Kentucky Derby 2026 handicapping tips from CJ's Better Derby Betting

The 2026 Kentucky Derby field is expected to be deep and very competitive, which can make it difficult to pick a winner. But there’s help: The Courier Journal hosted its annual Better Derby Betting event Wednesday evening at Saints Pizza Pub & SkyBar in St. Matthews.

The event enlisted a panel that included Churchill Downs reporter Kaitlin Benson , Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone and Horse Racing Nation’s Ed DeRosa with Courier Journal horse racing reporter Jason Frakes to provide insight on the best and worst in the field. The group broke down several races and discussed the horses and jockeys expected to hit the track in the 152nd Run for the Roses. Here are five takeaways from the Better Derby Betting event: Renegade expected to be the morning-line favorite but not panel’s favorite If you go to Churchill Downs this week, don’t expect to see Renegade because he’s not there.

He’s still in Florida with the plan being to wait until the very last minute to bring him into town. Despite Renegade being expected to be the Derby’s morning-line favorite, the panel wasn’t sold on the colt, with DeRosa’s preference being Further Ado . Benson believes Renegade will be too far back during the race and called jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

’s Derby record “terrible. ” Ortiz is 0 for 9 in the Derby, with his best finish being fourth while riding Improbable in 2019. He was scheduled to ride Forte, the favorite, in 2023, before the horse scratched.