The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
Betting favorite Renegade drew the No. 1 post for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby and will attempt to do what no horse has done for 40 years: win the “Run for the Roses” from the rail position. Ferdinand was the last Derby entrant to accomplish the feat when he won the 1986 race with Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker in the saddle.
The Puma, who was in the No. 9 post position, was a late scratch Saturday due to swelling in his leg from a skin infection, but won’t have a replacement since the scratch deadline was Friday. Right to Party was scratched Friday, and Fulleffort, formerly No. 20 at 20-1, was scratched Thursday, and Ocelli is now in the field. Silent Tactic, formerly No. 13 at 20-1, scratched Wednesday due to a bruised foot, and Great White has joined the field at 50-1.
Updated Post Positions for the 152nd Kentucky Derby pic.twitter.com/Sb9IsfAo2w
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 2, 2026
Commandment in the No. 6 post and Further Ado in the No. 18 spot are the second and third choice among bettors, both at 6-1. No. 12 Chief Wallabee is at 8-1.
A few long shots are No. 3 Intrepido, No. 4 Litmus Test and No. 17 Six Speed, all at 50-1.
Two-time Triple Crown champion trainer Bob Baffert has a pair of chances to claim his seventh Derby title. No. 14 Potente is at 20-1. If either horse wins, Baffert will break a tie with Ben Jones and stand alone as the winningest trainer in Derby history. Last year’s race ended in a chaotic finish with Sovereignty, breaking from post 16, collaring heavily favored Journalism to pull out a win in the tight race.
Other horses in the field: No. 2 Albus (30-1), No. 7 Danon Bourbon (20-1), No. 8 So Happy (15-1), No. 10 Wonder Dean (30-1), No. 11 Incredibolt (20-1), No. 15 Emerging Market (15-1), No. 16 Pavlovian (30-1) and No. 19 Golden Tempo (30-1).
Post time for Saturday’s race is 6:57 p.m. ET. NBC’s broadcast from Churchill Downs will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.
