Spring is near, which means the annual running of the Kentucky Derby isn’t far off. Because of that, the field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is already starting to shape up. The early odds-on favorite to win the 152nd Run for the Roses is Paladin at 9-1 in the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds, followed closely by Nearly at 10-1. Other 2026 Kentucky Derby favorites include Canaletto at 15-1 and Renegade at 16-1.
For those looking to find value for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, now is the time. 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.
Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions
One of Demling’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He doesn’t have the favorite, Paladin (9-1), winning. The horse is 3-for-3 in his career, including a pair of G2 victories, but his trainer is 0-for-9 in his Kentucky Derby career. Chad Brown has hit the board just three times with his nine Derby starters, while he’s had three starters finish 9th or worse, which doesn’t include a fourth that did not finish the race.
Paladin won the Risen Star Stakes in mid-February, just as his sire, Gun Runner, did in 2016. However, the latter came up short at The Run for the Roses, finishing third. Gun Runner failed to win each of his first four G1 races, while Paladin’s grandsire, Tapit, placed ninth in his Derby attempt. With an unproven trainer at this race and not the strongest pedigree, the favorite is one to fade at Churchill Downs. See who to back at SportsLine.
Another stunner: Demling is high on Canaletto, even though he’s a longshot at 15-1. The 3-year-old had an impressive start to the year, taking first at Gulfstream Park on January 25 on a fast, dirt surface. He dominated the field, defeating Lost Money and Autobahn, who took second and third, respectively. Canaletto is trained by Chad Brown.
According to Demling, now would be a good time to jump on his Kentucky Derby futures odds for an optimal return ahead of his next start, likely the Tampa Bay Derby. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 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.
