Saturday, May 2, 2026
Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve GI $5,000,000 3 Year Olds 1 1/4 miles
Phil has a question:
How would you know it’s Derby time if Phil didn’t drag out a couple of old chestnuts.
John Jeremiah Sullivan – Horseman Pass By
Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.
Fast Eddie Felson
The older the violin, the sweeter the music.
Larry McMurtry
Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read.
For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled.
Hunter S. Thompson
| PP | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | M/L Odds | Phil’s odds | |
| Main Contenders | ||||||
| 6 | Commandment | Brad H. Cox | Luis Saez | 6-1 | 6.0 | |
| 1 | Renegade | Todd A. Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 4-1 | 5.2 | |
| 18 | Further Ado | Brad H. Cox | John R. Velazquez | 6-1 | 5.8 | |
| 15 | Potente | Bob Baffert | Juan J. Hernandez | 20-1 | 11.3 | |
| 9 | The Puma | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano | 10-1 | 10.0 | |
| Gotta Shot | ||||||
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | William I. Mott | Junior Alvarado | 8-1 | 10.6 | |
| 8 | So Happy | Mark Glatt | Mike E. Smith | 15-1 | 13.3 | |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | 20-1 | 18.0 | |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Chad C. Brown | Flavien Prat | 15-1 | 16.2 | |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Doug F. O’Neill | Edwin A. Maldonado | 30-1 | 24.9 | |
| Need A Trip and a Big Break | ||||||
| 10 | Wonder Dean (JPN) | Daisuke Takayanagi | Oisin Murphy | 30-1 | 27.5 | |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 30-1 | 27.5 | |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Jaime A. Torres | 20-1 | 28.5 | |
| 17 | Six Speed | Bhupat Seemar | Brain Hernandez Jr. | 50-1 | 33.2 | |
| Need a Trip and a Big | Break and a Prayer | |||||
| 3 | Intrepido | Jeff Mullins | Hector Isaac Berrios | 50-1 | 59.9 | |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Cherie DeVaux | Jose L. Ortiz | 30-1 | 64.5 | |
| 2 | Albus | Riley Mott | Manny Franco | 30-1 | 43.9 | |
|
||||||
| 21 | Great White | John Ennis | Alex Achard | 50-1 | 70.0 | |
| 22 | Ocelli | D, Whitworth Beckman | Tyler Gaffalione | 50-1 | 84.0 | |
| 23 | Robusta | Doug O’Neill | Cristian Torres | 50-1 | 70.0 | |
| AE | ||||||
| 23 | Corona de Oro | Dallas Stewart | Brain Hernandez Jr. | 50-1 | 70.0 | |
2026 Kentucky Derby CLII PPs
CTHS Alberta Night of Champions Gala
Century Mile
Purchase Kentucky Derby Party Tickets
2026 Kentucky Derby CLIII – Steve Haskin Derby Recap Ranking And Other Dozens And Sundre Stories
A man who plays the races successfully must have opinions of his own and the strength to stick to them no matter what he hears.
Pittsburg Phil
Secretariat – Steve Haskin – 2026 Kentucky Derby Handicapping Analysis – Secretariat.com
TDN – Who Do You Like? Carasso, Finley and Sherack Handicap the Kentucky Derby
TDN – T.D. Thornton – The Kentucky Derby Preview: And the Winner Is..
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Further Ado Remains on Top in Closing Derby Dozen
Bloodhorse – King Talks Derby Dozen, Gives Kentucky Derby Selections
Secretariat – Steve Haskin – Pros and Cons
Brisnet – Get to know the 2026 Kentucky Derby contenders
Twin Spires – 2026 Kentucky Derby Picks & Expert Handicapping Selections
America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – 2026 Kentucky Derby Cheat Sheet
You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.
Yogi Berra
Susan Tedeschi Has Superpowers
A jockey should not be overloaded with instructions.
Pittsburg Phil
DRF – Ryan Goldberg – The Godfather of handicappers: Pittsburg Phil changed the game forever
The Haiku Handicapper
To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.
#1 – Renegade
Don’t get too worried
Long-term, this path worked just fine
For Mo Donegal
#2 – Albus
Can take dirt to face
No doubting he’s tough enough
Is he fast enough?
