The 2026 Kentucky Derby post position draw took place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Churchill Downs. Morning-line favorite Renegade landed in Post 1, the rail, a spot that has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986. The 152nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve runs Saturday, May 2, 2026, at approximately 6:57 PM ET.
Update (May 2, 2026): Three horses have scratched. Silent Tactic was scratched on April 29 with a bruised foot, Fulleffort on April 30 with a chip in his left hind ankle, and Right to Party on May 1 after regulatory veterinarians ruled him out for lameness. All three also-eligibles, Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta, drew into the field.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Quick Facts:
- Race: 152nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 2, 2026, approximately 6:57 PM ET
- Venue: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles on dirt
- Total Purse: $5 million ($3.1 million to winner)
- Field Size: 20 horses
- Morning-Line Favorite: Renegade (4-1, Post 1)
- TV Coverage: NBC and Peacock from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM ET (Peacock undercard from 12:00 PM)
Official 2026 Kentucky Derby Post Positions and Morning Line
| Post | Horse | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | 4-1 |
| 2 | Albus | 30-1 |
| 3 | Intrepido | 50-1 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | 50-1 |
| 5 | Right to Party | Scratched |
| 6 | Commandment | 6-1 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | 20-1 |
| 8 | So Happy | 15-1 |
| 9 | The Puma | 10-1 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | 30-1 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | 20-1 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | 8-1 |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | Scratched |
| 14 | Potente | 20-1 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | 15-1 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | 30-1 |
| 17 | Six Speed | 50-1 |
| 18 | Further Ado | 6-1 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | 30-1 |
| 20 | Fulleffort | Scratched |
| 21 | Great White | 50-1 |
| 22 | Ocelli | 50-1 |
| 23 | Robusta | 50-1 |
The morning line was set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Nick Tammaro, who is making his Kentucky Derby debut following the retirement of Mike Battaglia after 51 years. Final figures at post time on May 2 may differ as more fans evaluate the field through Derby Week. With three horses scratched, actual gate assignments on race day will shift inward at the starting gate, even though program numbers stay the same.
Full Field with Trainers, Jockeys and Owners
| Post | Horse | ML | Trainer | Jockey | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | 4-1 | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Mike Repole, Robert and Lawana Low |
| 2 | Albus | 30-1 | Riley Mott | Manny Franco | Pin Oak Stud |
| 3 | Intrepido | 50-1 | Jeff Mullins | Hector Berrios | Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures |
| 4 | Litmus Test | 50-1 | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners |
| 5 | Right to Party | SCR | Kenny McPeek | (scratched) | Chester Broman |
| 6 | Commandment | 6-1 | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | Wathnan Racing |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon (JPN) | 20-1 | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | Danox Co. |
| 8 | So Happy | 15-1 | Mark Glatt | Mike Smith | Norman Stables and Saints Or Sinners |
| 9 | The Puma | 10-1 | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano | OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing |
| 10 | Wonder Dean (JPN) | 30-1 | Daisuke Takayanagi | Ryusei Sakai | Yoshinari Yamamoto |
| 11 | Incredibolt | 20-1 | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | Pin Oak Stud |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | 8-1 | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | Mike and Katherine Ball |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | SCR | Mark Casse | (scratched) | John Oxley |
| 14 | Potente | 20-1 | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | Speedway Stables |
| 15 | Emerging Market | 15-1 | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | Klaravich Stables |
| 16 | Pavlovian | 30-1 | Doug O’Neill | Edwin Maldonado | Reddam Racing |
| 17 | Six Speed | 50-1 | Bhupat Seemar | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Brunetti Dugan Stables and partners |
| 18 | Further Ado | 6-1 | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | Spendthrift Farm |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | 30-1 | Cherie DeVaux | Jose Ortiz | Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable |
| 20 | Fulleffort | SCR | Brad Cox | (scratched) | St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing |
| 21 | Great White | 50-1 | John Ennis | Alex Achard | Three Chimneys Farm and John Ennis |
| 22 | Ocelli | 50-1 | D. Whitworth Beckman | Tyler Gaffalione | Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, Front Page Equestrian |
| 23 | Robusta | 50-1 | Doug O’Neill | Cristian Torres | Calumet Farm |
Also Check: Kentucky Derby 2026 Results Today
The Top Contenders
Renegade (4-1): Post 1
Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
The morning-line favorite drew the rail on the second pull of the draw. Renegade is unbeaten in 2026, breaking his maiden in the Sam F. Davis Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths and routing the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by four lengths on March 28. His top Equibase speed figure of 107 ties Further Ado for best in the field.
He is a son of Into Mischief out of the Curlin mare Spice Is Nice, giving him exceptional classic stamina. Into Mischief has now sired three Kentucky Derby winners: Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025). Renegade was purchased for $975,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The Post 1 challenge is real. No horse has won the Kentucky Derby from the rail since Ferdinand in 1986, a streak of 40 years. In a 20-horse field, the rail forces severe early traffic risk, and Renegade’s closing style needs a clean trip. A telling endorsement: Irad Ortiz Jr. had his pick of horses at the top of the points leaderboard, including Commandment and Fulleffort, and chose Renegade. It has been eight years since the favorite won the Kentucky Derby, dating back to Justify in 2018.
