the challenging inside rail position, however, and 1986 was the last time a horse won the Kentucky Derby breaking from Post No. 1. The favorite also hasn’t won the Kentucky Derby since 2018, so Demling sees too much working against Renegade this year. See who to back at SportsLine.
Demling also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby prediction for Commandment, who is the half-brother of Renegade and is listed at 6-1 in the Kentucky Derby odds. Commandment comes to Churchill Downs on a four-race winning streak, including winning back-to-back graded-stakes races: the Florida Derby and the Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Florida Derby has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other prep race, but it’s been nearly a decade since the most recent one, so that’s a trend to keep in mind when betting on Commandment. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest FanDuel Racing promo, which lets users bet $5 and get $25 in bonuses:
Demling has also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for Further Ado (6-1), who won at Churchill Downs late in his 2-year-old season. Following his fifth-place finish in his initial dirt-fast MSW race, he has not finished lower than third, that coming in August. Since October, Further Ado has registered three wins and one second-place finish. He is coming off a first-place finish at the 2026 Blue Grass at Keeneland earlier this month.
He had placed second behind The Puma, who enters the Derby at 10-1, at the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby. Further Ado is trained by Brad H. Cox, who has one Kentucky Derby winner in his career. That came in 2021 when Mandaloun was elevated to the victory after Medina Spirit was disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby bets at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is also high on a longshot who “demolished the field” in his last start. Anyone who backs this colt could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.
