Everything you need to know about the 2026 Kentucky Derby post positions
At 0h11, on April 28, 2026 • By J. Keeler Johnson, TwinSpires.com
Post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) were drawn on Saturday afternoon. Which horses drew well? Which drew poorly? Which will enjoy favorable trips in the 152nd Run for the Roses?
Bettors needn’t draw conclusions based on anecdotes or gut feelings. Data-driven answers are provided by the post position statistics meticulously compiled by Churchill Downs since the starting gate was first introduced for the 1930 Kentucky Derby.
How many winners have broken from post 1? What’s the win percentage of post 15? What percent of horses finish in the money (first, second, or third) when breaking from post 5? Who was the last horse to win from post 14? How about the last horse to finish in the money from post 17?
If you find yourself asking any of these questions, we’ve got you covered with a convenient chart analyzing all the Kentucky Derby post position data:
| Post | 2026 Derby Starter | Record | Win % | ITM % | Last Winner | Last In-the-Money |
| 1 | Renegade | 96-8-5-5 | 8.3% | 18.8% | Ferdinand (1986) | Lookin At Lee (2nd, 2017) |
| 2 | Albus | 96-7-6-13 | 7.3% | 27.1% | Affirmed (1978) | Sierra Leone (2nd, 2024) |
| 3 | Intrepido | 96-6-8-8 | 6.3% | 22.9% | Mystik Dan (2024) | Mystik Dan (1st, 2024) |
| 4 | Litmus Test | 96-5-6-4 | 5.2% | 15.6% | Super Saver (2010) | Danza (3rd, 2014) |
| 5 | Right to Party | 96-10-8-4 | 10.4% | 22.9% | Always Dreaming (2017) | Audible (3rd, 2018) |
| 6 | Commandment | 96-2-8-3 | 2.1% | 13.5% | Sea Hero (1993) | Good Magic (2nd, 2018) |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | 95-8-7-6 | 8.4% | 22.1% | Mandaloun (2021) | Journalism (2nd, 2025) |
| 8 | So Happy | 95-9-5-5 | 9.5% | 20.0% | Mage (2023) | Mage (1st, 2023) |
| 9 | The Puma | 92-4-6-8 | 4.3% | 19.6% | Riva Ridge (1972) | Hot Rod Charlie (2nd, 2021) |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | 89-9-6-11 | 10.1% | 29.2% | Giacomo (2005) | Forever Young (3rd, 2024) |
| 11 | Incredibolt | 85-2-6-4 | 2.4% | 14.1% | Winning Colors (1988) | Code of Honor (2nd, 2019) |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | 81-3-3-4 | 3.7% | 12.3% | Canonero II (1971) | Angel of Empire (3rd, 2023) |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | 79-5-5-7 | 6.3% | 21.5% | Nyquist (2016) | Nyquist (1st, 2016) |
| 14 | Potente | 69-2-6-6 | 2.9% | 20.3% | Carry Back (1961) | Essential Quality (3rd, 2021) |
| 15 | Emerging Market | 64-6-2-1 | 9.4% | 14.1% | Authentic (2020) | Authentic (1st, 2020) |
| 16 | Pavlovian | 53-5-3-3 | 9.4% | 20.8% | Sovereignty (2025) | Sovereignty (1st, 2025) |
| 17 | Six Speed | 46-0-1-2 | 0.0% | 6.5% | None | Forty Niner (2nd, 1988) |
| 18 | Further Ado | 38-2-4-0 | 5.3% | 15.8% | Country House (2019) | Country House (1st, 2019) |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | 32-1-1-1 | 3.1% | 9.4% | I’ll Have Another (2012) | Baeza (3rd, 2025) |
| 20 | Fulleffort | 19-2-0-1 | 10.5% | 15.8% | Rich Strike (2022) | Rich Strike (1st, 2022) |
