These are the post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks

Kentucky Derby week is finally upon us.

We now know the horses, and their starting positions, for this year’s Run for the Roses.

On Saturday afternoon, the post position draws were held at Churchill Downs in Louisville for both the Grade 1, $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks for fillies on May 1 and the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby for 3-year-old thoroughbreds on May 2.

This year marks the 152nd running of both the Derby and Oaks.

Renegade — trained by Todd Pletcher and to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. — was installed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the Derby. The horse is set to start the Derby from post position No. 1, which is the furthest inside starting gate.

Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. May 2.

Up to 20 horses can run in the Derby, in which 3-year-old thoroughbreds travel 1 ^1/4 miles on Churchill Downs’ main track.

Zany — also trained by Pletcher and also to be ridden by Ortiz Jr. — is the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the Oaks, which will be run Friday night at Churchill Downs. Zany will depart from post position No. 2.

Post time for the Oaks is 8:40 p.m. Friday.

Up to 14 horses can run in the Oaks, in which 3-year-old fillies go 1 ^1/8 miles on the Churchill Downs main track.

Pletcher has previously won the Kentucky Derby twice with Super Saver in 2010 and with Always Dreaming in 2017. Ortiz Jr. has never won the Derby.

In the Oaks, Pletcher has scored four prior wins with Ashado (2004), Rags to Riches (2007), Princess of Sylmar (2013) and Malathaat (2021).

Ortiz Jr. has also never won the Oaks.

Here’s what you need to know after the post position draw for both races.

2026 Kentucky Derby post position draw

A total of 20 horses were assigned a starting gate for the Kentucky Derby during the post position draw. Additionally, four horses were listed as also-eligibles for the race.

Up to four horses can be listed as an also-eligible for the Derby. Also-eligible horses can draw into the Derby field if any of the expected Derby runners are scratched before 9 a.m. Friday.

The also-eligible horses are listed in the order of preference to move into the Derby field.

Here are the results of the 2026 Kentucky Derby post position draw.

Horses are listed with their morning-line odds, trainers, jockeys, owners and breeders, in that order.

• No. 1: Renegade, (4-1), Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Robert and Lawana L. Low and Repole Stable, Robert and Lawana Low.
• No. 2: Albus, (30-1), Riley Mott, Manny Franco, Pin Oak Stud, Susan Casner.
• No. 3: Intrepido, (50-1), Jeff Mullins, Hector Berrios, Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures, Sierra Fria Farm.
• No. 4: Litmus Test, (30-1), Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Machmer Hall.
• No. 5: Right to Party, (30-1), Kenny McPeek, Chris Elliott, Chester Broman Sr., Tony Holmes and Timothy C. Thornton.
• No. 6: Commandment, (6-1), Brad Cox, Luis Saez, Wathnan Racing, Lee Pokoik.
• No. 7: Danon Bourbon, (20-1), Manabu Ikezoe, Atsuya Nishimura, Danox Co. Ltd., Blue Heaven Farm.
• No. 8: So Happy, (15-1), Mark Glatt, Mike Smith, Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners, Leverett S. Miller.
• No. 9: The Puma, (10-1), Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, OGMA Investments, JR Ranch and High Step Racing, Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn.
• No. 10: Wonder Dean (JPN), (30-1), Daisuke Takayanagi, Ryusei Sakai, Yoshinari Yamamoto, Yoshinari Yamamoto.
• No. 11: Incredibolt, (20-1), Riley Mott, Jaime Torres, Pin Oak Stud, Deann Baer and Greg Baer DVM.
• No. 12: Chief Wallabee, (8-1), Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, Michael and Katherine G. Ball, Mike Ball and Katherine Ball.
• No. 13: Silent Tactic, (20-1), Mark Casse, Cristian Torres, John C. Oxley, Don Alberto Corporation.
• No. 14: Potente, (20-1), Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, Speedway Stables, Pam and Martin Wygod.
• No. 15: Emerging Market, (15-1), Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, Klaravich Stables Inc., Stoneriggs Farm.
• No. 16: Pavlovian, (30-1), Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, Reddam Racing, Reddam Racing.
• No. 17: Six Speed, (50-1), Bhupat Seemar, Brian Hernandez Jr. (1), Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson and Swinbank Stables, KatieRich Farms.
• No. 18: Further Ado, (6-1), Brad Cox, John Velazquez, Spendthrift Farm, John C. Oxley.
• No. 19: Golden Tempo, (30-1), Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable.
• No. 20: Fulleffort, (20-1), Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione, St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing, Athens Woods.

The also-eligible horses for the Derby are:

• No. 21: Great White, (50-1), John Ennis, Alex Achard, Three Chimneys Farm and John Ennis, Stud TNT.
• No. 22: Ocelli, (50-1), Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos, Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian, Rosedown Racing Stables.
• No. 23: Robusta, (50-1), Doug O’Neill, Emisael Jaramillo, Calumet Farm, Calumet Farm.
• No. 24: Corona de Oro, (50-1), Dallas Stewart, Brian Hernandez Jr. (2), On Our Own Stable, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing, Jim Nichols, Edwin S. Barker, Daniel Rivers, John Haines and Dallas Stewart, Willow Oaks Stable.

What are the big takeaways from the post position draw?

While the importance of the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby can sometimes be hard to precisely quantify, there’s a ton of historical precedent to study when it comes to which post positions have the most success in the Run for the Roses.

