The 152nd edition of the Kentucky Derby is fast approaching with up to 20 thoroughbreds eligible for the Saturday, May 2, race. Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., will be abuzz for the annual Run for the Roses. Paladin enters as the 9-1 favorite and is the only horse at single-digit 2026 Kentucky Derby odds. Besides Paladin, other 2026 Kentucky Derby favorites include Holy Bull Stakes winner Nearly, at 10-1, Canaletto (15-1), Renegade (16-1) and Silent Tactic (19-1). Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the horse racing predictions and futures bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
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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 called 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.
One of Demling’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He doesn’t have the favorite, Paladin (9-1), winning. Although the horse has won all three races he has run so far, his trainer’s record tells a different story. Chad Brown is 0-for-9 in his Kentucky Derby career. To make matters worse, Brown’s horses have hit the board just three times, while three other starters have placed ninth or worse. One horse wasn’t even able to finish.
Pedigree also matters. Even though Paladin took first at February’s Risen Star Stakes, just as his sire, Gun Runner, did a decade ago, Gun Runner was third at the Kentucky Derby. Gun Runner also did not win any of his first four G1 races. With not the strongest of pedigrees and an unproven trainer, Demling is finding value elsewhere. See who to back at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Canaletto, even though he’s a longshot at 15-1. With just one race to his credit, Canaletto is somewhat of an unknown. What he showed, however, was impressive after he dominated at Gulfstream Park on January 25, posting a 1:36.28 time in his 1-mile maiden special weight race, finishing well ahead of Lost Money and Autobahn.
Demling says Canaletto has the “looks of a superstar in the making” and also loves his bloodline. He is a half-brother to Sandman and the son of Into Mischief, who won three of his six career starts. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make Kentucky Derby futures bets TwinSpires here:
Demling is especially high on a massive double-digit longshot who could be the best of a “barnful of standouts.” 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 huge double-digit 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.
| Horse | Odds | Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Paladin | 9-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Nearly | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Canaletto | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Renegade | 16-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Silent Tactic | 19-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Chief Wallabee | 21-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Commandment | 23-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Further Ado | 24-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Brant | 26-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Plutarch | 27-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Napolean Solo | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Golden Tempo | 32-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Blackout Time | 32-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Boyd | 34-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Litmus Test | 38-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Potente | 44-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Bravero | 60-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Six Speed | 73-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Class President | 75-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Al Haram | N/A | SEE PICKS |
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