Kentucky Derby 2026 odds, post positions, picks, date, time: Renegade, Commandment, Further Ado best bets
A double-digit longshot won the Race for the Roses every year from 2021-24, but that trend stopped in 2025 when Sovereignty won at 5-1. Yet he was not the favorite in this race, and the morning betting favorite has only won the first jewel of the Triple Crown 18 times during the race’s existence. That will be Renegade’s challenge in the 2026 Kentucky Derby as he goes 4-1 ahead of Saturday’s 6:57 p.m. ET start time at Churchill Downs.
His half-brother Commandment and Further Ado are close behind at 6-1, with a half-dozen horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby total at 15-1 or lower on the odds board. How to Formulate Your 2026 Kentucky Derby Betting Strategy? Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to check out SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling’s 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions.
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A fixture in the horse racing world who has written, spoken and bet on races for years, Demling has completed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the past 17 years. He also predicted the top three runners-up for the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order and hit a $1,682 supefecta, then managed to nail the exacta in last year’s Preakness. Everyone who followed him horse racing betting sites could be very high.
Now, as the 2026 Kentucky Derby and future horse racing odds approach, Demling shares his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions on SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Best Kentucky Derby 2026 Predictions, Expert Analysis
One of Demling’s surprising picks for the 2026 Kentucky Derby: He completely obliterates Renegade, the morning line favorite at 4-1. In fact, Demling says Renegade will barely finish in the top 10 on Saturday. Renegade comes to Churchill Downs after winning the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes. However, he drew the difficult inside rail position and 1986 was the last time a horse won the Kentucky Derby coming off the #1 post. The favorite also hasn’t won the Kentucky Derby since 2018, so Demling sees too much work against Renegade this year. Find out who to support on SportsLine.
Demling also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby prediction for Commandment, who is a half-brother to Renegade and is listed at 6-1 in Kentucky Derby odds. Commandment comes to Churchill Downs on a four-race winning streak, including back-to-back graded stakes victories: the Florida Derby and the Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Florida Derby has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other prep race, but nearly a decade has passed since the most recent, so that’s a trend to keep in mind when betting on Commandment. Bet on the Kentucky Derby with the latest FanDuel Racing promotion, which allows users to bet $5 and get $25 in bonuses:
Demling also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for Further Ado (6-1). Further Ado was a long shot in the Kentucky Derby futures early this spring, but he has soared after three wins in his last four races, including a victory in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 4. If there is a question about Further Ado, it might involve his level of competition. His victory in the Blue Grass Stakes was not against a loaded field. “Is he really improving that much?” Demling told SportsLine. “Hard to say, so I can’t put him out there.” Find out what other horses to support on SportsLine, and you can Place bets on the 2026 Kentucky Derby at TwinSpires here with offer code CBSSPORTS:
How to Make 2026 Kentucky Derby Picks and Bets
Demling is also high on a long shot that “demolished the field” in his last start. Anyone who supports this colt could hit hard. Demling shares which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby seeding, on SportsLine.
Which horse wins the 2026 Kentucky Derby and which longshot is a must-win? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s Kentucky Derby picks, all from the expert who has 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.
2026 Kentucky Derby Odds
