The victor of the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs has been crowned as jockey and horse were the first across the finish line! Golden Tempo won the 2026 Kentucky Derby along with jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Cherie DeVaux.
On Saturday May 2, 2026, the top jockey-horse teams in horse racing made their “Run for the Roses” in dramatic fashion. As attendees donned their elaborate hats iconic to the Kentucky Derby’s fashion spectacle, and grabbed their mint juleps which are synonymous with the event at Churchill Downs, the competitors put on an unforgettable display of athleticism and talent as they raced down the track.
The Top Contenders & Favorites at the Start of the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
GettyLOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – APRIL 27: Renegade trains on the track during morning workouts ahead of the running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 27, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Going into the 2026 Kentucky Derby, the favorite to win was Renegade, who drew the challening No. 1 post position but still entered the race as the morning-line favorite at 4-1 odds. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by star jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Renegade has built a growing legacy and record based on momentum with a series of impressive prep-race victories which include a dominant performance in the Arkansas Derby.
Another major contender going into the 152nd Kentucky Derby was Commandment. Trained by Brad Cox and paired with veteran jockey Luis Saez, Commandment entered the derby with 6-1 odds after an impressive Florida Derby campaign. Considered one of the most balanced horses in the field thanks to his tactical speed and late-race stamina, Commandment didn’t disappoint at Churchill Downs.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby Had Fewer Horses & Jockeys Compete Than Expected
GettyLOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MAY 01: So Happy trains on the track during morning workouts ahead of the running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 01, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
There were 22 horses and jockeys slated to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby competition, but the field saw The Puma – the horse rumored to be owned in part by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce – withdraw ahead of the derby on May 2, 2026 due to an injury.
Only 18 of the originally slated 22 horse-jockey pairs ended up racing in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. In a heartbreaking moment, Great White was scratched after a stumble getting to the starting gate.
Per NBC, the horses which competed in the 152nd Kentucky Derby, identified by their program numbers along with each horse’s jockey and trainer, were:
No. 1 Renegade
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
No. 2 Albus
- Jockey: Manny Franco
- Trainer: Riley Mott
No. 3 Intrepido
- Jockey: Hector Barrios
- Trainer: Jeff Mullins
No. 4 Litmus Test
- Jockey: Martin Garcia
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
No. 5 Right to Party
- Jockey: Chris Elliott
- Trainer: Kenny McPeek
No. 6 Commandment
- Jockey: Luis Saez
- Trainer: Brad Cox
No. 7 Danon Bourbon
- Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura
- Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe
No. 8 So Happy
- Jockey: Mike Smith
- Trainer: Mark Glatt
No. 9 The Puma – Withdrawn from the derby ahead of the race
- Jockey: Javier Castellano
- Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
No. 10 Wonder Dean
- Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
- Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi
No. 11 Incredibolt
- Jockey: Jamie Torres
- Trainer: Riley Mott
No. 12 Chief Wallabee
- Jockey: Junior Alvarado
- Trainer: Bill Mott
No. 14 Potente
- Jockey: Juan Hernandez
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
No. 15 Emerging Market
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Trainer: Chad Brown
No. 16 Pavlovian
- Jockey: Edwin Maldonado
- Trainer: Doug O’Neill
No. 17 Six Speed
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
No. 18 Further Ado
- Jockey: John Velazquez
- Trainer: Brad Cox
No. 19 Golden Tempo
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
No. 21 Great White
- Jockey: Alex Achard
- Trainer: John Ennis
No. 22 Ocelli
- Jockey: Joseph D. Ramos
- Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Golden Tempo Wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs