The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious and highly anticipated events in the world of horse racing. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby attracts horse racing enthusiasts from all over the world. The Derby is a 1 1/4 mile race for three-year-old thoroughbreds and is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Let's take a look at the odds for one of the horses competing in the 152nd Run for the Roses: The Puma.
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2026 Kentucky Derby Profile & Predictions: The Puma
- Name: The Puma
- Post Position: 9
- Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
- Jockey: Javier Castellano
- Owners: OGMA Investments, JR Ranch & High Step Racing
- Breeder: Hidden Brook Farm & Brian Kahn
- Sire: Essential Quality
- Dam: Eve of War (by Declaration of War)
- Color: Chestnut
- Career Record: 4: 1-2-1
- Earnings: $442,280
- Top Beyer Speed Figure: 100
- Top Equibase Speed Figure: 97
- Derby Qualifying Points: 106
Recent Form & Racing Style
The Puma is known for his stalker-style running and finished second by a nose in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 28.
Betting Outlook
The Puma has run in four races, finishing in the money in all four (1-2-1). His victory came at the 2026 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7. He finished in second in his most recent race, the 2026 Florida Derby, a few weeks later (March 28), where he started slow but showed some impressive speed to finish in second. His jockey, Javier Castellano, won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on different horses in 2023. Gustavo Delgado, his trainer, also happened to be the trainer of the 2023 Kentucky Derby winner. He has raced well against proven competition and has become known for having a strong, late burst down the stretch. Several experts have picked him to finish in the top three. He's a solid dark horse to win, and a good bet to show.
-Travis Pulver
Bet: Win/Place/Show
2026 Kentucky Derby Field
| Post | Horse | Trainer Name | Jockey Name | Odds |
| 1 | Renegade | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | +400 |
| 2 | Albus | Riley Mott | Manuel Franco | +4000 |
| 3 | Intrepido | Jeff Mullins | Hector Barrios | +5000 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | +5000 |
| 5 | Right to Party | Kenneth McPeek | Chris Elliott | +5000 |
| 6 | Commandment | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | +500 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | +1500 |
| 8 | So Happy | Mark Glatt | Mike Smith | +1200 |
| 9 | The Puma | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano | +800 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | Daisuke Takayanagi | Ryusei Sakai | +4000 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | +2500 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | William I. Mott | Junior Alvarado | +800 |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | John C. Oxley | Cristian Torres | +3000 |
| 14 | Potente | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | +2000 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Chad C. Brown | Flavien Prat | +1500 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Doug O’Neill | Edwin Maldonado | +3500 |
| 17 | Six Speed | Bhupat Seemar | TBD | +5000 |
| 18 | Further Ado | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | +500 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Cherie DeVaux | Jose Ortiz | +3000 |
| 20 | Fulleffort | Brad Cox | Tyler Gaffalione | +2500 |
Best Bets, Picks & Predictions
- Kentucky Derby Picks, Longshots & Sleeper Bets
- Kentucky Derby Trends & Best Bets
- How to Bet on the 2026 Kentucky Derby
2026 Kentucky Derby Horse Previews, Picks & Predictions
Check out our previews for every horse competing in the 2026 Kentucky Derby and our expert analysis on the best bets for this year's Run for the Roses.
- Renegade
- Albus
- Intrepido
- Litmus Test
- Right to Party
- Commandment
- Danon Bourbon
- So Happy
- The Puma
- Wonder Dean
- Incredibolt
- Chief Wallabee
- Potente
- Emerging Market
- Pavlovian
- Six Speed
- Further Ado
- Golden Tempo
- Fulleffort
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