Further Ado (6-1): Post 18
Trainer: Brad Cox | Jockey: John Velazquez
Further Ado is the co-second choice and drew one of the more favorable outside gates. Nine of the past 15 Kentucky Derby winners have broken from Post 13 or wider. He was the most visually impressive runner of the prep season, crushing the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths after running second by three-quarters of a length to The Puma in the Tampa Bay Derby. He earned a career-best 107 Equibase figure in the Blue Grass.
John Velazquez, a Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Kentucky Derby winner with Animal Kingdom (2011), Always Dreaming (2017), and Authentic (2020), picks up the mount for the first time.
Commandment (6-1): Post 6
Trainer: Brad Cox | Jockey: Luis Saez
The other co-second choice enters on a four-race win streak. He won back-to-back graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, beating Chief Wallabee by a neck in the Fountain of Youth and edging The Puma by a nose in the Florida Derby. Chief Wallabee finished third in the Florida Derby in a tight three-wide finish.
Commandment shares a sire with Renegade, making them paternal half-brothers, both sons of Into Mischief from different dams. Post 6 is one of the more challenging gates by historical numbers, with just two wins in 96 starts since 1930. Sea Hero in 1993 was the last Post 6 winner.
Chief Wallabee (8-1): Post 12
Trainer: Bill Mott | Jockey: Junior Alvarado
The fourth choice on the morning line is trained by Bill Mott, who won the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty under the same jockey. Chief Wallabee did not race as a juvenile, won his debut at Gulfstream Park on January 10, ran second to Commandment in the Fountain of Youth, and finished third in the Florida Derby. He will wear blinkers for the first time in the Derby, and has become a “wise guy” horse around Churchill Downs as Derby Week has progressed. A win would make Bill Mott the seventh trainer to win consecutive Derbies, the first since Bob Baffert with Silver Charm (1997) and Real Quiet (1998).
The Puma (10-1): Post 9
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado | Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer Gustavo Delgado won the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage at 15-1, and Javier Castellano was aboard for that victory, giving this team a winning blueprint at Churchill Downs. The Puma won the Tampa Bay Derby and finished second by a nose to Commandment in the Florida Derby. He has finished in the top three in all four of his races this year, and live betting through Derby Week briefly had him as a co-favorite with Renegade.
So Happy (15-1): Post 8
Trainer: Mark Glatt | Jockey: Mike Smith
So Happy carries one of the most compelling storylines in the field. Jockey Mike Smith, who won the Triple Crown aboard Justify in 2018 and the 2005 Derby with Giacomo, is 62 years old. A win on May 2 would make him the oldest rider ever to win the Kentucky Derby, surpassing Bill Shoemaker, who was 52 when he won on Ferdinand in 1986. Trainer Mark Glatt is saddling his first Kentucky Derby starter weeks after the passing of his wife Dena at age 57.
So Happy comes in off a 2 3/4-length victory in the Santa Anita Derby with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, putting him in the same class as Renegade and Commandment by the numbers. He is a son of champion sprinter Runhappy, which raises stamina questions for the 1 1/4-mile distance, but his late kick at Santa Anita was the most impressive of any prep performance.
The Scratches: Silent Tactic, Fulleffort, and Right to Party
Silent Tactic (Post 13, scratched April 29) was withdrawn with a bruised foot. Trainer Mark Casse said the colt could potentially target the Preakness Stakes on May 16 with proper rest. He had won the Southwest Stakes (G3) and finished second in three other Oaklawn preps.
Fulleffort (Post 20, scratched April 30) had a chip in his left hind ankle revealed on x-rays. The Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner had earned 110 qualifying points and was set to break under Tyler Gaffalione at 20-1.
Right to Party (Post 5, scratched May 1) was ruled out by Kentucky regulatory veterinarians for lameness in his right front leg. Trainer Kenny McPeek told Paulick Report that x-rays showed no structural issues, but a Positron Emission Tomography scan and follow-up report led to the regulatory decision. The Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up was the third horse to scratch in three days.
The triple scratch leaves Brad Cox with two starters (Commandment and Further Ado) and gives Doug O’Neill two starters (Pavlovian and Robusta).
The Drawing-In Trio
- Great White (Post 21, 50-1): Trained by John Ennis, ridden by Alex Achard. The largest horse in the field at 17.2 hands and over 1,300 pounds.
- Ocelli (Post 22, 50-1): Trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Enters as a maiden at 0-for-6 lifetime. If he wins, he would be the first maiden to capture the Kentucky Derby since Brokers Tip in 1933, ending a 93-year drought. Only three horses in Derby history have scored their first career win in the race itself: Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919), and Brokers Tip (1933). Beckman is a former assistant to Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.
