The Complete Kentucky Derby Guide powered by Brisnet
2026 Kentucky Derby news, data and analysis
Kentucky Derby Trophy (Photo by Coady Photography)
Get to know the 202 Kentucky Derby Contenders
Now that the scoring races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby are coming to a close, the leaderboard is solidifying, and the field is crystallizing for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
The top 20 are assured of a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1), while the “bubble” horses – those on the outside looking in – hope for defections to enable them to make the maximum 20-horse field. Four horses can be entered as “also-eligibles,” and post positions will be drawn on opening night at Churchill Downs ahead of the May 2 Run for the Roses.
Current Leaderboard of Top 20 Point Earners
Last updated April 18, 2026
| Rank | Horse | Points |
| 1 | Commandment | 150 |
| 2 | Further Ado | 135 |
| 3 | Renegade | 125 |
| 4 | So Happy | 115 |
| 5 | Fulleffort | 110 |
| 6 | The Puma | 106 |
| 7 | Silent Tactic | 100 |
| 8 | Emerging Market | 100 |
| 9 | Albus | 100 |
| 10 | Potente |
100 |
| Rank | Horse | Points |
| 11 | Pavlovian | 70 |
| 12 | Right to Party | 65 |
| 13 | Incredibolt | 60 |
| 14 | Golden Tempo | 60 |
| 15 | Stark Contrast | 50 |
| 16 | Iron Honor | 50 |
| 17 | Chief Wallabee | 50 |
| 18 | Danon Bourbon | JPN RTKD |
| 19 | Wonder Dean (JPN) | EURO / Middle East RTKD |
| 20 | Six Speed | EURO / Middle East RTKD |
Kentucky Derby Features and News
- Get to know the 2026 Kentucky Derby contenders
- 2026 Kentucky Derby: Where the Value Hides for Horseplayers and Bettors
- Al Haram stars in Saudi Derby; Imagination, Reef Runner turn sprint double for U.S.
- The International Scouting Report by Kellie Reilly for Breeders' Cup 2025
2025-2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby
April
Trendsetter wins the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
Lexington - April 11, 2026 - TBD
Wonder Dean pulls clear in the UAE Derby (G2) (Photo by Dubai Racing Club/Liesl King)
UAE Derby - May 28, 2026 - Wonder Dean
Albus wins the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Wood Memorial - April 4, 2026 - Albus
Further Ado wins the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
Blue Grass - April 4, 2026 - Further Ado
So Happy wins the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Santa Anita Derby - April 4, 2026 - So Happy
March
Commandment wins the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Florida Derby - March 28, 2026 - Commandment
Renegade wins the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
Arkansas Derby - March 28, 2026 - Renegade
Emerging Market wins the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Louisiana Derby - March 21, 2025 - Emerging Market
Fulleffort wins the Jeff Ruby Steaks (Photo by Coady Media)
Jeff Ruby Steaks - March 21, 2026 - Fulleffort
Incredibolt wins the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
Virginia Derby - March 14, 2026 - Incredibolt
The Puma wins the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photography)
Tampa Bay Derby - March 7, 2026 - The Puma
Class President holds off Silent Tactic in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Media)
Rebel Stakes - March 1, 2026 - Class President
February
Potente wins the San Felipe at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
San Felipe Stakes - February 28, 2026 - Potente
Commandment wins the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Fountain of Youth Stakes - February 28, 2026 - Commandment
Iron Honor wins the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Joe Labozzetta)
Gotham Stakes - February 28, 2026 - Iron Honor
Great White upsets the John Battaglia Memorial (Photo by Coady Media)
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes - February 21, 2026 - Great White
Stronghold wins the Sunland Derby (Photo by Coady Photography)
Sunland Derby - February 16, 2026 - Pavlovian
Paladin wins the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Risen Star Stakes - February 14, 2026 - Paladin
Renegade wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. (Photo by SV Photography)
Sam F. Davis Stakes - February 7, 2026 - Renegade
Robert B. Lewis Stakes - February 6, 2026 - Plutarch
