Now that spring has arrived, the sports activities betting world is popping its consideration to the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The Grade 1 race over the 1 ¼-mile filth observe is open to simply 3-year-old horses. The 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Lexington, Ky., could have a discipline of as much as 20 thoroughbreds. Although the 152nd working of the “Run for the Roses” remains to be over a month away, it is by no means too early to investigate the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds for the May 2 race.
The early Kentucky Derby co-favorites are Chief Wallabee and Paladin at 8-1. Other Kentucky Derby contenders embrace Commandment and Nearly at 12-1, adopted carefully by Renegade at 13-1. The last 2026 Kentucky Derby futures pool opens April 2 and closes two days later. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, remember to see the horse racing predictions and futures bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
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A fixture within the horse racing world who has been writing about, speaking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 occasions within the final 17 years. He additionally predicted the highest three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers within the right order and known as the exacta in final 12 months’s Preakness. Anyone who has adopted him on horse racing betting sites may very well be approach up.
Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling’s stunning 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He shouldn’t be excessive on Chief Wallabee at 8-1, saying the co-favorite barely hits the board. The Bill Mott-trained colt has seen his outcomes go within the fallacious path because the races have stretched out. He took second on the Fountain of Youth Stakes in February (1 1/16M) after which settled for third within the Florida Derby (1 1/8M) final weekend.
Chief Wallabee was the favourite coming into the Florida Derby, however it was Commandment and The Puma who ended up battling down the stretch on their strategy to a photograph end, in the end gained by Commandment. Chief Wallabee by no means confirmed the additional gear to run them down late, which is regarding with the Kentucky Derby, and the prolonged distance, proper across the nook. (*12*).
Another stunner: Demling is excessive on Renegade, though he is a longshot at 13-1. Trained by Todd A. Pletcher, Renegade enters April on a roll after successful two straight races, together with the distinguished Arkansas Derby on Saturday. He additionally gained the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February and took second within the Ramsen Stakes in January.
“One of several key contenders trained by Todd Pletcher, the Sam F. Davis winner shouldn’t mind as the races get longer,” Demling instructed SportsLine. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you may make Kentucky Derby futures bets TwinSpires here:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is particularly excessive on a large double-digit longshot who may very well be the very best of a “barnful of standouts.” 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 big double-digit longshot is a must-back? Check out the most recent 2026 Kentucky Derby odds under, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.
