When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby? The annual Run for the Roses takes place Saturday, May 2, at Churchill Downs at 6:57 p.m. ET
By Ross Kelly May 1, 2026 at 4:05 pm ET • 4 min read 
Imagn Images Legendary trainer Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby six times and he's also been responsible for the last two Triple Crown winners in the sport. Baffert can make history and break a tie with Ben Jones for most wins by a trainer if either Potente (20-1) or Litmus Test (30-1) can win the 2026 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The gates open at 6:57 p.m. ET and Renegade is the favorite in the latest Kentucky Derby 2026 betting odds at 4-1, with Further Ado (6-1) and Commandment (6-1) priced as close contenders behind the Arkansas Derby winner. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the exclusive TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to receive up to $400 in bonus bets, double what's available to the general public:
Baffert's horses might be longshots but perhaps his pedigree as a trainer can unearth some additional advantages in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. There are plenty of intriguing angles when it comes to horse racing betting, especially in a loaded field like the Kentucky Derby. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, you'll want to see what racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby bets.
In a wide-open Kentucky Derby in 2021, Yu gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. In Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager three years ago, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at a whopping 18-1 when Rich Strike won.
She started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she also predicted Forever Young's win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism's win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman's win in the Arkansas Derby and Mindframe's win in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She also hit the exacta in the Kentucky Derby. In August she hit the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic, and in March 2026 she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. Anyone who has followed her on those picks on betting sites like FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires and 1/ST BET could be up huge.
Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby post positions set and odds on the board, Yu is sharing her 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions
One surprise: Yu is fading Commandment, despite his status as one of the favorites at 6-1. Commandment is coming off a big win in the Florida Derby, narrowly edging out another top contender in The Puma (10-1). Despite the win, Commandment did slow down near the end, which could be a problem given the Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 miles while the Florida Derby was 1 1/8 miles.
"I don't like that his win margins have diminished as the races have gotten longer," Yu said to SportsLine. "He was very game in his Florida Derby score, though." Something else to note is that Commandment's jockey, Luis Saez, may be very experienced in his own right, but he never finished better than third place in the Kentucky Derby in 12 previous appearances. See which other 2026 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.
Another curveball: Yu is high on The Puma at 10-1, who is trained by Gustavo Delgado and being steered by jockey Javier Castellano. This duo won the Kentucky Derby in 2023 with Mage and will be looking to repeat the feat with The Puma. Castellano is a versatile jockey and should be able to get the best out of The Puma, especially after he won two legs of the 2023 Triple Crown on two different horses with Mage at the Kentucky Derby and Arcangelo at the Belmont Stakes.
"His best races put him right in the mix, and these connections have won a Derby before," Yu said regarding The Puma. "He did everything but win the Florida Derby when Commandment nosed him out, but he has been super consistent." See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can sign up for FanDuel Racing for the Kentucky Derby here to get $25 in bonuses with a $5 wager:
How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks
Moreover, Yu's top pick is a horse who is "screaming for more ground." She's also is high on a longshot who has "connections that can get it done." She is including this horse in her 2026 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. She's sharing which 2026 Kentucky Derby horses to back at SportsLine.
So who wins the 2026 Kentucky Derby? What longshot is a must-back, and how has Yu constructed her wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the Santa Anita-based racing insider who has a long history of success in the Kentucky Derby, and find out.