Talk to Me Jimmy wins the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Withers Stakes - February 6, 2026 - Talk to Me Jimmy
Silent Tactic wins the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)
Southwest Stakes - February 6, 2026 - Silent Tactic
January
Nearly wins the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Holy Bull Stakes - January 31, 2025 - Nearly
Golden Tempo wins the Lecomte at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Lecomte Stakes - January 17, 2026 - Golden Tempo
My World wins the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Susie Raisher)
Jerome Stakes - January 3, 2026 - My World
- Preview: Balboa shortens up for Jerome
- Recap: My World best in four-horse Jerome
Strategic Risk wins the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media/Andrew Stauffacher)
Smarty Jones Stakes - January 3, 2026 - Strategic Risk
December
Chip Honcho wins the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)
Gun Runner Stakes - December 20, 2025 - Chip Honcho
Longshot Express Kid dominated the Remington Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)
Springboard Mile - December 20, 2025 - Express Kid
Litmus Test justified 3-5 favoritism in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Los Alamitos Futurity - December 13, 2025 - Litmus Test
Paladin wins the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta)
Remsen Stakes - December 6, 2025 - Paladin
November
Further Ado wins the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
Kentucky Jockey Club - November 29, 2025 - Further Ado
Ted Noffey winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile - October 31, 2025 - Ted Noffey
October
Incredibolt winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Street Sense - October 26, 2025 - Incredibolt
Ted Noffey wins the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
Breeders' Futurity - October 4, 2025 - Ted Noffey
Intrepido wins the American Pharoah at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
American Pharoah Stakes - October 4, 2025 - Intrepido
Napoleon Solo wins the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Champagne Stakes - October 4, 2025 - Napoleon Solo
September
Spice Runner wins the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
Iroquois - September 13, 2025 - Spice Runner
Kentucky Oaks Coverage
- Percy's Bar topples Zany in Ashland
- Zany looms a short-priced favorite in Ashland
- Prom Queen lands stakes debut in Gulfstream Park Oaks
- Counting Stars makes it look easy in Fantasy
- Explora meets familiar foes in Fantasy
- Life of Joy an emphatic winner of Fair Grounds Oaks
- Forced Entry handles class jump in Santa Ysabel
- Super Corredora bids to revive Oaks prospects in Santa Ysabel
- Resplendence joins Road to Kentucky Oaks with Cincinnati Trophy victory
- Bella Ballerina fights back to claim Rachel Alexandra
- Meaning upsets Breeders’ Cup rivals in Las Virgenes Stakes
- Zany remains unbeaten in Suncoast Stakes
- On Time Girl much the best in Forward Gal
- Taken by the Wind determinedly stays perfect in Silverbulletday
- Explora rolls in Santa Ynez; So Happy beats Buetane in San Vicente
- Consequent gives Baffert another Starlet success
- Zany rules Demoiselle, Pletcher earns 10th win
- Baffert taking three shots at ninth Starlet in a row
- Bella Ballerina lands stakes debut in Golden Rod
- Super Corredora too good in Juvenile Fillies upset
- Iron Orchard wins Frizette photo; Ground Support upsets Miss Grillo
- Tommy Jo awarded Alcibiades via disqualification of Percy’s Bar
- Tommy Jo stretches out in BC WAYI Alcibiades
- Taken by the Wind breezes to victory in Pocahontas
Kentucky Derby Future Wager
- Ted Noffey, Into Mischief popular in Kentucky Derby future pools
- Ted Noffey closes at 6-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3
- Paladin takes over in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4
- Paladin, Chief Wallabee 8-1 in KDFW Pool 5; Zany favored in Oaks future
Post Positions for the 152nd Kentucky Derby
Get LIVE updates during the post position draw, with commentary from our panel of experts. Join in on the conversation with our LIVE Coverage brought to you by TwinSpires!
Keep an eye out for upcoming LIVE blogs as well as we bring you the coverage of the track to you.
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