Kentucky Derby 2026 odds, post positions, picks, date, time: Renegade, Further Ado, Commandment best bets

The horse racing world is converging on Louisville, Ky., as the 152nd "Run for the Roses" is set for Saturday. Renegade enters as the 4-1 favorite to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Post time at Churchill Downs is scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET. The field of 20 3-year-old colts is now set after three scratches have opened the door for three alternates to be in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to claim up to $400 in bonus bets here, double what's available to the general public:

Besides Renegade, other favorites include Commandment and Further Ado, both at 6-1, Chief Wallabee at 8-1, The Puma at 10-1, and So Happy and Emerging Market, both at 15-1. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.

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 and hit a $1,682 supefecta, and then went on to nail 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 here to see them.

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions, expert analysis

One of Demling's surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: Demling is fading on the 4-1 favorite in Renegade. The Todd A. Pletcher-trained horse has been on a roll of late. He won the 2026 Arkansas Derby at the dirt-fast Oaklawn Park track on March 28. He also won the 2026 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7. He also placed second at the 2025 Remsen at Aqueduct in December, and the MSW race at the Belmont at Aqueduct in October. Despite those successes, Demling isn't impressed. The last Arkansas Derby winner to win the Kentucky Derby was over a decade ago, when American Pharoah did it in 2015. The only others were Sunny's Halo in 1983 and Smarty Jones in 2004. See who to back at SportsLine.

Demling also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby prediction for Commandment, who is the half-brother of Renegade and is listed at 6-1 in the Kentucky Derby odds. Commandment placed fourth in his racing debut in October 2025 but has only tasted victory since. He's won his last four starts, which started off with a Churchill Downs victory in November and most recently included the G1 Florida Derby in late March.

Commandment's top Equibase Speed Figure is 99, which is middle-of-the-pack, as there are eight others in this year's field with an equal or better speed figure. Trainer Brad Cox will try to get the most out of that speed as he seeks his second Derby victory. Cox, a native of Louisville, won in his Derby debut in 2021 with Mandaloun, who is another half-brother of Commandment. However, the trainer hasn't prevailed with his 10 Derby starters since then, as they've had an average finish of 10.4. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest FanDuel Racing promo, which lets users bet $5 and get $25 in bonuses:

Demling has also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for Further Ado (6-1). On the surface, Further Ado's resume looks solid. He has three wins, as well as one second- and one third-place finish in six tries. His worst showing came in his first race in July, when he was fifth at the MSW in Saratoga. In his last race in April, Further Ado placed first at the 2026 Blue Grass at Keeneland. Overall, 23 winners of the Blue Grass Stakes have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. But the prep race has not produced a Derby winner since Strike the Gold in 1991. Demling expects that trend could continue. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby bets at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:

How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Demling is also high on a longshot who "demolished the field" in his last start. Anyone who backs this colt 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 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.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds