Now that spring has arrived, the sports betting world is turning its attention to the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The Grade 1 race over the 1 ¼-mile dirt track is open to just 3-year-old horses. The 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Lexington, Ky., will have a field of up to 20 thoroughbreds. Although the 152nd running of the “Run for the Roses” is still over a month away, it’s never too early to analyze 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 include Commandment and Nearly at 12-1, followed closely by Renegade at 13-1. The final 2026 Kentucky Derby futures pool opens April 2 and closes two days later. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the horse racing predictions and futures bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
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A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also predicted the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order and called the exacta in last year’s Preakness. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way 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 surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He is not high on Chief Wallabee at 8-1, saying the co-favorite barely hits the board. The Bill Mott-trained colt has seen his results go in the wrong direction as the races have stretched out. He took second at the Fountain of Youth Stakes in February (1 1/16M) and then settled for third in the Florida Derby (1 1/8M) last weekend.
Chief Wallabee was the favorite entering the Florida Derby, but it was Commandment and The Puma who ended up battling down the stretch on their way to a photo finish, ultimately won by Commandment. Chief Wallabee never showed the extra gear to run them down late, which is concerning with the Kentucky Derby, and the extended distance, right around the corner. See who to back at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Renegade, even though he’s a longshot at 13-1. Trained by Todd A. Pletcher, Renegade enters April on a roll after winning two straight races, including the prestigious Arkansas Derby on Saturday. He also won the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February and took second in 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 told SportsLine. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make Kentucky Derby futures bets TwinSpires here:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is especially high on a massive double-digit longshot who could be the 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 huge double-digit 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.
