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Japan-Born Wonder Dean Aims to Break Derby Drought

4/24/2026

Summary

Wonder Dean Derby

Wonder Dean, a Japan-born thoroughbred, will run in the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2.
He aims to end a 12-year drought for non-Bluegrass-State winners and a 43-year drought for horses born abroad.
He becomes the eighth Japanese horse to enter the Run for the Roses.
A victory would make him fifth Derby champion from outside the United States.
SportsLine’s expert Jody Demling lists the UAE Derby winner as a huge longshot.

Summary

Cox Dominates

Brad Cox controls three of the top five Derby contenders, making his barn depth pivotal before the post-position draw.
The post-position draw will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. EDT at Churchill Downs, after which jockey assignments serve as the primary betting signal.
Renegade tops the morning line at 3-1 (Caesars) and 7-2 (Westgate).
Longshot Fulleffort, a Cox trainee, is listed at 15-1 and is a price piece for exotic tickets.

Summary

TwinSpires Promotion

TwinSpires offers a 2026 Kentucky Derby futures-betting promotion with code CBSSPORTS.
Fulleffort posted three wins and two runner-up finishes in his last five starts.
His graded-stakes win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks came on synthetic, a surface also used by Rich Strike before his 2022 Derby win.
SportsLine analyst Jody Demling calls a recent longshot that “demolished the field” a must-back and notes his record of twelve correct Derby-Oaks double picks.

History

Historical Context

The Kentucky Derby, first held in 1875, saw its first international winner in 1983 when Canadian horse Sunny's Halo triumphed. This victory marked a significant shift, as only four non-U.S. horses had won until then. The anticipated entry of Wonder Dean in 2026 underscores the growing global participation in the Derby, reflecting a broader acceptance of international racing talent.

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Wonder Dean Derby

Wonder Dean, a Japan-born thoroughbred, will run in the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2.
He aims to end a 12-year drought for non-Bluegrass-State winners and a 43-year drought for horses born abroad.
He becomes the eighth Japanese horse to enter the Run for the Roses.
A victory would make him fifth Derby champion from outside the United States.
SportsLine’s expert Jody Demling lists the UAE Derby winner as a huge longshot.

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