The 2026 Kentucky Derby, kicking off the horse racing Triple Crown on May 2, features up to 20 horses competing over a 1 1/4-mile track. The favorite is Paladin (9-1), bred in Kentucky and son of Gun Runner, though expert Jody Demling advises caution due to Paladin’s sire’s struggles at this distance and trainer Chad Brown’s lack of Derby wins. Other notable contenders include Nearly (10-1), Canaletto (15-1), and longshots like Potente (44-1) and Bravero (60-1).

Demling, a seasoned horse racing analyst with a strong track record of accurate Derby predictions, surprisingly favors longshot Canaletto, impressed by his dominant performance and promising bloodline. He also highlights a massive double-digit longshot as a must-back contender, encouraging bettors to check his full 2026 Kentucky Derby picks and leaderboard on SportsLine for the best betting insights and futures bets.