Photo by Wirestock/Adobe Stock
Do you have your Derby horse yet? If not, join us as we take a look at each horse in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field so that you can confidently make your pick. Listed below is an overview of each horse entered to run in this year’s Run for the Roses (in post position order), along with quick information regarding their connections, morning line odds, and race record.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby Field
1. Renegade (4-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Owner: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Stable
Race Record: 5 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third
Career Earnings: $1,031,500
Although Renegade is the morning-line favorite, the rail is just about the last post position anyone could want for a field as big as the Kentucky Derby. Runaway winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) last out, Renegade seems to have blossomed into an immensely talented 3-year-old. As long as he gets a smooth break and doesn’t have too much traffic trouble with his rail post, he has the right running style for the Derby and certainly has the talent to best this field. But he will have a lot to overcome with this post position.
2. Albus (30-1)
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Owner: Pin Oak Stud LLC
Race Record: 4 starts: 2 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
Career Earnings: $436,288
The Derby may appear to be a big leap for Albus, but that’s nothing new for him, as he won the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) just after breaking his maiden in impressive fashion. He also is versatile about his running style, which is a huge advantage in a race like the Derby where things may play out entirely different than your average race. This will obviously require Albus’s best effort yet, but he may be worth a look as your long shot.
3. Intrepido (50-1)
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Jockey: Hector Isaac Berrios
Owner: Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC
Race Record: 6 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $342,800
Intrepido hasn’t won a race since the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old last October; in fact the only time he’s finished in the money was two starts back with a second-place finish in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3). It would be quite the surprise if this colt managed a big run in the Derby.
4. Litmus Test (30-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Owner: SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, et. al.
Race Record: 7 starts: 2 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds
Career Earnings: $477,688
Another horse that hasn’t won since he was a 2-year-old, Litmus Test was a distant seventh last out in the Arkansas Derby (G1) against several of these rivals. This is another horse that would be quite the upset.
5. Right to Party (30-1)
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Chris Elliott
Owner: Chester Broman, Sr.
Race Record: 4 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds
Career Earnings: $230,200
Right to Party has only won at the maiden level, though he was a solid second last out in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) behind Albus. However, his speed figures are lower than most of the others here, so it would take a lifetime best for Right to Party to cross the finish line first — though that wouldn’t be something new for a McPeek trainee in the Derby.
6. Commandment (6-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Owner: Wathnan Racing
Race Record: 5 starts: 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $1,017,339
Commandment has some of the lowest morning-line odds in the field for good reason. The son of Into Mischief has won four straight races, including the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). He also already has a win over the Churchill Downs surface, and has a flexible running style that should benefit him in the Derby. Commandment may be the most dangerous horse in the race.
7. Danon Bourbon (20-1)
Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe
Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura
Owner: Danox Co. Ltd.
Race Record: 3 starts: 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $222,762
One of two Japanese horses in the Derby, Danon Bourbon is undefeated in three starts — which he’s won by a combined 18 1/2 lengths. It’s always a significant ask for an international horse to overcome the hurdles of traveling this far and running on a new surface — and in a new direction, for that matter. However, Japan came very close to winning this race with Forever Young in 2024, a horse that has continued to prove his prowess on United States soil. It’s quite the unknown if Danon Bourbon is anywhere near Forever Young’s level, but he’s clearly talented and deserves the chance to prove himself.
8. So Happy (15-1)
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners
Race Record: 4 starts: 3 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
Career Earnings: $480,000
Winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1), So Happy seems like the strongest threat from California. He turned in a career-best speed figure in that effort, and if he runs to that level, that puts him with the best of them here. He has some questions to answer, but So Happy is certainly worth a look.
9. The Puma (10-1)
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: OGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch, High Step Racing LLC, TCC Stables LLC and Bruce Zoldan
Race Record: 4 starts: 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third
Career Earnings: $442,280
Just a nose behind Commandment in the Florida Derby (G1) in his final start before the Kentucky Derby, The Puma runs his race every time. He has never been out of the money in his four starts, and was just narrowly beaten by one of the most intimidating horses in this race. Like every horse here, he’d have to run a lifetime best to win, but he has been trending upwards.
10. Wonder Dean (30-1)
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Owner: Yoshinari Yamamoto
Race Record: 6 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $770,541
The other Japanese horse in the race, Wonder Dean enters here off a strong win in the UAE Derby (G2). He’s not been quite as dominant as Danon Bourbon, but he has traveled internationally (and raced counter-clockwise) and won. One thing is for sure about Wonder Dean: the 1 1/4-mile distance won’t be an issue.
11. Incredibolt (20-1)
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres
Owner: Pin Oak Stud LLC
Race Record: 5 starts: 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $498,681
A 4-length winner of the Virginia Derby in his most recent start, Incredibolt won two races at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old, including the Street Sense Stakes (G3). However, his speed figures are quite a bit lower than most other horses here, so it would require Incredibolt’s strongest effort yet so surpass this field.
12. Chief Wallabee (8-1)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Owner: Mike Ball and Katherine Ball
Race Record: 3 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 1 third
Career Earnings: $216,600
Chief Wallabee has caught the attention of many with his morning training, appearing to be rounding into top form. Though he has only won at the maiden level, he’s never been more than a half-length behind the winner — an impressive feat considering his only two other races are the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). However, he finished behind Commandment in both, so it would be impressive for him to get around that colt.
