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Renegade Draws Post 1 for 2026 Derby Championship

4/28/2026

Summary

Renegade Draws Post 1

Renegade, Todd Pletcher’s horse with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., will draw post 1 for the May 2, 2026 Derby at Churchill Downs.
No horse has won from post 1 since Ferdinand in 1986, and no favorite has won since 2018.
Commandment (Brad Cox trainer, Luis Saez jockey) and Further Ado (Brad Cox trainer, John Velazquez jockey) are 6-1.
NBC and Peacock will air the Derby, with pre-race coverage at 2:30 p.m. ET and the race at 6:57 p.m. ET.

Summary

Baffert Targets

Intrepido’s 44.76-second four-furlong workout set work, while Potente’s 57.77-second five-furlong effort set a Derby record; no horse with a 47.6-second workout has ever won the Derby (0/18).
Trainer Bob Baffert, banned after Medina Spirit’s disqualification, targets a win with Potente and Litmus Test.
Trainer Mark Glatt entered the Derby after his wife Dena died, while 60-year-old jockey Mike Smith will ride So Happy from post 8, to become the Derby winner.

History

Historical Context

In 1986 Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby from post 1, a rarity highlighted by the 123,819 spectators that day. The inside-gate triumph set a benchmark that modern trainers still chase. Today, Bob Baffert aims to rebound after Medina Spirit’s 2021 disqualification, while Irad Ortiz Jr. draws post 1, echoing Ferdinand’s historic win for the sport.

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Renegade Draws Post 1

Renegade, Todd Pletcher’s horse with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., will draw post 1 for the May 2, 2026 Derby at Churchill Downs.
No horse has won from post 1 since Ferdinand in 1986, and no favorite has won since 2018.
Commandment (Brad Cox trainer, Luis Saez jockey) and Further Ado (Brad Cox trainer, John Velazquez jockey) are 6-1.
NBC and Peacock will air the Derby, with pre-race coverage at 2:30 p.m. ET and the race at 6:57 p.m. ET.

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