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 victor.
Cox just didn't get to savor it, having been awarded the win upon the formal disqualification of the 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 two of the favorites 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. Cox had been scheduled to run a third starter, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort, but the latter was scratched due to a chipped hind ankle.
Cox's contenders 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 intimidating 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 inside than during the 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.
Further Ado drew post 18, but as of 10 a.m. May 1, he was slated to start from post 16 due to two horses—Right to Party and Silent Tactic—being scratched inside of him, moving him inward in the starting gate. Those defections, as well as Fulleffort's scratch, have allowed longshots Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta to draw into the race. They occupy the three outermost post positions in Saturday's 20-horse field.
Horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby and other Derby week races have been under close regulatory veterinarian scrutiny, undergoing examinations and, at times, diagnostic tests.
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Records could be made in the race—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 could also be made by human participants.
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.
Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 2, 2026, Race 12Entries: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)
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