#3 – Intrepido
Limitations brought
To the fore as 2-year-old
Season drifts away
#4 – Litmus Test
Where’s the future bet
To play June’s Los Al Derby
He would be daunting
#5 – Right to Party
Picked bones in the Wood
At Intergalactic odds
Far from a Sure Shot
#6 – Commandment
His wins get tighter
Climbing up each ladder rung
Ceiling’s getting close
#7 – Danon Bourbon
Gets stronger in stretch
American classic blood
This could be the year
#8 – So Happy
Any other jock
And I’d look the other way
In Mike Smith we trust
#9 – The Puma
Knows where the line is
Should be hunting it again
When the flashbulbs pop
#10 – Wonder Dean
Creeps in like the tide
But won’t be alone this time
Trip shouldn’t matter
#11 – Incredibolt
Dud prep, then weird prep
No telling what we have here
It’s giving “mid-pack”
#12 – Chief Wallabee
The smarties love him
Still seeking a marquee win
Figures back the hype
#13 – Silent Tactic
SCRATCHED
#14 – Potente
A deep bag of tricks
Has proven to work for him
But needs one more gear
#15 – Emerging Market
Chester A. Arthur
Was in office for the last
Third-start Derby win
#16 – Pavlovian
Has bite to his bark
But it’s hard to win speed duels
All the way around
#17 – Six Speed
Name should be “One Speed”
Pedal to floor or nothing
Cooked by the turn home
#18 – Further Ado
Is he one of those
Whose powers peak on wrong side
Of I-65?
#19 – Golden Tempo
Never run a dud
No star-making tilts, either
Last quarter’s his race
#20 – Fulleffort
SCRATCHED
#21 (AE) – Great White
He’d be my first pick
To draft a tug-of-war team
The Derby? Less so.
#22 (AE) – Ocelli
I had zero clue
This horse even existed
Before I wrote this
#23 (AE) – Robusta
Eased to the finish
In Santa Anita prep
Tough for confidence
#24 (AE) – Corona de Oro
Classic D. Stewart
Who needs lots of Derby points?
Enjoy the program
Prediction
It’s finally time
Danon Bourbon for Japan
Nine, fifteen follow
It’s hard to drive at the limit, but it’s harder to know where the limits are.
Stirling Moss
Bloodhorse – Right to Party Out of Derby, Nycon Out of Oaks
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – The Puma Brings Derby Winners Back to Big Stage
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – The Road: Sizing Up Likely Early Kentucky Derby Runners
Look for defect in your own calculating rather than cheating of others.
Pittsburg Phil
Garden & Gun – Lindsey Liles – If the 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders Were Guests at a Dinner Party
SportsNet – AP – How Younghoe Koo’s whiffed kick may have saved a racehorse owner’s life
Phil has a question:
Is that the winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby CLII Feel Good Story Award.
Paulick Report – Report: Tyler Gaffalione Picks Up Mounts In Kentucky Derby, Oaks
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – What can we learn from the Kentucky Derby’s last ten runnings?
Bloodhorse – Alicia Hughes – Glatt Well Prepared for First Shot at Kentucky Derby
Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.
Laozi
The Ringer -Tyler Parker – The 152 Best Horse Names in Kentucky Derby History
The secret of a happy life is respect. Respect for yourself and respect for others.
Ayad Akhtar
Paulick Report – Joe Nevils – Fulleffort Out, Ocelli Draws In To Kentucky Derby
ESPN – The top storylines of the Kentucky Derby
Horse Race Insider – THE BIG THREE vs SEVENTEEN POSSIBLE UPSETTERS, GETTING READY FOR DERBY-152
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Stark Contrast Returns to Grass in American Turf
Bloodhorse – Lizzy Madden – Wide-Open Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Lures Nine
Bloodhorse – Karen Johnson – Churchill’s Wide-Open Turf Classic Stakes Draws 10
Bloodhorse – Eric Mitchell – Three Undefeated Contenders Face Off in Pat Day Mile
With A Little Help From My Friends
In order to finish first, you first have to finish.
Stirling Moss
America’s Best Racing – Andrew Champagne – Live Longshots and Value Picks for Kentucky Derby Weekend
America’s Best Racing – ABR’s Trifecta Picks for the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.
Satchel Paige
WHAT TO WEAR TO THE 2026 KENTUCKY DERBY
Saveur – Rich Warren – The Hot Brown Ranks Among the Mightiest American Sandwiches
Bloodhorse – Gregory A. Hall – Brothers Set for Final Derby Broadcasting Appearance
Phil has a question:
Will you miss Donna Brothers jamming a microphone into the poor winning jockey’s face right after the end of the race just to get some drivel cliches.
Phil has an answer:
Phil won’t.
Right after the game, say as little as possible.
