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2026 Kentucky Derby Odds: Horses, Favorites, and Post Positions
Looking for betting odds for the 2026 Kentucky Derby? We've got you covered with the latest odds, top favorites, and post positions—all in one place. Whether you're banking on a front-runner or eyeing a longshot, FanDuel makes it easy to stay informed and place your bets with confidence.
2026 Kentucky Derby Morning Line Odds
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The 2026 Kentucky Derby sets the stage for another thriller at Churchill Downs, marking the start of the Triple Crown series. Betting odds matter significantly—they’re more than just numbers; they represent the intense competition among elite 3-year-old thoroughbreds, reflecting each contender’s potential to conquer the immense challenge and secure a place in racing history
Find out if you're in one of the states where you can place your bets and join the excitement!
FanDuel Sportsbook or FanDuel Racing App: AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV or WY
FanDuel Racing App:AR, CA, DE, FL, ID, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD and WA
TUNE IN FOR REAL-TIME ODDS
Odds can shift dramatically right up until post time, making it crucial to track the action live throughout Derby Day. Stay ahead of every move by tuning into FanDuel TV's live, commercial-free racing coverage of Derby Week on both FDTV and FanDuel TV+ from Saturday, 4/25 through Saturday, 5/2. Watch through the FanDuel app or catch our expert on-site team at Churchill Downs providing breaking news, real-time odds updates, expert analysis, and essential handicapping insights all the way to race time.
LEARN MOREHOW KENTUCKY DERBY ODDS WORK
There are many ways to bet on the Kentucky Derby. The simplest wagers are straight bets: win, place, or show. A win bet means your horse must finish first, providing an exciting chance for a big payout, especially if betting on a longshot. A place bet pays if your horse finishes first or second, while a show bet covers finishes in the top three. Each of these bets has a minimum of just $2.
The Kentucky Derby uses a pari-mutuel betting system, meaning all bets are pooled together. After the race, the pool is split among winning bettors based on how much was bet, minus a small percentage for the track. This is why the odds constantly change right up until race time, depending on how bettors wager.
Odds come in three forms:
- Morning Line Odds: These are initial odds set by an expert handicapper to predict betting interest. They’re merely a guide, not the final payout.
- Live Odds: These odds fluctuate continuously as wagers are placed, reflecting real-time betting trends.
- Final Odds: The odds at post time determine your exact payout.
For example, if your horse has odds of 12-1 at post time, a successful $2 win bet would pay $26 ($24 profit plus your original $2 stake).
Beyond straight wagers, there are exotic bets, which involve predicting the outcome for multiple horses or races. Vertical wagers require picking the exact finishing order in a single race:
- Exacta (first two horses): minimum $2 bet (additional combinations cost $1 each)
- Trifecta (first three horses): minimum $0.50 bet
- Superfecta (first four horses) and Super High Five (first five horses): minimum $1 bet
Horizontal Wagers Involve Multiple Races
- Daily Double (winners of two consecutive races): minimum $1 bet
- Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 (winners of 3, 4, or 5 consecutive races): minimum $0.50 bet
- Pick 6 (winners of 6 consecutive races): minimum $0.20 per combination
CURRENT 2026 KENTUCKY DERBY ODDS AND POST POSITIONS
As we approach the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, official post positions and morning line odds are not yet established. These will be determined during the live draw held one week before the race. In the meantime, bettors closely watch the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) pools and the points leaderboard to gauge which contenders are gaining momentum.
One of the core questions when betting on the Kentucky Derby is whether you're getting the right value for your chosen horse. Odds for the Derby function through a pari-mutuel system, meaning they continuously shift based on public betting activity. If a horse like current leaderboard topper Ted Noffey attracts heavy wagers, his odds will drop. Conversely, as new contenders emerge from the late-winter prep races, you may find "longshot" value in horses with higher potential payouts.
TOP CONTENDERS AND BETTING FAVORITES
You have a full range of options for betting the Kentucky Derby.
The leaderboard reflects the latest action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with points earned through a series of key prep races on a 100-50-25-15-10 points scale (to the top five finishers) in each event. Commandment leads the pack after a dominant win in the Arkansas Derby (150 points), showcasing elite speed and professionalism that make him the horse to beat. Further Ado’s impressive score was boosted by a strong effort in the Louisiana Derby (135 points), while Renegade continues to prove his consistency with a steady series of top finishes (125 points).
