The 152nd Kentucky Derby (2026) is scheduled for today, Saturday, May 2 at 6:57 p.m. ET post time. Trainer Brad Cox is looking for his second official win with two top contenders, while analyst Michelle Yu is shaking up the odds board with her latest predictions. Cox would send Forward Ado and Commandment into the starting gate as two of the morning’s favorite lines.
Both are listed at odds of 6-1. Cox’s only previous Derby win was with Mandalun (2021), which was awarded after Median Spirit was disqualified.
Today’s victory will be his first time celebrating in the winner’s circle on race day. Both Cox horses trail morning line favorite Renegade, who is currently listed at 4-1 but faces the tough No. 1 rail post. Yu is escaping from Commandment (6-1).
Despite his Florida Derby victory, he noted that his victory margin had decreased as the races became longer, suggesting a lack of stamina for the 1 ¼-mile Derby distance.
Yu ranks high on The Puma (10-1) as she cites the successful pairing of jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Gustavo Delgado as the primary reason for optimism.
He highlighted that Puma won the Tampa Bay Derby and was edged by Commandment by a narrow margin in the Florida Derby, which shows a more consistent rise than the favorite. His best races have put him right in the mix, and these connections have won the Derby before,” Yu pointed out. sportsline. “When Commandment took him out he did everything except win the Florida Derby, but he’s been super consistent.”
Michelle Yu has a history of major hits, including siring Medina Spirit (12-1) in 2021 and siring Rich Strike (80-1) through the “All Other 3-Year-Olds” stakes. In early 2026, he successfully predicted a trifecta involving Renegade, Silent Tactic and Taptastic in the Arkansas Derby.