- Robusta (Post 23, 50-1): Calumet Farm homebred trained by Doug O’Neill, ridden by Cristian Torres (who lost his Silent Tactic mount). Robusta nearly won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 67-1, falling a head short to Potente.
Trainer and Family Storylines
Bob Baffert saddles Litmus Test (Post 4, 50-1) and Potente (Post 14, 20-1). Baffert is tied with Ben Jones for the all-time record with six Kentucky Derby wins and would set the new mark with a victory. Potente, a $2.4 million Fasig-Tipton purchase, won the San Felipe Stakes and finished second to So Happy in the Santa Anita Derby. Like Renegade and Commandment, Potente is a son of Into Mischief, giving the same sire three live contenders in the field.
The Mott family makes Derby history. For the first time since 1964, a father and son will each saddle Kentucky Derby contenders. Bill Mott points Chief Wallabee at Post 12, while son Riley Mott has two horses in the field for Pin Oak Stud: Albus (Post 2, 30-1), the Wood Memorial winner, and Incredibolt (Post 11, 20-1), the Virginia Derby winner. The only previous father-son pairing was Red and Bobby Wingfield in 1964. Neither won. Dandy K (Red) finished eighth, Wil Rad (Bobby) finished tenth.
Doug O’Neill has two starters after Robusta drew in. He won the Kentucky Derby with I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016, both for owner Paul Reddam. Reddam’s homebred Pavlovian (Post 16, 30-1) was second in the Louisiana Derby (G2).
International Runners
Three horses qualified through international routes:
- Danon Bourbon (Post 7, 20-1) is unbeaten in three career starts in Japan, including the Fukuryu Stakes. He is a Kentucky-bred son of Maxfield, who is by 2007 Derby champion Street Sense.
- Wonder Dean (Post 10, 30-1) is a son of Japanese turf champion Dee Majesty. He won the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan on March 28, beating fellow 2026 Derby entrant Six Speed by 2 1/2 lengths.
- Six Speed (Post 17, 50-1) won the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas and was second in the UAE Derby. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. won the 2024 Kentucky Derby on Mystik Dan.
Post Position History and 2026 Field Analysis
Since the starting gate was introduced in 1930, Post 5 has produced the most Kentucky Derby winners with 10, most recently Always Dreaming in 2017. Posts 8 and 10 are tied for second with 9 winners each (Mage in 2023 and Giacomo in 2005). Post 5 is empty in 2026 after Right to Party’s scratch.
| Post | Total Wins | Last Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 | Always Dreaming (2017) |
| 8 | 9 | Mage (2023) |
| 10 | 9 | Giacomo (2005) |
| 1 | 8 | Ferdinand (1986) |
| 2 | 7 | Affirmed (1978) |
| 7 | 7 | Mandaloun (2021) |
| 15 | 6 | Authentic (2020) |
| 3 | 5 | Mystik Dan (2024) |
| 16 | 5 | Sovereignty (2025) |
| 6 | 2 | Sea Hero (1993) |
| 17 | 0 | Never won |
Outside posts have shown strong trends since 2000, with more than half of Derby winners breaking from Post 13 or wider. Post 17, however, has never produced a winner in 46 starts, and Six Speed (50-1) draws that gate in 2026. Posts 5, 13, and 20 are empty after the three scratches.
Each path off the rail adds approximately 25 feet of extra running distance per turn. A horse racing six paths wide on both turns covers about 150 feet more than the rail horse over the 1 1/4-mile race.
2026 Kentucky Derby Post Positions FAQ
Who is the morning-line favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Renegade is the 4-1 morning-line favorite from Post 1. Further Ado and Commandment are the co-second choices at 6-1, both trained by Brad Cox. Chief Wallabee is the fourth choice at 8-1, followed by The Puma at 10-1.
Which horses have been scratched from the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Three horses scratched. Silent Tactic (Post 13) was scratched on April 29 with a bruised foot. Fulleffort (Post 20) was scratched on April 30 with a chip in his left hind ankle. Right to Party (Post 5) was scratched on May 1 by regulatory veterinarians for lameness. Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta drew into the field at Posts 21, 22, and 23.
Has Post 1 ever won the Kentucky Derby?
Yes, eight times since the starting gate was introduced in 1930. The last Post 1 winner was Ferdinand in 1986, ending a 40-year streak.
What post position has never won the Kentucky Derby?
Post 17. In 46 starts since 1930, no horse has won from that gate. Six Speed (50-1) drew Post 17 in 2026.
Can a maiden win the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Ocelli enters as a maiden at 0-for-6 lifetime. The last maiden to win the Kentucky Derby was Brokers Tip in 1933, more than 90 years ago. Only three horses in Derby history have scored their first career win in the race itself.
What is the 2026 Kentucky Derby purse?
The total purse is $5 million. The winner receives $3.1 million, second $1 million, third $500,000, fourth $250,000, and fifth $150,000.
Can the favorite end the Kentucky Derby drought?
The Kentucky Derby has not been won by the morning-line favorite since Justify in 2018, an eight-year stretch. Renegade carries that historical weight into Post 1 on May 2.
