Kentucky Derby contender Further Ado favored by trainer Brad Cox
After Further Ado won by 11 lengths, trainer Brad Cox talked about ‘dominating’ performance as three-year-old heads to the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
- Commandment and Further Ado, who are both trained by Louisville native Brad Cox, are at the top of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points leaderboard.
- Renegade, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, rounds out the top three in the 2026 Run for the Roses standings.
Here are the current points standings for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
The top 20 horses in the final standings will earn a spot in the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Invitations also will be extended to the top two horses in the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby and the top horse in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Ties in the points standings are broken by earnings in non-restricted stakes.
Buy tickets to Kentucky Derby 152 at Churchill Downs
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: Luis Saez.
Sire: Into Mischief.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: John Velazquez.
Sire: Gun Runner.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 4 at Keeneland.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Sire: Into Mischief.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Mark Glatt.
Jockey: Mike Smith.
Sire: Runhappy.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.
Sire: Liam’s Map.
Last race: Won Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 21 at Turfway Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.
Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Sire: Essential Quality.
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Mark Casse.
Jockey: Cristian Torres.
Sire: Tacitus.
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Chad Brown.
Jockey: Flavien Prat.
Sire: Candy Ride.
Last race: Won Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Riley Mott.
Jockey: Manny Franco.
Sire: Yaupon.
Last race: Won Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4 at Aqueduct.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Jockey: Juan Hernandez.
Sire: Into Mischief.
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Meet the contender: Click here to learn more.
Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado.
Sire: Pavel.
Last race: Second in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Chris Elliott.
Sire: Constitution.
Last race: Second in Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4 at Aqueduct.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer: Riley Mott.
Jockey: Jaime Torres.
Sire: Bolt d’Oro.
Last race: Won Virginia Derby on March 14 at Colonial Downs.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz.
Sire: Curlin.
Last race: Third in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer: Chad Brown.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Quality Road.
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 4 at Keeneland.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Michael McCarthy.
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura.
Sire: Caravaggio.
Last race: Second in Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 21 at Turfway Park.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Chad Brown.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Nyquist.
Last race: Seventh in Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4 at Aqueduct.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai.
Sire: Dee Majesty.
Last race: Won Group 2 UAE Derby on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar.
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona.
Sire: Not This Time.
Last race: Second in Group 2 UAE Derby on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe.
Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura.
Sire: Maxfield.
Last race: WonFukuryu Stakes on March 28 at Nakayama Racecourse.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
On the bubble
Trainer: Bill Mott.
Jockey: Junior Alvarado.
Sire: Constitution.
Last race: Third in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Connect.
Last race: Fifth in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Jeff Mullins.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Maximus Mischief.
Last race: Fourth in Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Curlin.
Last race: Second in Virginia Derby on March 14 at Colonial Downs.
Likely next race: TBA.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Not This Time.
Last race: Fourth in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Likely next race: TBA.
TV channel: NBC
Livestream: Peacock (subscriber only)
In May of 2024, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The extension includes multi-platform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.
Post time for the 152nd Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @KentuckyDerby_CJ
