Kentucky Derby 2026 field set, Renegade opens as morning-line favorite
Renegade drew the rail at 4-1, a post that has not produced a Derby winner since 1986, as scratches reshaped the 152nd Run for the Roses.
Renegade emerged as the morning-line favorite for the 152nd Kentucky Derby, but the bigger story was the field around him: a 20-horse gate, three late scratches and a betting menu that showed how aggressively Churchill Downs is trying to widen the race’s appeal.
The bay colt opened at 4-1 after Churchill Downs oddsmaker Nick Tammaro set the morning line, and he drew post 1, the inside stall that can save ground or trap a horse against the rail. No Derby winner has come from the No. 1 post since Ferdinand in 1986, and the last horse from that spot to finish in the top three was Lookin At Lee, who was second in 2017.
The field settled after scratches by No. 20 Fulleffort, No. 5 Right to Party and No. 13 Silent Tactic opened three lanes for replacements and left a deeper, more fluid betting picture than the post-draw suggested. Two dozen horses had entered the race, including four on the also-eligible list, underscoring how crowded the path to the gate has become in a Triple Crown series that has produced only one sweep since Justify won it in 2018.
Renegade’s credentials reflected the modern Derby route, built on points earned over months rather than a single breakout run. He won the Arkansas Derby in March and the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February, where The Puma finished third, and he was second in the Remsen Stakes in New York City in December. That kind of prep-line resume has become increasingly important as trainers spread their campaigns across major tracks from Oaklawn Park to Aqueduct, Keeneland, Santa Anita and Del Mar.
The race itself was scheduled as the 12th on a 14-race Derby Day card at Churchill Downs, with official post time set for about 6:57 p.m. ET. Churchill Downs said last year’s win-place-show pool totaled $122.4 million, a reminder that Derby Day remains a national wagering event as much as a sporting one. For 2026, the track also added new bets, including a 50-cent All Turf Pick 4, Jackpot 8, Odd vs. Even wagering and Matchup wagering during Derby week and the Spring Meet. The Kentucky Oaks ran the day before, on Friday, May 1, at 8:40 p.m. ET, setting the stage for a Derby that arrived with a full field and a clear favorite, but no shortage of volatility.
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