Post position No. 5 is the only starting gate that has produced double-digit Kentucky Derby winners. Ten horses have won the Derby from the No. 5 starting spot out of 96 all-time starters. The last horse to win the Derby from the No. 5 starting gate was Always Dreaming in 2017.

This year, Right to Party was drawn into post position No. 5.

Conversely, post position No. 17 is the only starting spot that has never produced a Derby winner. A total of 46 horses have started the Derby from post position No. 17, and none of them have won. The most recent top-three finish by a horse out of the No. 17 starting spot was Forty Niner’s second-place effort way back in 1988.

This year, Six Speed was drawn into post position No. 17.

Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner was Sovereignty, which left from post position No. 16. Five horses have won the Derby from the No. 16 starting gate out of 53 all-time starters.

This year, Pavlovian was drawn into post position No. 16.

Only one Japan-born horse, Forever Young (JPN), has finished in the money in the Kentucky Derby. Forever Young came in third place in the 2024 Derby, which was decided in a three-way photo finish. Forever Young accomplished this feat from the No. 10 post position.

This year’s Derby only features one Japan-born horse. That’s Wonder Dean (JPN), which will also depart from the No. 10 starting gate.

One of the early favorites for this year’s Kentucky Derby is Further Ado, a Brad Cox trainee which won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland by a remarkable 11 lengths. Further Ado — which was drawn into post position No. 18 — is aiming to become the first horse to win both the Blue Grass and the Derby since Strike the Gold in 1991.

The last Derby winner from the No. 18 starting spot was Country House, via disqualification, in 2019.

Starting with the 2020 Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs has used a custom-made 20-horse starting gate for the Derby.

Previously, the track used two gates to accommodate all the Derby horses. The switch to a 65-foot gate that can accommodate up to 20 horses eliminated a wide gap between post position No. 14 in the previous main gate and post position No. 15 in the previous auxiliary gate.

This custom-made gate used by Churchill Downs also helps mitigate the disadvantage for horses drawn near the rail.

2026 Kentucky Oaks post position draw

The following 14 fillies were assigned a starting gate for Friday’s Kentucky Oaks during Saturday afternoon’s post position draw.

Also-eligible horses currently on the outside of the Oaks field will follow the same process to get into the race that’s used for the Derby.

Up to four horses can be listed as an also-eligible for the Oaks. Also-eligible horses can draw into the Oaks field if any of the expected Oaks runners are scratched before 9 a.m. Friday.

These are the results of the 2026 Kentucky Oaks post position draw. Horses are listed with their morning-line odds, trainers, jockeys, owners and breeders, in that order.

• No. 1: Explora, (6-1), Bob Baffert, Flavien Prat, Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Mesingw Farm.
• No. 2: Zany, (4-1), Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Repole Stable, D.J. Stable.
• No. 3: Search Party, (30-1), Mark Casse, Cristian Torres, Tracy Farmer, Tracy Farmer.
• No. 4: Counting Stars, (8-1), Mark Casse, Francisco Arrieta, West Point Thoroughbreds, HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud.
• No. 5: Meaning, (5-1), Michael McCarthy, Juan Hernandez, Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Stonehaven Steadings.
• No. 6: My Miss Mo, (20-1), Saffie Joseph Jr., Micah Husbands, Averill Racing, Mathis Stables and Tristan De Meric, Valerie Mastromonaco, Tristan de Meric and Uncle Mo Syndicate.
• No. 7: Dazzling Dame, (30-1), Brittany Russell, Luis Saez, Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables, Maria M. Haire.
• No. 8: Bottle of Rouge, (20-1), Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, Natalie J. Baffert, Kathie Maybee.
• No. 9: Always a Runner, (10-1), Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm, Three Chimneys Farm.
• No. 10: Prom Queen, (8-1), Brad Cox, Javier Castellano, Gary and Mary West, Gary & Mary West Stables.
• No. 11: Percy’s Bar, (6-1), Ben Colebrook, Luan Machado, Hat Creek Racing, Brereton C. Jones.
• No. 12: Bella Ballerina, (10-1), Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione, Godolphin, Godolphin.
• No. 13: Pashmina, (30-1), Rob Atras, Ramon Vasquez, Red White and Blue Racing, Narola.
• No. 14: Brooklyn Blonde, (30-1), Michael McCarthy, Kazushi Kimura, Sun-Kissed Stables and Bobby Flay, Benson Farm.

The also-eligible horses for the Oaks are:

• No. 15: Lovely Grey, (30-1), Kelsey Danner, Dylan Davis, Go Go Greys Stable, Joann Adams and Katy Lee.
• No. 16: Nycon, (50-1), Whit Beckman, Jaime Torres, Icon Racing Stable, Pursuit of Success.
• No. 17: Resist, (50-1), Tommy Drury Jr., Brian Hernandez Jr., Military Pike Racing Stables, Military Pike Racing Stables.

This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 2:52 PM.

Cameron Drummond

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-242-5257

Cameron Drummond works as a sports reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader with a focus on Kentucky men’s basketball recruiting and the UK men’s basketball team, horse racing, soccer and other sports in Central Kentucky. Drummond is a second-generation American who was born and raised in Texas, before graduating from Indiana University. He is a fluent Spanish speaker who previously worked as a community news reporter in Austin, Texas. Support my work with a digital subscription