Kentucky Derby 2026 Contenders, Horse Pedigree and Jockey Info for Top Favorites

The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday from Churchill Downs and the lineup is set, with the top horses and jockeys in the sport racing for the opportunity to etch their names in the history books alongside the others to win the historic Run for the Roses.

Who are entered in this year's field, what are the pedigrees of each horse, and who is the dark horse candidate to watch in 2026?

Find out in this preview of the most prestigious event in horse racing.

Lineup, Jockey, and Pedigree Information

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1. Renegade (Jockey: Irad Ortiz) (Sire: Into Mischief, Dam: Spice is Nice)

2. Albus (Manny Franco) (Yaupon, Adream)

3. Intrepido (Hector Berrios) (Maximus Mischief, Overly Indulgent)

4. Litmus Test (Martin Garcia) (Nyquist, Study Hard)

5. Right to Party (Christopher Elliott) (Constitution, Havin' A Party)

6. Commandment (Luis Saez) (Into Mischief, Sippican Harbor)

7. Danon Bourbon (Atsuya Nishimura) (Maxfield, Wild Ridge)

8. So Happy (Mike Smith) (Runhappy, So Cunning)

9. The Puma (Javier Castellano) (Essential Quality, Eve of War)

10. Wonder Dean (Ryusei Sakai) (Dee Majesty, Wonder Siang Praw)

11. Incredibolt (Jaime Torres) (Bolt d'Oro, Sapphire Spitfire)

12. Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado) (Constitution, A La Lucie)

13. Silent Tactic (Christian Torres) (Tacitus, Magical Sign) Scratched

14. Potente (Juan Hernandez) (Into Mischief, Sweet Sting)

15. Emerging Market (Flavia Pratt) (Candy Ride, Wild Empress)

16. Pavlovian (Edwin Moldanado) (Pavel, Mandy's Grace)

17. Six Speed (Brian Hernandez Jr.) (Not This Time, Browse)

18. Further Ado (John Velazquez) (Gun Runner, Sky Dreamer)

19. Golden Tempo (Jose Ortiz) (Curlin, Carrumba)

20. Fulleffort (Tyler Gaffalione) (Liam's Map, Callmethesqueeze)

21. Great White (Alex Achard) (Volatile, Kelly's Bag)

Dark Horse to Watch: Danon Bourbon (20-1)

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While a lack of experience and competition may be cause for concern, Danon Bourbon has run flawlessly in the three races in which he has competed in Japan.

Bred in Kentucky, he returns home to compete in his first North American race. In his previous three runs, he has won decisively, setting himself up to be one of the most interesting watches in Saturday's race.

His official race bio states, "He has shown tactical flexibility, winning from the front and from a stalking position," and his finishing kick is among the best in the field.

He has not yet raced on a left-handed track like Churchill Downs, and his ability to maintain focus and finish strong in a field this large, but he has the pedigree of a championship racer.

Jockey Atsuya Nishimura, 26, is a graduate of the Japan Racing Association's jockey academy and is tied for fifth in wins on that circuit, an impressive feat for someone just entering his eighth year in the sport.

Nishimura joins Danon Bourbon, competing in his first race in North America.

Odds via Kentucky Derby.