13. Silent Tactic: SCRATCHED
14. Potente (20-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Owner: Speedway Stables LLC
Race Record: 3 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $262,000
Though Potente won the San Felipe Stakes (G2) two back, he was swallowed up in the stretch of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) by So Happy. He may be bred for the distance, but does he want it?
15. Emerging Market (15-1)
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Owner: Klaravich Stables, Inc.
Race Record: 2 starts: 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $618,880
Although he’s only raced twice, Emerging Market has won both of those starts, including the Louisiana Derby (G2). Without a doubt, he has the pedigree to get the Derby distance, is training remarkably well, and he has talent. That said, the Kentucky Derby against 19 of the other best 3-year-olds in the country is a big ask for a horse in just his third start.
16. Pavlovian (30-1)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado
Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Race Record: 10 starts: 2 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third
Career Earnings: $613,450
Pavlovian may be by far the most experienced horse in the field with 10 starts, but he has won only once and has primarily raced against state-bred company. He has no graded stakes wins to his credit — though he was just a head behind when second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) behind Emerging Market. Pavlovian appears to be outclassed on paper.
17. Six Speed (50-1)
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Owner: Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables
Race Record: 5 starts: 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Career Earnings: $402,183
Dubai-based Six Speed was soundly defeated by Wonder Dean in the UAE Derby (G2), though he himself had been a strong group stakes winner prior to then. That loss also came after a bit of time off, but Six Speed would be a huge upset here.
18. Further Ado (6-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Race Record: 6 starts: 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Career Earnings: $1,146,328
An impressive 11-length winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) last out, Further Ado is no stranger to a romp. He broke his maiden at Keeneland by an incredible 20 lengths as a 2-year-old, just before winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. Like his stablemate Commandment, Further Ado is one of the most formidable horses in the Derby.
19. Golden Tempo (30-1)
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable
Race Record: 4 starts: 2 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds
Career Earnings: $333,000
Golden Tempo enters here off two losses — most recently third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) behind Emerging Market and Pavlovian — but he was previously the winner of the Lecomte Stakes (G3). His speed figures are quite lower than most rivals here, and he looks likely to go off at pretty high odds.
20. Fulleffort: SCRATCHED
21. Great White (50-1)
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Alex Achard
Owner: Three Chimneys Farm and John Ennis
Race Record: 4 starts: 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $202,495
Despite enough scratches to draw in, Great White will likely go off as one of the longest shots in the field. He was a distant fifth behind Further Ado in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), and has otherwise not faced the strongest competition.
22. Ocelli (50-1)
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Joe Ramos
Owner: Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian, LLC
Race Record: 6 starts: 0 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds
Career Earnings: $109,800
Because of two scratches, Ocelli has also made it into the field, but he’s likely to see extremely high odds. The colt has never won a race in six starts, and has lost to several of the Derby runners.
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23. Robusta (50-1)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Owner: Calumet Farm
Race Record: 5 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
Career Earnings: $83,500
Robusta was a soundly defeated seventh in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). If he draws in, he’d be unlikely to make much of a dent.
24. Corona de Oro (50-1)
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Owner: On Our Own Stable LLC, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables LLC, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing Stables, et. al.
Race Record: 5 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds
Career Earnings: $92,540
It would require several scratches for Corona de Oro to make it to the starting gate, and as a horse that has only won at the maiden level, a top effort would be a huge ask.
Hotel Thoroughbred: A Hotel That Celebrates the Kentucky Derby Every Day
The lobby features a wall with paddock fencing from Claiborne Farm as well the “Heritage of Champions” wall. Researched by Margaret Lyton of Loch Lea Antiques, this wall honors the 25 Kentucky Derby winners with Bourbon County roots. The owners worked with local artisans throughout the hotel, from restoration work starting with the custom doors by David Puryear of Bourbon Millwork with bronze bit handles by artist Stephen Johnson. As you open your room with the custom key chains from Quillin Leather, you are welcomed by the beautiful large-scale photography by Bobby Shiflet of Frames on Main and custom vases by local potter Dennis Varney and wake up to Caffe Marco coffee. There is a Keeneland Collection along the historic grand staircase as the “walking gallery” curated from the Keeneland Library, featuring historic photos of Bourbon Countians and legendary Black jockeys Isaac Burns Murphy and Isaac Lewis, also Paris natives. Horse fans will be delighted by equine theme around every corner – Penny Chenery’s Victory Julep Cups are on loan from Anne and Mike Gresham. Pat McDonogh’s “While You Were Sleeping” exhibit features stunning photography from the backside of Churchill Downs. Also not to be missed is the life-size bronze of Secretariat in the park as well as two more equine murals of Secretariat and Curlin. Hotel Thoroughbred is now open for booking at hotelthoroughbred.com. |
Hotel Thoroughbred in Paris, Ky. celebrates the equine culture of Bourbon County & the Bluegrass every day. The façade of the building features Jaime Corum’s stunning depiction of the 1989 Horse of the Year Sunday Silence winning the Kentucky Derby. The building, originally built in 1891, was restored to current glory by owners Chris Poynter and Andy Embry, Jan and Joel Moncivaiz, Darrell and Debbie Poynter.
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