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Expert Picks, Favorites and Odds for Historic Run for the Roses

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James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 152nd Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday at Churchill Downs, with post time scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET in the signature race of the Triple Crown season. A field of 20 three-year-olds will vie for the garland of roses in the $5 million Run for the Roses, promising one of the most anticipated — and heavily wagered — days in American sports.

2026 Kentucky Derby Predictions: Expert Picks, Favorites and Odds for
2026 Kentucky Derby Predictions: Expert Picks, Favorites and Odds for Historic Run for the Roses

Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., drew the rail and opened as the 4-1 morning-line favorite after an impressive Arkansas Derby victory. Other top contenders include Commandment and Further Ado at around 6-1, Chief Wallabee near 8-1, and So Happy and The Puma in single digits. Odds will fluctuate until race time as betting action intensifies.

The race shapes up as wide-open, with strong opinions on both sides of the favorite. Experts highlight a mix of speed, stamina and tactical versatility across the field, drawn from key prep races including the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass and others. Cool, dry conditions are forecast, favoring a fast track that could produce blistering times in the 1¼-mile classic.

Renegade brings elite credentials but faces the dreaded inside post, which historically challenges horses in large fields. Pletcher, a multiple Derby winner, has the colt sharp, yet some handicappers worry about rail position and early traffic. Commandment, from the Brad Cox barn, impressed in Florida and could stalk or close effectively with Luis Saez aboard. Further Ado, breaking from post 17 or 18, offers outside speed or mid-pack versatility depending on the early pace scenario.

Value plays abound. Emerging Market, trained by Chad Brown, has limited but high-quality starts and could offer a price around 15-1. Danon Bourbon represents strong Japanese influence and international interest at double-digit odds. Chief Wallabee, another Cox trainee, and The Puma, an improving Gustavo Delgado charge, also draw attention as potential upset candidates.

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Jody Demling, who nailed a lucrative superfecta in a prior Derby, is among those fading the top choice. He points to The Puma’s consistency and a longshot “freak” with upside in exotics. Other experts, including those from BloodHorse and Horse Racing Nation, lean toward Commandment or Further Ado on top, with Emerging Market frequently appearing in top-three lists for its tactical flexibility.

The full projected field, subject to final scratches, features a blend of established stars and live longshots:

  • Post 1: Renegade (4-1 to 5-1), Pletcher/Ortiz Jr. — Speedy Arkansas Derby winner but rail concerns loom.
  • Post 6: Commandment (6-1 to 7-1), Cox/Saez — Florida form gives him a strong shot to stalk and pounce.
  • Post ~17-18: Further Ado (6-1), strong closer with stamina for the distance.
  • Post 9 or so: The Puma (5-1 to 10-1) — Late bloomer undefeated or near in recent starts.
  • Chief Wallabee (8-1), So Happy (6-1), Danon Bourbon (~14-1), Emerging Market (~13-1) and others round out a competitive group.

Scratches have already adjusted the lineup, with horses like Fulleffort and Silent Tactic out, bringing in alternates such as Great White or Ocelli. The 20-horse gate ensures chaos, where post position, pace and jockey decisions often decide the outcome.

Handicapping angles focus on the Road to the Kentucky Derby points system, which qualified the top earners. Prep races highlighted closers and versatile types over pure speed. Brad Cox holds a powerful hand with multiple live contenders, while international bloodlines add depth. Weather and track bias will play roles — a dry forecast favors speed but middle and late runners have succeeded in recent editions.

Betting interest is expected to shatter records. Win bets on favorites, exactas, trifectas and superfectas will dominate, with exotic wagers offering massive payouts in a 20-horse scrum. TwinSpires and other platforms report heavy early action on Renegade, Commandment and value horses like Danon Bourbon.

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Beyond the wagering, the Derby embodies tradition. Mint juleps, extravagant hats and celebrity sightings will fill the Churchill Downs infield and grandstand. The event kicks off a whirlwind May leading to the Preakness and Belmont, with potential for the first Triple Crown in years if a horse sweeps the series.

