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Renegade Favored as “The Puma” Long-Shot Gains Backing

5/2/2026

Summary

Renegade Leads Derby

The 2026 Kentucky Derby runs Saturday, May 2, at Churchill Downs, starting at 6:57 p.m. ET.
Renegade (Todd A. Pletcher) opens as the 4-1 favorite, but analyst Jody Demling backs The Puma (10-1) and a long-shot, noting the inside post hasn’t won in 40 years and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is 0-for-9.
Only three Arkansas Derby winners have ever captured the Kentucky Derby, most recently American Pharoah in 2015.

Summary

TwinSpires Bonus

TwinSpires offers a $400 signup bonus with code CBSSPORTS for 2026 Kentucky Derby bettors.
Analyst Michelle Yu will post her Kentucky Derby picks on SportsLine after an Arkansas Derby trifecta.
Handicappers Jeff Hochman doubts Commandment’s stamina for the Derby distance and backs The Puma with jockey Javier Castellano.
Trainer Brad Cox’s only prior Derby win was in 2021 when Mandaloun was declared winner after trainer Bob Baffert’s Medina Spirit was disqualified.

Summary

Danon Bourbon Sells

Danon Bourbon, a 20-1 longshot, sold for $450,000 in April 2024 and has recorded three wins by margins of 10, 5 and 3.5 lengths.
No horse from Japan has ever won the Derby, though Forever Young finished a close second two years ago.
Chief Wallabee will wear blinkers in the Derby to sharpen his focus, while former Sports Illustrated handicapper Gene Menez backs him.

Summary

Derby Embraces Pastels

The Derby’s signature look now features pastel colors, floral prints, and extravagant hats favored by attendees.
The tradition began in 1875 when Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. mandated full morning dress for guests.
Since then the dress code has shifted from strict formalities to creative, festive individuality.
Only 20 horses may start, with standby runners if a qualifier withdraws, while points from U.S. and international prep races decide gate spots.

History

Historical Context

In 1913 Donerail captured the Kentucky Derby, startling a public accustomed to rapid change. That surprise mirrored the year’s broader transformations, including the Ford Motor Company’s moving assembly line that cut chassis build time from 12½ to 2 hours 40 minutes, the Revenue Act lowering tariffs from 40% to 25%, and the Great Lakes Storm that killed more than 250 people.

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Renegade Leads Derby

The 2026 Kentucky Derby runs Saturday, May 2, at Churchill Downs, starting at 6:57 p.m. ET.
Renegade (Todd A. Pletcher) opens as the 4-1 favorite, but analyst Jody Demling backs The Puma (10-1) and a long-shot, noting the inside post hasn’t won in 40 years and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is 0-for-9.
Only three Arkansas Derby winners have ever captured the Kentucky Derby, most recently American Pharoah in 2015.

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