The 2026 Triple Crown season for horse racing is set to begin with great anticipation on Saturday, May 2. The Kentucky Derby, a prestigious event, will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET. The last horse to achieve the coveted Triple Crown title was Justify in 2018, and since then, the challenge has only grown. Recently, it’s become common for some Derby winners to skip the Preakness Stakes, which is scheduled a mere two weeks after the Derby. This year, Commandment is capturing attention as he arrives at the Derby on an impressive four-race winning streak.
In the current betting odds for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, Commandment stands at 6-1. He trails behind his half-brother Renegade, who is favored at 4-1, and is tied with Further Ado at 6-1. With the 152nd Run for the Roses approaching, which horse will seize victory? Before placing any bets, it’s worth checking out the expert predictions and top betting strategies from Jody Demling, a renowned horse racing analyst at SportsLine.
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Jody Demling is a well-known figure in the horse racing community, with years of experience analyzing, discussing, and betting on races. He has successfully predicted the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times over the past 17 years. Last year, his accurate prediction of the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby secured a $1,682 superfecta, and he also called the exacta in the Preakness. Those who have followed his advice on horse racing betting sites have seen significant returns.
As the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaches, Demling is ready to share his insights and predictions for this year’s race at SportsLine. For those interested in making informed bets, his analysis is available now.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions
In a surprising twist, Demling advises against betting on Renegade, despite being the morning-line favorite at 4-1. Although Renegade has recent victories at the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes, he has previously been defeated twice by Paladin. It took Renegade four races to achieve his first win, and he will start from the inside rail—a position that hasn’t produced a Derby winner since 1986.
“The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Into Mischief doesn’t mind the distance and has the fastest final eighth-mile on the Derby trail,” Demling told SportsLine. “He was my pick, but just too many things going against him in my opinion.” See who to back at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling likes The Puma at 10-1. He’s getting double-digit odds even though he barely lost to Commandment in the Florida Derby. He also won the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 of this year.
Demling calls The Puma “super intriguing” and mentioned that he considered him as an overall win contender. He says he “has a shot to win the roses” and projects that he has a strong chance to hit the board on Saturday. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is also high on a stunning longshot who “could be a freak.” Anyone who backs this sleeper pick 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 stunning 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.
