2026 Arkansas Derby odds, horses, field: Racing insider offers best bets, top picks for Saturday's Kentucky Derby prep race

The Todd Pletcher-trained Renegade can establish himself as one of the favorites for the upcoming Kentucky Derby when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. A $975,000 purchase two years ago, Renegade has one win, two seconds and one third in four career starts. He is coming off a victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes last month in Florida. For Saturday the Oaklawn Park oddsmaker has made Renegade the 3-2 morning-line favorite in the Arkansas Derby odds. Silent Tactic (5-2), Litmus Test (5-1) and Blackout Time (6-1) round out the top four choices among the eight Arkansas Derby horses. (The connections of Napoleon Solo have said the horse will not run in the race.) Post time for the Arkansas Derby 2026 is 7:48 p.m. ET, with the forecast calling for temperatures in the low-60s and no precipitation. 

With several talented horses entering the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what racing reporter and insider Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2026 Arkansas Derby picks given what she did in the race last year.

Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.

Yu also has tremendous handicapping chops. She started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she also predicted Forever Young's win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism's win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman's win in the Arkansas Derby and Mindframe's win in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She also hit the exacta in the Kentucky Derby.

And in August she hit the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic.

For the 2026 Arkansas Derby, Yu has made her picks and constructed her bets. One surprise: She is low on Litmus Test, even though he is the 5-1 third choice. "He could pick up another check, but I don't like him on top," Yu told SportsLine. She prefers three horses over Litmus Test.

Moreover Yu's top pick is a horse who should handle the nine-furlong distance with "no problem." She also is high on a big double-digit longshot who is "capable of getting a piece at a price." She is including these horses in her 2026 Arkansas Derby bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see her picks before locking in any of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Arkansas Derby? What big double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? ... Join SportsLine right now to get Michelle Yu's 2026 Arkansas Derby picks and bets, all from the racing insider who nailed the Kentucky Derby exacta!