So Happy has emerged as a major player with a career-best performance in the Florida Derby (115 points), signaling his readiness for the step up in distance. Fulleffort added a crucial win in the Gotham Stakes to solidify his spot near the top (110 points). Several horses are bunched closely behind—Silent Tactic, Emerging Market, Albus, and Potente—all sitting at 100 points and bringing legitimate credentials into the final month of prep racing.
With the Kentucky Derby just weeks away, Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes and Santa Anita Derby, along with upcoming preps like the Peter Pan Stakes, will be pivotal in shaping the final standings. Horses can still earn valuable points, and a strong performance now can make all the difference in securing a top spot in the starting gate.
As the leaderboard continues to evolve, smart bettors will watch how these contenders handle the pressure, the distance, and each other—because in the Kentucky Derby, momentum at the right time can be everything.
LEADERBOARD
As the Kentucky Derby approaches, the ranking order may change. Stay informed by monitoring the rankings and familiarizing yourself with the top Kentucky Derby contenders.
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| Rank | Horse | Owner | Trainer | Jockey | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commandment | Wathnan Racing (Tameem Binhamad KH H All-Thani) | Brad H. Cox | Prat, Flavien | 150 |
| 2 | Further Ado | Spendthrift Farm LLC (Eric P. Gustavson) | Brad H. Cox | Ortiz Jr., Irad | 135 |
| 3 | Renegade | Robert & Lawana L. Row & Repole Stable (Mike Repole) | Todd A. Pletcher | Ortiz Jr., Irad | 125 |
| 4 | So Happy | Norman Stables LLC (Robbie Norman) & Saints or Sinners (Hans & Ana Maron) | Mark Glatt | Smith, Mike E. | 115 |
| 5 | Fulleffort | St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing | Brad H. Cox | Ortiz Jr., Irad | 110 |
| 6 | The Puma | OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado), JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo et al) & High Step Racing LLC (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira & Todd Perry) | Gustavo Delgado | Castellano, Javier | 106 |
| 7 | Silent Tactic | John C. Oxley | Mark E. Casse | Torres, Cristian A. | 100 |
| 8 | Emerging Market | Klaravich Stables, Inc. | Chad C. Brown | Prat, Flavien | 100 |
| 9 | Albus | Pin Oak Stud (Dana Bernhard) | Riley Mott | Torres, Jaime A. | 100 |
| 10 | Potente | Speedway Stables LLC (Peter Fluor & K.C. Weiner) | Bob Baffert | Hernandez, Juan J. | 100 |
| 11 | Pavlovian | Reddam Racing LLC (J. Paul Reddam) | Doug F. O'Neill | Maldonado, Edwin A. | 70 |
| 12 | Right to Party | Chester Broman Sr. | Kenneth G. McPeek | Elliott, Christopher | 70 |
| 13 | Incredibolt | Pin Oak Stud LLC (Dana Bernhard) | Riley Mott | Torres, Jaime A. | 60 |
| 14 | Golden Tempo | Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola) | Cherie DeVaux | Ortiz, Jose L. | 60 |
| 15 | Ottinho | Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba) | Chad C. Brown | Davis, Dylan | 56 |
| 16 | Class President | WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt), First Go Racing (Preston Trout et al) & CHC Inc. (Kit-Har Ng) | Todd A. Pletcher | Velazquez, John R. | 50 |
| 17 | Stark Contrast | Amerman Racing LLC (Mr. & Mrs. John Amerman) | Michael W. McCarthy | Kimura, Kazushi | 50 |
| 18 | Iron Honor | St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola), William H. Lawrence & Glassman Racing (Cathi Glassman) | Chad C. Brown | Franco, Manuel | 50 |
| 19 | Chief Wallabee | Michael & Katherine G. Ball | William I. Mott | Alvarado, Junior | 50 |
| 20 | Chip Honcho | Leland Ackerley Racing LLC (Lee Ackerley), James Sherwood, Jode Shupe & John Cilia | Steven M. Asmussen | Saez, Luis | 49 |
| 21 | Intrepido | Dutch Girl Holdings LLC (Michele Arthur) & Irving Ventures LLC (Ruben Isla) | Jeff Mullins | Berrios, Hector Isaac | 38 |
| 22 | Universe | 4 G Racing LLC (Brent Gasaway), Gregg Day, Steven Crain & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) | Kenneth G. McPeek | Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph | 38 |
| 23 | Grittiness | Repole Stable (Mike Repole) | Todd A. Pletcher | Maragh, Rajiv | 36 |
| 24 | Talkin | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing (Dean & Patti Reeves), Pine Racing Stables (Mark Pine), Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC (Vito Cucci) & R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill) | Danny Gargan | Rosario, Joel | 35 |
| 25 | Nearly | Centennial Farms (Donald Little) | Todd A. Pletcher | Velazquez, John R. | 35 |
| 26 | Bravaro | Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie S. Brennan, Shining Stables LLC, BAG Racing Stables & Paul Braverman | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | Gonzalez, Edwin | 35 |
| 27 | Litmus Test | SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan | Bob Baffert | Arrieta, Francisco | 34 |
| 28 | Great White | Three Chimneys Farm (Goncalo B. Torrealba) & John Ennis | John Ennis | Achard, Alex | 30 |
| 29 | Napoleon Solo | Gold Square LLC (Al Gold) | Chad Summers | Lopez, Paco | 25 |
| 30 | Ocelli | Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate & Front Page Equestrian LLC (Kevin Page) | D. Whitworth Beckman | Ramos, Joseph D. | 25 |
| 31 | Confessional | Steve Landers Racing, LLC (Steve Landers) | Brad H. Cox | Ortiz Jr., Irad | 15 |
MAJOR PREP RACES THAT SHAPED THE ODDS
Churchill Downs hosts a qualifying series known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby, where horses compete in various races to earn points for Derby eligibility. Points determine entry priority, with the top five finishers in each qualifying race receiving points since the system was expanded in 2023; previously, from 2013 to 2022, only the top four finishers earned points.
These prep races start in September with the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and continue through April. Generally, the races closest to the Kentucky Derby offer significantly more points. Key final preps such as the Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, and Arkansas Derby provide substantial points, effectively ensuring Derby entry for winners and often runners-up. In cases of ties on the points leaderboard, priority for entry into the Kentucky Derby is given to horses with greater earnings from non-restricted stakes races.
| DATE | RACE | TRACK | POINTS | WINNER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2026 | Holy Bull | Gulfstream Park | 20-10-6-4-2 | Nearly |
| February 6, 2026 | Withers | Aqueduct | 20-10-6-4-2 | Talk to Me Jimmy |
| February 6, 2026 | Southwest | Oaklawn Park | 20-10-6-4-2 | Silent Tactic |
| February 7, 2026 | Robert B. Lewis | Santa Anita Park | 20-10-6-4-2 | Plutarch |
| February 7, 2026 | Sam F. Davis | Tampa Bay Downs | 20-10-6-4-2 | Renegade |
| February 14, 2026 | Fasig-Tipton Risen Star | Fair Grounds | 50-25-15-10-5 | Paladin |
| February 15, 2026 | Sunland Derby | Sunland Park | 20-10-6-4-2 | Pavlovian |
| February 21, 2026 | John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park | 20-10-6-4-2 | Great White |
| February 28, 2026 | Fountain of Youth | Gulfstream Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Commandment |
| February 28, 2026 | Gotham | Aqueduct | 50-25-15-10-5 | Iron Honor |
| March 1, 2026 | Rebel | Oaklawn Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Class President |
| March 7, 2026 | ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 | The Puma |
| March 7, 2026 | San Felipe | Santa Anita Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Potente |
| March 14, 2026 | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 | Incredibolt |
| March 21, 2026 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Fulleffort |
| March 21, 2026 | Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | 100-50-25-15-10 | Emerging Market |
| March 28, 2026 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Renegade |
| March 28, 2026 | Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Commandment |
| March 28, 2026 | UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse | 100-60-30-15-10 | WONDER DEAN |
| April 4, 2026 | Blue Grass | Keeneland | 100-50-25-15-10 | Further Ado |
| April 4, 2026 | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | So Happy |
| April 4, 2026 | Wood Memorial | Aqueduct | 100-50-25-15-10 | Albus |
| April 11, 2026 | Lexington | Keeneland | 20-10-6-4-2 | Trendsetter |
FAQ
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE 2026 KENTUCKY DERBY?
The Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 2nd, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
IN WHICH STATES IS HORSE RACING AVAILABLE?
You can bet on horse racing directly through the Sportsbook app in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY.
You can also bet on Horse Racing directly through our FanDuel Racing app in the following states: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VA, WA, WV, WY
WHY CAN'T I ACCESS HORSE RACING IN SPORTSBOOK?
You can bet on horse racing directly through the Sportsbook app in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY.
Horse racing is not currently available via the Sportsbook app in D.C., KS, NC, NJ, TN, VT.
CAN I USE MY DEPOSITS AND WINNINGS FROM SPORTSBOOK TO PLACE BETS ON THE DERBY?
Yes! You can use all of your sportsbook deposits and winnings to place bets on the Derby! We make it easy for you to enjoy play with our integrated wallet.
When is post time for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Post time for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 6:57 P.M. EDT on Saturday, May 2, 2026
How many horses are in the Kentucky Derby?
Up to 20 horses can run in the Kentucky Derby, with priority based on how many points they earn on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Four horses can also enter on the also-eligible list, and they will be allowed to run if a horse scratches from the main field before betting opens on Friday morning, the day before the race.
See the full list of 2026 Kentucky Derby contenders
I won my sports bet or horse racing bet. Where are my winnings?
Horse racing is one of the most exciting and unique sports in betting, from the Kentucky Derby, to the Belmont Stakes, and beyond.
But it can also be a bit complicated sometimes.
FanDuel and all other sports betting providers rely on official statistics and results from the leagues like the NFL or NBA. Horse racing is a little different depending on race course tracks and governing bodies, and it can include post-race inspection, video replay, and much more.
Because of this, it can take a little longer for any winnings to end up in your account following a race compared to other sports. This is called "bet settlement."
We must wait on any official results in case there are no disqualifications or issues with the confirmed outcome of the race.
What kind of bets can I make in the Derby?
You can make the same kinds of bets on the Kentucky Derby that you can on any horse race: straight bets (win, place, show), exotic bets (exacta, trifecta, superfecta, Super High Five), and pick wagers (Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6). In addition, Churchill Downs often offers special wagers that cover the Kentucky Derby, such as a Daily Double between the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.
How do I understand the odds?
Betting on horse races is pari-mutuel: this means the odds are based on how people are betting. If more money is bet on a horse, the price will be shorter; if little money is bet on a horse, then the odds will be higher. Note also that odds on American races like the Kentucky Derby are phrased in terms of the multiple of profit you will get over the money you originally bet. For example, if a horse wins the Kentucky Derby at 5-1 odds, that means the horse will pay $12 to win: $10 worth of winnings, plus your original $2 stake.
Who won the Kentucky Derby in 2025?
The powerhouse Sovereignty picked the perfect moment to shine, surging past the favorites in the final stretch to capture the 2025 Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Journalism and Baeza. The victory gave trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado a career-defining win, while securing a historic weekend double for owner Godolphin, who had won the Kentucky Oaks the previous day with Good Cheer marking the first time a sole owner swept both races since 1952.
Who’s favored to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Favorites for the Kentucky Derby are determined by early odds and betting activity leading up to race day. The top contenders typically come from major prep races like the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, and Blue Grass Stakes. Because odds shift frequently, the favorite can change right up until post time.
Who are the top contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Top contenders are usually horses that performed well in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep races and earned the most qualifying points. Look for strong finishes in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races, consistent form, and experienced trainers or jockeys. Final contenders are confirmed after the official field is set.
How do Kentucky Derby morning line odds work?
Morning line odds for the Kentucky Derby are set by a track handicapper before betting begins. They estimate how the public is expected to bet on each horse, not the final odds. Once wagering opens, odds can change in real time based on how much money is placed on each horse.
What are the best bets for the Kentucky Derby?
The “best” bets depend on your strategy and risk tolerance. Common options include win, place, and show bets for simpler wagers, or exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets for higher payouts. Many bettors look for value horses with strong form that may be overlooked by the public, rather than just betting the favorite.