who won the kentucky kentucky derby
No winner yet for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The race is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, placing it about three months from now on May 1, 2026.
Current Leaderboard
Prep races on the "Road to the Derby" are actively awarding points to top 3-year-old contenders as of mid-February 2026. Here's the latest top rankings from recent updates:
| Rank | Horse | Points | Earnings | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ted Noffey | 40 | $1,602,963 | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm |
| 2 | Mr. A. P. | 15 | $340,000 | Vladimir Cerin | Holly & David Wilson |
| 3 | Intrepido | 13 | $240,000 | Jeff Mullins | Dutch Girl Holdings & Irving Ventures |
| 4 | Spice Runner | 11 | $243,426 | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 5 | Napoleon Solo | 10 | $275,000 | Chad Summers | Gold Square |
- Notable recent standout: Renegade surged to strong contention after a dominant 3¾-length win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on February 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, earning 20 points and tying for high ranks based on earnings. Trainer Todd Pletcher's charge rallied wide under Irad Ortiz Jr., sparking buzz about its distance potential.
- Other rising names include Cannoneer (impressive Churchill Downs score) and Silent Tactic (Southwest Stakes victor).
Trending Buzz & Viewpoints
Online chatter is heating up in racing forums:
"Renegade's rally was electric—Pletcher could have another Derby star if he stretches out." – Fan discussion on recent stakes impact.
- Optimists highlight Bob Baffert trainees like Brant and Litmus Test (both at 9 points), citing his track record despite past suspensions.
- Skeptics note early points leaders like Ted Noffey often fade, favoring later risers from bigger preps like the upcoming Fountain of Youth or Rebel Stakes.
- Multi-view: Spendthrift Farm's dominance (top spot) vs. underdogs like Incredibolt (Riley Mott barn) could shake up odds as the 18-horse field shapes by late March.
For historical context, the 2025 winner isn't specified in current leaderboards, but full past lists run back to 1875 with icons like Mystik Dan (2024).
TL;DR: No 2026 winner yet—race on May 2; track Ted Noffey (40 pts) and fresh stars like Renegade amid lively contender debates.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.