2026 Kentucky Derby: Win, place, show and trifecta picks from horse racing guru

Horse racing's Triple Crown commences on Saturday when the starting gate opens for the first leg: the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Two weeks after the Derby, Laurel Park in Maryland will host the Preakness Stakes in place of Pimlico Race Course, which is being renovated. Three weeks after that, Saratoga Race Course will hold the Belmont Stakes for the third and final time before it returns to Belmont Park next year. For the Kentucky Derby, the Todd Pletcher-trained Renegade has been installed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds. Commandment (6-1), Further Ado (6-1), Chief Wallabee (8-1) and The Puma (10-1) round out the top five choices among the 20 horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field. Post time for the Kentucky Derby 2026 is 6:57 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Kentucky Derby bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 39 Triple Crown races. One example of his best picks was Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's easy win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure. In 2024, he successfully tabbed Straight No Chaser to win, place and show in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at odds of 3-2.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers.

And just three weeks ago Hochman hit the trifecta in the Apple Blossom Handicap. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman is completely tossing Commandment, even though he is the co-second choice at 6-1. "Two Eclipse Award winners, Irad Ortiz Jr. and Flavien Prat, have chosen other mounts for this race," Hochman says. He is not using Commandment in any of his wagers.

Another curveball: Hochman is high on The Puma, even though he is a 10-1 longshot. "Dangerous contender at a square price," Hochman says. He is using The Puma prominently in his wagers. 

Moreover, Hochman's top pick is a horse with "remarkable finishing speed." He also is high on a big double-digit longshot who "performs well in heavy traffic." You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Kentucky Derby? Which big double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, all from the expert who was red-hot at Saratoga and Del Mar last summer!