The Kentucky Derby is almost here, and the excitement is building. On Saturday at 6:57 PM ET, nearly 150,000 fans will pack Churchill Downs to witness the first leg of the 2026 Triple Crown. This year's field is stacked with contenders, dark horses, and long shots, making it one of the most unpredictable races in recent memory. So, who has the best shot at crossing the finish line first? Let's break down the full ranking of all 20 horses and share our top bets to win, place, and show.
Starting at the bottom of the list, we have Ocelli, trained by D. Whitworth Beckman. This horse only made it into the Derby after several scratches, including Right to Party. Despite six career starts, Ocelli has yet to secure a win and is coming off a rough stretch with two sixth-place finishes in his last three races—not exactly the momentum you want heading into the Run for the Roses.
Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins, showed early promise by winning two of his first three races, including the American Pharoah last year. But since then, it's been a downhill slide. A fifth-place finish followed by a fourth-place showing at Santa Anita has left this colt as a big underdog on Saturday. He'll need a major turnaround to contend.
Robusta, from Calumet Farm, earned his spot after three scratches during race week. Unfortunately, his career has been underwhelming. While he has a win and a second-place finish in five starts, he also has two seventh-place finishes—including one last month against several Derby competitors at Santa Anita. That inconsistency makes him a long shot at best.
Great White, trained by John Ennis, has been all over the place in his four-race career. He won his debut in December and took the John Battaglia Memorial in February, but he also finished fifth in his other two starts, including the Blue Grass in April. That unpredictability is why he's one of the biggest underdogs on the board.
Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, got off to a strong start with a couple of early victories. But more recent performances have raised questions about his ability to handle the Derby's grueling 1 1/4-mile distance. He's a horse that could surprise, but he'll need everything to go right.