Tom Landry
Bloodhorse – Alan Porter – Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer Lines Lead Derby Field
DRF – Grening – Kentucky Derby 2026: Silent Tactic scratches; Great White draws in
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Father vs. Son: Motts Square Off in Kentucky Derby 152
DRF – David Grening – Kentucky Derby 2026: Renegade’s treacherous post makes a tough race tougher
I never lie because I don’t fear anyone. You only lie when you’re afraid.
John Gotti
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Pletcher, Brown Regroup After Losing Derby Favorite
Bloodhorse – BH at the Derby: Morris Aims for History With Torres
TDN – Tuesday’s Kentucky Derby Report: Sport of Kings
A true hero helps others, not for praise, but because it is right.
Robin Hood
Bloodhorse – Gregory A. Hall – Danon Bourbon, Wonder Dean Complete Easy Breezes
America’s Best Racing – Bob Ehalt – 2026 Kentucky Derby at a Glance
Phil has a question:
How did they eliminate ghost sounds.
Phil has a question and Phil’s not too scared to ask.
Who is going to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby CLII
How do you prepare 150,000 hot dogs.
Do they have a ketchup patrol to keep it off the hot dogs for all person over 11 years old.
Bloodhorse – Olivia Newman – So Happy: From $12,000 Bargain to KY Derby Contender
Phil has a question:
Where’s the pedigree haiku,
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Reddam, O’Neill Seek Third Derby Win with Pavlovian
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Derby Continues to Lean Into High-End Experiences
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – So Close to Derby Dream, Life on the Also-Eligible List
Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.
Mae West
Paulick Report – Andrew Cohen – Keeping Pace: It’s Always All Good During Derby Week
A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.
Confucius
With A Little Help From My Friends
Bloodhorse – HRRN’s ‘Derby Countdown’ Show Schedule
Phil has a question:
Is there a prize for the best Kentucky Derby “feel good” story.
Never think of your car as a cold machine, but as a hot-blooded horse.
Juan Manuel Fangio
TDN – Final Kentucky Derby Tune-Up for Six Speed
When I first started racing, my father said, “Win the race as slow as you can.”
Richard Petty
Phil has a question:
Did you know that Holy Bull’s sire appears in the pedigree of Not This Time, Six Speed’s sire.
DRF – Mike Welsch – 2026 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Potente, Intrepido turn in blistering works
Sometimes you need to ease off in order to go faster.
Jackie Stewart
Paulick Report – Mike Davey – Todd Pletcher Embraces Tough Derby Draw For Favorite Renegade
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Derby a ‘Dream Come True’ for Jockey Maldonado
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Preakness Winner Torres Returns to Big Stage in Derby
Bloodhorse – Olivia Newman – Potente a ‘Heart Horse’ For Farrell
Bloodhorse – Henry Q. Murphy – Breeder McDonald Eyes Sport’s Pinnacle with Fulleffort
Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.
Zhuangzi
Bloodhorse – Byron King and Sean Collins – Potente, Intrepido Set Track Ablaze in Final Derby Work
Paulick Report – Kentucky Derby Update: Chief Wallabee Among Six To Post Final Works
Bloodhorse – BH at the Derby: Post Position Draw Reactions
Phil has a question:
Was Mike Repole’s reaction: ƒΠ©ℵ!!!!!!!!!!!!
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
Lao Tzu
America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – 2026 Kentucky Derby Cheat Sheet
ESPN – AP – Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade placed inside with No. 1 post
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
Confucius
With A Little Help From My Friends
TDN – Team Cox Leads Kentucky Derby And Kentucky Oaks Workers On Early Saturday
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Favored Renegade Must Overcome Inside Post in KY Derby
Paulick Report – Lillian Davis – Renegade 4-1 From The Rail For Kentucky Derby 152
Bloodhorse – BH at the Derby: Derby Contenders Perform Final Works
TDN – Renegade Draws Rail, Favored at 4-1 for Kentucky Derby
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Further Ado, Fulleffort Shine Brightest in Derby Works
TDN -Katie Petrunyak – All In the Family with Taylor Made’s Derby Double Threat
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Chip Honcho to Skip Kentucky Derby, Target Preakness
Phil has a question:
Has the thrill of just being in the Kentucky Derby gone.
Bloodhorse – Gregory A, Hall – Tammaro Getting a Line on Kentucky Derby 152
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Favorite’s Role for Renegade Will Not Faze Repole
TDN – Friday Derby/Oaks Notes: Contenders Put In Final Drills, Busy Saturday Ahead
Paulick Report – Inside Trip Could Help Right To Party ‘Run The Race Of His Life’ In Kentucky Derby
Phil has a question:
Will the lexicographers ever remove words from the dictionary like – original or authentic – words that have become meaningless from over and misuse.
