Jody Demling, who nailed a $1,682 Kentucky Derby superfecta last year, reveals his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs
By Ross Kelly Apr 29, 2026 at 1:22 pm ET • 3 min read 
Imagn Images Horse racing's 2026 Triple Crown season kicks off on Saturday, May 2, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby running at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., at 6:57 p.m. ET. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018, and it's tough to say when there will be another, given the recent trend of some Derby winners skipping the Preakness Stakes, which, for now, comes just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Commandment is one horse to keep an eye on as he enters the Kentucky Derby 2026 on a four-race winning streak.
He's at 6-1 in the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds, behind his half-brother Renegade (4-1) and alongside Further Ado (6-1). Which horse will win the 152nd edition of the Run for the Roses? Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions and best bets from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
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A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also predicted the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order, helping him cash a $1,682 superfecta, and called the exacta in last year's Preakness. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up.
Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go to SportsLine to see them.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling's surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1. Renegade comes in off wins at the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes. He previously lost to Paladin twice, however, and it took Renegade until his fourth race to record his first career win. He also drew the inside rail, putting him in a spot no horse has won out of at the Kentucky Derby since 1986.
"The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Into Mischief doesn't mind the distance and has the fastest final eighth-mile on the Derby trail," Demling told SportsLine. "He was my pick, but just too many things going against him in my opinion." See who to back at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling likes The Puma at 10-1. He's getting double-digit odds even though he barely lost to Commandment in the Florida Derby. He also won the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 of this year.
Demling calls The Puma "super intriguing" and mentioned that he considered him as an overall win contender. He says he "has a shot to win the roses" and projects that he has a strong chance to hit the board on Saturday. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Demling is also high on a stunning longshot who "could be a freak." Anyone who backs this sleeper pick could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which stunning longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.
