Kentucky Derby Contenders

2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders and odds. Bet today on BUSR and get to $1,000 Welcome Cash Bonus plus up to $2,000 Daily Paid Rebates!

The Kentucky Derby contenders begin to widdle down as we get closer to the big event. For the Kentucky Derby, the post position has been a fairly good indicator of the winners being typically positioned 5-8. Post positions are drawn on Wednesday before the Derby and we will update this information when it becomes available.

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be on Saturday, May 2th under the famed twin spires of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

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The 152th Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday, May 2th, 2026 and is held at the most iconic and beautiful racetrack Churchill Downs, located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

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Kentucky Derby Futures: Early Takes on 2026 Triple Crown Contenders

Laying down some money on a futures pick for the 152th Derby, which will take place on Saturday, May 2th, 2026, at the beautiful Churchill Downs racetrack, is one of the most enjoyable activities during the preseason. From now through April, BUSR will keep you informed on important entries and shifting odds for potential Derby horses.

Early Leaders:

Cave Rock and Forte

The top two finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA, Forte and Cave Rock, both ran strongly at Keeneland. While tiring a little bit later and lugging in, Cave Rock established a strong early pace, pulled clear in the early stretch, and finished a clear second ahead of stablemate National Treasure.

Irad Ortiz Jr. gave Forte the perfect trip and ride as he moved into contention halfway down the far turn and rallied into the middle of the stretch to win by 1 12 lengths and collect 30 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Forte, who had already won Grade 1 races in the Hopeful Stakes and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, which were all run on the same track and over a distance of 1 1/16 miles as the Juvenile, confirmed that he is the best advanced racehorse in his age group so far.

With the exception of National Treasure, Cave Rock similarly came into the race off of two straight victories in Grade 1 races, the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity and the American Pharoah Stakes. However, those victories came against a weaker opposition on the California circuit.

When the major Kentucky Derby prep races take place in late March and early April, most multiple Grade 1-winning 2-year-olds are usually past their prime, but these two colts appear to have some staying power.

Arabian Night

At Keeneland less than a day after the BC Juvenile, another Baffert trainee caught everyone’s attention.

Amr Zedan paid $2.3 million for this Uncle Mo colt last April, and he romped to victory in the opening race of Breeders’ Cup Saturday, a seven-furlong maiden special weight, winning by 7 14 lengths.

He was given 0.76-1 odds when he started his career. He quickly gained the lead, came under light pressure going into the far turn, and stabilized the situation by the quarter pole en route to an amazing victory.

In comparison to Forte’s (107) and Cave Rock’s (104) scores in the Juvenile, Arabian Knight’s 102 Equibase Speed Figure came from the triumph.
Despite his excellent maiden victory, this colt is a huge longshot to win the Kentucky Derby more than five and a half months from May 6.

Uncle Mo, who has already produced a Kentucky Derby winner, is unquestionably one of the most successful young sires now in existence, but Arabian Knight’s dam’s (mother’s) side pedigree is uninteresting in terms of stamina because his closest living cousins are all sprinters-milers.

Extra Anejo

During Keeneland’s regular October meet, this son of legendary sire Into Mischief was undoubtedly the most outstanding 2-year-old winner.

On October 13, he won a first-time special weight race at Keeneland’s “beard” distance (about seven furlongs), winning gate-to-wire under Tyler Gaffalione and scoring a 95 Equibase Speed Figure.

Owner Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $1.35 million for Extra Anejo when he was a yearling. Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen is his trainer.

This owner-trainer combination consistently produces one or two 3-year-olds who score big on the Triple Crown trail, and Extra Anejo meets the bill.

Instant Coffee

As part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” series, which awarded points on a scale of 10-4-3-2-1 to the Top 5 finishers as a “Prep Season” race, Instant Coffee, owned by Al Gold’s Gold Square LLC and trained by Brad Cox, ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:45.25, earned $238,440, and gathered 10 points.

Instant Coffee has won 3 of his three starts and earned $322,815. His one flaw was a fourth-place showing in his prior start’s $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland.

Sagamore Farm in Kentucky bred Instant Coffee, a Bolt d’Oro son out of the Uncle Mo mare Follow No One. Definitely, a great pick to be in the loop for this upcoming Kentucky Derby 2026.