Kentucky Derby Preview: Cox to Send Out Strong Trio

Pull up the record books or pass signage around Churchill Downs, and there is evidence of Brad Cox as a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, having trained Juddmonte's Mandaloun  , the official 2021 first-place finisher.

Cox just didn't get to savor it, having been awarded the win upon the formal disqualification of Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit for a long-contested medication violation, a move that elevated Mandaloun from second to first.

"Obviously, there was no thrill of victory," Cox said.

On May 2 in the 152nd Derby, the Louisville, Ky., native has one of his best subsequent chances to secure a more satisfying triumph. He will send out three runners in the 1 1/4-mile classic for 3-year-olds: Spendthrift Farm's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Further Ado  and Wathnan Racing's Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment —co-second choices at 6-1 on the morning line behind Todd Pletcher's 4-1 favorite Renegade —along with 20-1 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort . The latter, owned by St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing, lacks established dirt form but has a pedigree that suggests potential for main-track success.

His horses even got an assist at the draw when Renegade, the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner for Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low, landed the rail—an awkward starting position in a 20-horse race from which no horse has won since Ferdinand in 1986.

Cox, asked about his thoughts on Renegade drawing that post, quipped, "Better him than us."

He noted, however, that Hit Show  broke from the rail in 2023 and managed a clean trip before finishing fifth—evidence in his view that not every horse starting from the fence becomes buried in the 20-horse race.

Since 2020, Churchill Downs has used a continuous 20-horse gate, positioned farther from the intimidating inside rail than a former dual-gate setup.

Pletcher, flying to Kentucky when posts were drawn, joked he reached for an air-sickness bag upon hearing the news. It marks the third time since 2021 that one of his horses has drawn inside. Known Agenda   (2021) and Mo Donegal   (2022) finished eighth and fifth, respectively, both under Irad Ortiz Jr., who rides Renegade.

Pletcher, a dual Derby winner and Hall of Famer, speculated that experience from Ortiz in those races may leave the jockey knowing "a little bit of what to expect. Could be helpful, I don't know."

Ortiz, a five-time Eclipse award winner who chose a few weeks ago to ride Renegade rather than Further Ado in the Derby, has yet to hit the board in nine mounts in the race, the most difficult race in North America to win. Three-time Derby winner and Hall of Famer John Velazquez secures the mount on Further Ado.

Asked if he believes Renegade can overcome the rail draw, Pletcher replied, "I do," citing the colt's finishing ability and acceleration.

Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado drew post 18, but as of 2 p.m. April 29, he had moved into post 17 following the scratch of Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Silent Tactic  due to a bruised foot. All horses drawn outside the scratched runner move in a post after a withdrawal.

With his defection, also-eligible Great White , a 50-1 longshot, draws into the Derby on the far outside, post 20.

Horses from post 17 are 0-for-46, a contrast without logical explanation to the returns from post 16 (5-for-53) and post 18 (2-for-38). 

Renegade, Commandment, and San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner and $2.4 million yearling purchase Potente  are sons of Spendthrift Farm's seven-time leading sire Into Mischief  . A victory from any of them would make him the only stallion to sire four Derby winners.

History can be made by some human participants as well.

Baffert, another Hall of Famer, also has an opportunity this year to stand alone as the winningest Derby trainer. A victory from either Potente (20-1) or Litmus Test  (50-1) would give him a seventh Derby, breaking his current six-win tie with the late Ben Jones. Potente comes off a second-place finish to the Mark Glatt-trained So Happy  in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), who pounced under a stalking ride from Mike Smith.

The 59-year-old Smith, a two-time Derby winner, can break Bill Shoemaker's record as the oldest jockey to win the Derby. The late Shoemaker was 54 when he won his fourth Derby aboard Ferdinand 40 years ago.

READ: Smith, 59, in Pursuit of Derby History Aboard So Happy

Litmus Test is one of two horses adding blinkers for Saturday's Derby, joined by Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) runner-up and Florida Derby third-place finisher Chief Wallabee . The lightly raced Constitution   colt has turned heads while breezing in the equipment at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott 

Mott and Junior Alvarado, who teamed to win the 2025 Derby with Godolphin's Sovereignty , attempt to go back-to-back. Baffert was the last trainer to win consecutive Derbies when Real Quiet in 1998 followed a win from Silver Charm in 1997. Victor Espinoza is the last rider to post two straight Derby wins, striking with California Chrome   in 2014 and a year later with American Pharaoh, who would go on to win the Triple Crown.

When Mott looks across the paddock this year before the Derby while saddling Mike and Katherine Ball's Chief Wallabee, he will see his son, Riley, preparing to run Incredibolt  and Albus , both owned by Pin Oak Stud.

READ: Bittersweet Time for Pin Oak Stud as Derby Approaches

"We'll have to face off. Obviously, I've got to try to beat him on Saturday," the elder Mott said.

A father and son training opposing horses in the same Derby hasn't happened since 1964, when Red Wingfield's Dandy K finished eighth, and Bobby Wingfield's Wil Rad was 10th.

As in other recent Derbies, there is an international presence. This year's race includes two Japanese-trained horses in Danon Bourbon  and Wonder Dean , plus the Dubai-based Six Speed .

Post time for the Kentucky Derby, Saturday's 12th race, is 6:57 p.m. ET. A crowd of about 140,000 or more is anticipated at Churchill Downs, and millions will watch the race on national television. NBC will broadcast the Derby and many of the day's major races.

Dry conditions are forecast for Saturday, with cool afternoon temperatures in the upper 50s.

Entries: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 02, 2026, Race 12

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $5,000,000
• 3 yo
• 6:57 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Renegade (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
2	2Albus (KY)	Manuel Franco	126	Riley Mott	30/1
3	3Intrepido (KY)	Hector Isaac Berrios	126	Jeff Mullins	50/1
4	4Litmus Test (KY)	Martin Garcia	126	Bob Baffert	50/1
5	5Right to Party (KY)	Christopher Elliott	126	Kenneth G. McPeek	30/1
6	6Commandment (KY)	Luis Saez	126	Brad H. Cox	6/1
7	7Danon Bourbon (KY)	Atsuya Nishimura	126	Manabu Ikezoe	20/1
8	8So Happy (KY)	Mike E. Smith	126	Mark Glatt	15/1
9	9The Puma (KY)	Javier Castellano	126	Gustavo Delgado	10/1
10	10Wonder Dean (JPN)	Ryusei Sakai	126	Daisuke Takayanagi	30/1
11	11Incredibolt (KY)	Jaime A. Torres	126	Riley Mott	20/1
12	12Chief Wallabee (KY)	Junior Alvarado	126	William I. Mott	8/1
13	13Silent Tactic (KY)	Cristian A. Torres	126	Mark E. Casse	20/1
14	14Potente (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	126	Bob Baffert	20/1
15	15Emerging Market (KY)	Flavien Prat	126	Chad C. Brown	15/1
16	16Pavlovian (CA)	Edwin A. Maldonado	126	Doug F. O'Neill	30/1
17	17Six Speed (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	126	Bhupat Seemar	50/1
18	18Further Ado (KY)	John R. Velazquez	126	Brad H. Cox	6/1
19	19Golden Tempo (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	Cherie DeVaux	30/1
20	20Fulleffort (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	126	Brad H. Cox	20/1
21	21Great White (KY)	Alex Achard	126	John Ennis	50/1
22	22Ocelli (KY)	Joseph D. Ramos	126	D. Whitworth Beckman	50/1
23	23Robusta (KY)	Emisael Jaramillo	126	Doug F. O'Neill	50/1
24	24Corona de Oro (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	126	Dallas Stewart	50/1