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2026 Kentucky Derby: Renegade Favored, Mott Seeks Repeat

4/30/2026

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Summary

Renegade Opens

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 2 at 6:57 p.m. ET.
Renegade opens from post 1 as the 4-1 favorite under trainer Todd Pletcher.
Bill Mott aims for back-to-back Derby wins with Chief Wallabee after his 2025 victory.
Chad Brown fields Emerging Market at 15-1 after the horse won the Louisiana Derby.
Silent Tactic (20-1) was scratched, allowing Great White (50-1) to join the field.

Summary

Yu Backs Puma

Yu drops Commandment 6-1 odds because it runs slower in races and jockey Luis Saez has no Derby win.
Yu backs The Puma, a 10-1 longshot from post 9 after it posted consistent top-three finishes.
The Puma is trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by Javier Castellano, the 2023 Derby winner on Mage.
The Puma’s sire Essential Quality placed third in the Derby and won the 2021 Belmont.

History

Historical Context

The Kentucky Derby began in 1875 after Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. modeled Churchill Downs on England’s Epsom Derby, establishing America’s oldest continuously run major sporting event. Secretariat’s 1973 record-breaking 1:59.4 finish, still the fastest Derby time, reinforced the race’s prestige and set a benchmark that modern contenders like Todd Pletcher’s Renegade (post-one in 2026) aim to match.

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Renegade Opens

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 2 at 6:57 p.m. ET.
Renegade opens from post 1 as the 4-1 favorite under trainer Todd Pletcher.
Bill Mott aims for back-to-back Derby wins with Chief Wallabee after his 2025 victory.
Chad Brown fields Emerging Market at 15-1 after the horse won the Louisiana Derby.
Silent Tactic (20-1) was scratched, allowing Great White (50-1) to join the field.

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