2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, futures, preview, date: Expert who nailed 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles gives picks

The Kentucky Derby 2026 will be held on Saturday, May 2. Kentucky Derby 152, just like the very first running in 1875, will be held at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Up to 20 2026 Kentucky Derby horses will compete over 1 1/4 miles in the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Open to only 3-year-old horses, the 2026 Kentucky Derby purse is $5 million, with $3.1 million going to the winner.

Paladin, a horse undefeated across three starts, is the 9-1 favorite to target in horse racing bets. Other contenders in the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds include Nearly (10-1) and Canaletto (15-1). 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.

Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS to receive up to $400 in bonus bets to wager on almost any track by clicking here:

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.

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions

One of Demling's surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He doesn't have the favorite, Paladin (9-1), winning. Of the horse, Demling says he "has the looks of a superstar in the making." An impressive debut at Gulfstream Park burst Canaletto onto the scene when he claimed first place back in late January. He then competed in the Tampa Bay Derby in early March, finishing in third place but posting a speed figure (109) on par with the runner-up and just below the 110 by the winner.

Demling also notes Canaletto's impressive pedigree in identifying him as a sleeper horse. Canaletto's father was a G1 winner, as is his brother, Sandman, who won the Arkansas Derby last year. Add in that Canaletto is trained by Chad Brown, a five-time winner of Outstanding Trainer of the Year, and the colt is one that shouldn't be overlooked with Kentucky Derby bets despite 15-1 odds. 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:

How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

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.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds