Arkansas Derby winner Renegade is the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds favorite following jockey Irad Ortiz Jr's decision to ride him in the "Run for the Roses."
Close behind Renegade are Florida Derby winner Commandment, and Blue Grass Stakes victor Further Ado.
Let's dig into the latest Kentucky Derby odds today at our top Kentucky Derby betting sites, with the 152nd rendition of America's most famous horse race set for Saturday, May 2.
🏇 2026 Kentucky Derby odds
| Name |  |
My Take |
|---|---|---|
| Renegade | +350 | AR Derby win was well-rated. |
| Commandment | +550 | Game wnr of FL Derby. |
| Further Ado | +600 | Dominated Blue Grass S. |
| The Puma | +1200 | TB Derby wnr, solid 2nd in FL Derby. |
| Chief Wallabee | +1400 | Close losses in FoY & FL Derby. |
| Emerging Market | +1400 | Won LA Derby in only 2nd start. |
| So Happy | +1600 | Turned tables on Potente in SA Derby. |
| Danon Bourbon | +2000 | 3-for-3, Fukuryu S. victor. |
| Potente | +2000 | San Felipe wnr, 2nd in SA Derby. |
| Silent Tactic | +2000 | Suffered 3rd runner-up of '26 in AR Derby. |
| Fulleffort | +2500 | Can Jeff Ruby wnr take to dirt? |
| Incredibolt | +2500 | Took VA Derby after Holy Bull S. flop. |
| Albus | +3300 | Wnr of slow Wood Memorial. |
| Wonder Dean | +3300 | Another JPN wnr in UAE Derby. |
| Iron Honor | +3300 | Gotham wnr empty in Wood Memorial. |
| Nearly | +3300 | 3-race win streak stopped in FL Derby. |
| Golden Tempo | +3300 | 3rd in last two FG preps. |
| Pavlovian | +3300 | Sunland Derby wnr, 2nd in LA Derby. |
| Chip Honcho | +5000 | Gun Runner S. wnr 0-for-3 in '26. |
| Right to Party | +5000 | ITM in Gotham & Wood Memorial. |
Kentucky Derby odds updated on 4-15.
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🌹 Kentucky Derby favorites
Renegade (+350)
Renegade lost each of his first three starts as a two-year-old, but his sophomore season has started fast with a win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, followed by a sharp score in the Arkansas Derby.
The sire is Into Mischief, not a respected distance influence, but that didn't seem to bother 2025 Kentucky Derby champ Sovereignty.
Some Kentucky Derby riding assignments finalized
— David Grening (@DRFGrening) April 8, 2026
Renegade -- Irad Ortiz Jr.
Commandment -- Luis Saez
Further Ado -- John Velazquez
Commandment (+550)
Brad Cox is looking to cross the finish line first at the Kentucky Derby with Commandment, a winner of four straight races.
The pedigree doesn't scream distance, yet the Florida Derby winner just seems to keep improving as the races get longer.
Further Ado (+600)
Further Ado had a memorable two-year-old season, breaking his maiden by 20 lengths at Keeneland before returning to take the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. He was laid up until the Tampa Bay Derby, where he ran second to The Puma, who returned to be a solid second in the Florida Derby.
Further Ado aced the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland by 11 lengths when last seen, giving Cox a solid one-two punch for the Derby along with Commandment.
Kentucky Derby odds biggest movers
Renegade went from +500 to +350 shortly the announcement that Irad Ortiz Jr. would ride him. The five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey had his choice of Renegade and Further Ado but went with the former.
Further Ado was a relative outsider at +2000 prior to his Blue Grass Stakes win. That blowout victory saw him tumble to +500, but the Ortiz Jr. news brought him back up a point.
Kentucky Derby prediction: Danon Bourbon (+2000)
Danon Bourbon is Japan's best chance to score its elusive first Kentucky Derby victory.
The speedy son of Maxfield is a perfect 3-for-3 lifetime, highlighted by a convincing win in the Fukuryu Stakes.
Danon Bourbon posted the fastest winning time in this key Derby prep in over 20 years.
Kentucky Derby odds over time
Who won the Kentucky Derby, and what were the odds?
Although the Kentucky Derby favorite dominated at Churchill Downs from 2013 to 2018, Country House won the Run for the Roses in 2019 as the second-biggest underdog in Derby history at 65/1. Just three years later, Rich Strike surpassed Country House when he won the "Run for the Roses" at 80/1.
Here are the winners of the Kentucky Derby since 2000, their post positions, and their final odds.
| Year | Kentucky Derby Winner | Post Position | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sovereignty | 16 | 7/1 |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | 3 | 18/1 |
| 2023 | Mage | 8 | 14/1 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | 20 | 80/1 |
| 2021 | Medina Spirit | 8 | 12/1 |
| 2020 | Authentic | 18 | 8/1 |
| 2019 | Country House | 20 | 65/1 |
| 2018 | Justify | 7 | 5/2 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | 5 | 9/2 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | 13 | 2/1 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 18 | 5/2 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | 5 | 5/2 |
| 2013 | Orb | 16 | 5/1 |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | 19 | 15/1 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | 16 | 20/1 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | 4 | 8/1 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | 8 | 50/1 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | 20 | 7/2 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | 7 | 9/2 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | 3 | 6/1 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | 10 | 50/1 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 13 | 4/1 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | 5 | 13/1 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | 5 | 41/2 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | 16 | 21/2 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | 15 | 9/5 |
Kentucky Derby trends
- Since 1995, 85% of Kentucky Derby winners finished in the Top 2 in their final prep race.
- Since 1956, only two Kentucky Derby winners (Animal Kingdom in 2011 and Authentic in 2020, the latter of which was delayed due to COVID-19) won the race off a layoff of six weeks or more.
- No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby from the No. 17 post position.
Kentucky Derby FAQs
When is the Kentucky Derby?
The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be run at approximately 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Where is the Kentucky Derby held?
The Kentucky Derby has been held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY every year since its inception in 1875.
Who is the Kentucky Derby favorite?
Arkansas Derby winner Renegade is the +350 betting favorite in the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
How often does the betting favorite win the Kentucky Derby?
The favorite has won the Kentucky Derby 40 of the last 117 times since pari-mutuel wagering was introduced in 1908, good for a 34.2% clip. The favorite has placed in the Top 3 74 times in that span for an "in-the-money" success rate of 63.3%.
What are the best bets to make in the Kentucky Derby?
The best bet to make in the Kentucky Derby will depend on how risky you want to be. You can play it safe and bet a single horse to win, place (finish first or second), or show (finish first, second, or third), or you can play "exotic" wagers like the exacta (Top 2 finishers in exact order), trifecta (Top 3 in exact order), or superfecta (Top 4 in exact order). The more difficult a wager is to hit, the more it will pay off.