We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap.
Kurt Vonnegut
Bloodhorse – Dick Downey – 12-Second Furlongs: Contenders That Didn’t Make Cut
Bloodhorse – J. Keeler Johnson – 2026 Kentucky Derby: How Fast a Pace Will We See?
Bloodhorse – Lizzy Madden – Emerging Market, So Happy, Wonder Dean Post Derby Works
Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.
John Wooden
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Smith, 59, in Pursuit of Derby History Aboard So Happy
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
Oscar Wilde
Bloodhorse – Ortiz Jr. Riding Wave of Success Into Kentucky Derby
Phil has a question:
Has the thrill of just being in the Kentucky Derby gone.
With A Little Help From My Friends
Bloodhorse – ESPN Louisville Plans Six Days of Derby Coverage
TDN – Wednesday Derby/Oaks Notes: California Contenders Take To The Track
Bloodhorse – Alan Porter – Japan’s Derby Contenders: A Tale of Two Pedigrees
Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Tom Pedulla – Meet the Jockeys of the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Bloodhorse – Dick Downey – 12-Second Furlongs Portend Kentucky Derby Success
Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – From the Start: A Look at Kentucky Derby Post Positions
Bloodhorse – The 48-Year Love Story That Produced So Happy
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Further Ado Honed, Maintains Top Spot in Derby Dozen
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Brown Points Iron Honor to Preakness Instead of Derby
It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.
TDN – New Wagers, Big Pools Highlight Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill
TDN – Classic Contenders Chief Wallabee, Lorelei Lee Work at Churchill Downs
Paulick Report – Bob Baffert-Trained Potente Works At Santa Anita, Will Ship To Churchill Wednesday
Irony is wasted on the stupid.
TDN – Intrepido, Hoping for Derby Spot, Turns in Strong Work at Santa Anita
Paulick Report – Victor Ryan – Kentucky Derby Hopeful Pavlovian On Santa Anita’s Sunday Work Tab
Bloodhorse – Elliott Awaits First KY Derby Mount With Right to Party
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ottinho to Bypass Kentucky Derby
TDN – Ottinho Out of Derby But Works Well at Keeneland, Oaks Hopeful Bella Ballerina Breezes
Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Renegade Has Penultimate Derby Work at Palm Beach Downs
Paulick Report – The Puma Comes Through With ‘Big Work’ At Gulfstream
Bloodhorse – The Puma, Albus Among Saturday Kentucky Derby Workers
Paulick Report – Mike Davey – Kentucky Derby Firster Jaime Torres ‘All About Enjoying The Moment’
Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I’ll waste no time reading it.
Bloodhorse – J Keeler Johnson – 2026 Kentucky Derby: 3 Live Longshots to Consider
Phil has a question:
Was Potente’s Santa Anita Derby loss a result of “Who needs a Plan B when Plan A is so good.”
We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.
H. L. Mencken
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.
Vincent Van Gogh
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – The Road – Equibase Ratings Flatter Renegade, Commandment
Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Renegade Has Penultimate Derby Work at Palm Beach Downs
Bloodhorse – Who Will Be the Kentucky Derby 152 Favorite?
America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – 2026 Kentucky Derby Cheat Sheet
Phil has a question:
Who’s gonna get the first call out of the gate and the first call after the first quarter mile.
America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – The Basics: How to Bet the Kentucky Derby
Phil has a question:
Where did the last son of Mr. Prospector stand.
America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – Sixteen Things to Know About the Kentucky Derby
TDN – Kentucky Derby/Oaks Hopefuls Spotted on Track at Oaklawn Park
Bloodhorse – Jay Hovdey – To Win the Derby, a Jock Needs All the Right Moves
TDN – Kentucky Derby Notes: Commandment, Fulleffort Lead Friday Work Tab At Churchill
Paulick Report – ‘Nice And Relaxed’: Kentucky Derby Hopeful Golden Tempo Works At Keeneland
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
Bertrand Russell
America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – An Early Look at the Probable Field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Paulick Report – Who Will Irad Choose? Brad Cox Awaiting Kentucky Derby Decision From Ortiz
DRF – David Grening – Riley Mott hoping Albus will continue progression in Kentucky Derby
Horse Racing Nation – 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders
America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – Beginner’s Guide to the 2026 Kentucky Derby
The Rookie Wire – Check out 16 milliners, hatmakers selling Kentucky Derby 2026 hats
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Lao Tzu
Phil M Stockmen