Experts’ consensus top picks vary but cluster around a few:

  • Win contenders: Commandment or Further Ado for many, citing tactical advantages and proven stakes form.
  • Place/show: The Puma, Chief Wallabee or Emerging Market for value.
  • Longshots: Danon Bourbon, Incredibolt or Pavlovian could crash the exotics at big prices.

One prominent handicapper likes boxing Commandment, The Puma and a closer with Emerging Market underneath. Another emphasizes Florida preps and international upside with Danon Bourbon at 20-1 range. Fading the favorite entirely is a bold but discussed strategy given the rail and large field dynamics.

The Derby’s unpredictability is legendary — longshots like Rich Strike (80-1) and Country House (via disqualification) remind bettors that pedigree, training and race-day luck trump morning-line odds. This year’s class appears deep, with no runaway standout, setting up for a memorable stretch duel.

Churchill Downs officials emphasize safety and fan experience, with enhanced security and sustainability initiatives. NBC and Peacock will broadcast nationwide, bringing the pageantry to millions.

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As horses ship in and final workouts conclude, anticipation builds. Renegade’s rail draw adds intrigue — can he overcome history? Will a closer steal the show in the final furlongs? Or does an overlooked mid-pack runner deliver the upset?

Whatever the result, the 2026 Kentucky Derby promises drama, high stakes and the enduring magic of the Sport of Kings. Bettors and fans alike will remember where they were when the gates spring open and the call of “And they’re off!” echoes through Louisville.

For those planning wagers, key strategies include focusing on horses with proven 1¼-mile stamina, favorable post positions away from the rail for traffic avoidance, and trainers with Derby success. Value exists beyond the top three morning-line choices, particularly in exotics where layering 8-1 to 20-1 horses can yield strong returns.

The Road to the Roses delivered a compelling group this year. From dominant prep wins to gritty recoveries, each contender has a story. On Saturday, only one will wear the roses — but the debate and memories will last far longer.

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Post-race analysis will dissect every move, but pre-race, the consensus expert lean favors tactical versatility over pure favoritism. Commandment, Further Ado and live prices like Emerging Market or Chief Wallabee top many professional tickets.

The Kentucky Derby remains horse racing’s crown jewel, blending athletic excellence, strategy and sheer spectacle. This year’s edition, with its balanced field and star trainers, is poised to deliver.

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Seahawks’ Derick Hall partners with Huggies after NICU survival

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Seahawks' Derick Hall partners with Huggies after NICU survival

Seattle Seahawks linebacker and recent Super Bowl hero Derick Hall and his mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, have partnered with the classic American diaper brand Huggies to share Hall’s story of survival as an infant.

Hall and Gooden-Crandle starred in the brand’s “Natural Born Fighters” advertisement, showcasing Hall’s miraculous journey from a baby with a 1% chance to live to Super Bowl champion. The campaign celebrates Hall and other figures in history who were born in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with low survival chances after premature births, including Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.

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For Gooden-Crandle, the partnership is rooted in memories that she still holds close.

Derick Hall

Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Both of my children actually wore Huggies,” she said. “And I actually had one of their very first diapers… but now you gotta think, that’s 25 years ago, think about all the designs that they’ve done now… working with the NICU nurses and doctors to develop a diaper specifically for NICU babies, that to me states the best fight that you could ever want to have for a brand that wants to make sure that NICU babies have the best opportunities at the very beginning of their fight.”

SEAHAWKS SUPER BOWL HERO DERICK HALL OPENS UP ABOUT HOW ‘GOD’ SAVED HIM FROM NEAR-CERTAIN DEATH

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Derick Hall

Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks holds the Vince Lombardi trophy on stage with his teammates after winning the NFL Super Bowl LX football game against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Hall had a 1% chance of survival when he was born four months premature at just 23 weeks gestation, weighing just two pounds, nine ounces. He was born without a heartbeat, suffering from a brain bleed.

