WHO’S NOT Renegade was impressive drawing clear to a four-length victory in the Arkansas Derby and now is widely considered the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. David Aragona pegged Renegade at 7-2 in DRF's Derby Watch top 20, slightly ahead of Commandment (9-2), who somehow got his nose down on the wire over The Puma in Grade 1 Florida Derby. The Puma and Chief Wallabee, a half-length behind the top two in the Florida Derby, are co-third choices at 10-1. Commandment has won four in a row, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby but will likely need a new rider in the Kentucky Derby. For the fourth year in a row, Japan will have two runners in the Kentucky Derby. Danon Bourbon improved to 3 for 3 with a victory in the Fukuryu Stakes while Wonder Dean ran by pacesetting Six Speed to win the UAE Derby. Six Speed also is pointing to the Derby. WHO’S NOT The two-time graded winner and early Derby favorite Paladin has been sidelined with a right front ankle injury and will miss most of the rest of his 3-year-old season. :: DRF Road to the Derby Package Available Now! Save 37% on key handicapping essentials through Kentucky Derby day. Nearly, the Holy Bull winner, finished a disappointing fourth and now is on the outside looking in for the Derby. He and his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Grittiness will train toward the Kentucky Derby but will likely need defections to get into the field. Blackout Time and Litmus Test ran themselves out of Derby consideration with their efforts in the Arkansas Derby. ON THE BUBBLE Reagan’s Honor, dropped from the Derby Watch list last week, is tenuously back on this week. He will need a top-two finish in the Blue Grass to qualify. Though he’s in the Derby Watch top 20, Cherokee Nation has to finish first or second in the Santa Anita Derby to make it into the Kentucky Derby field. Intrepido, a Grade 1 winner at 2 and runner-up in the Robert Lewis, gets a chance to earn his Derby spot in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Stark Contrast, who has 50 Derby qualifying points, is being pointed to the American Turf, but his connections could reroute him to the Derby should there be any significant defections. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2026: Top contenders, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more