“I wasn’t born … breathing,” he told Fox News Digital. “I was born dead.

Gooden-Crandle told Fox News Digital those first days of her son’s life were filled with uncertainty and fear.

“Emotional, a lot of uncertainty, scared,” she said of her emotions in the days that followed her son’s premature birth. “But… those weren’t the feelings that I was feeling during Derick’s birth. I just trusted that God would work everything out.”

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The journey paid off as Hall made his mark on NFL history when he came up with a tone-setting strip sack in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots this February.

Derick Hall

Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks strip sacks Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots during the third quarter of the NFL Super Bowl LX football game at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“You can’t tell me that a child with a one percent chance to live… ends up being a Super Bowl champion one day without the Lord being in their lives,” Hall said. “That’s a miracle in itself.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Campaigners call for ban on use of weedkiller glyphosate at harvest time

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Staten Island restaurateur balances growth and rising costs

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Staten Island restaurateur balances growth and rising costs

As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, small businesses remain a cornerstone of the American economy, employing nearly half of the private sector workforce and powering communities across the country.

On Staten Island, that story is playing out in real time for restaurant owner Rob DeLuca.

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DeLuca didn’t initially plan on a career in hospitality. His father worked in construction and at one point told him to find a different path. That push led him to a job bussing tables at a local restaurant. What started as a fallback quickly became something more.

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“I worked while I went to school, got my bachelor’s and my master’s,” DeLuca told FOX Business. “I almost went to law school, but the restaurant was always calling me back.”

chef making Bolognese pasta

Young male chef making Bolognese pasta in a commercial kitchen. Close-up. (Getty / Getty Images)

More than 20 years later, DeLuca now owns three restaurants: DeLuca’s Italian Restaurant, a high-end dining establishment he opened nine years ago; Don Roberto’s, a classic Italian concept; and Rocky’s Pizza Bar. Together, they make up what he refers to as the “Delucaverse,” a growing portfolio of brands rooted in the same community.

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But expansion has come at a time when the economics of running a restaurant are becoming increasingly difficult.

DeLuca says prices have risen roughly 20% over the past year alone, driven largely by persistent supply chain pressures that began during the pandemic and never fully eased.

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“The food cost supply chain has gone through the roof,” he said. “Suppliers bumped up prices during COVID, and we thought it would be temporary. It didn’t come back down. And now with global tensions impacting gas prices, it affects the supply chain and food prices almost instantly.”

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Those increases are especially difficult to navigate in a neighborhood like Staten Island, where much of his business comes from repeat customers.

“People are very price conscious right now,” DeLuca said, adding that customers notice when dishes increase in cost from $13 to $19 to $22, for example. 

Even so, DeLuca says the passion for the work keeps him going, despite the long hours and mounting responsibilities.

“Every day I wake up with a smile because I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life,” he said. “But it’s a lot of work. I have two small children I want to spend time with… and at the end of the day, the buck stops with me.”

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His story reflects a broader reality for small business owners nationwide: balancing rising costs, shifting consumer behavior, and the weight of running an operation where every decision matters.

Workers gather at a small business.

Employees talk amongst themselves at a small business. (Getty Images)

Still, many are adapting. From policy shifts aimed at boosting domestic production to the growing use of artificial intelligence, now used by a majority of small businesses, owners are finding new ways to stay competitive.

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A computer screen displays an image of artificial intelligence. (iStock)

For DeLuca, the focus remains on consistency and community: keeping his restaurants running, maintaining quality, and serving the customers who have supported him from the beginning.

It’s a model that has defined Main Street for generations and one that continues to evolve as small businesses navigate the challenges ahead.

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Why did Paddington Bear need a police escort?

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Why did Paddington Bear need a police escort?

Rav Wilding joins us with the latest crime headlines.

From a shocking BBC investigation exposing scammers abusing dogs to con animal lovers, to how to spot a shop used by organised crime — plus why Paddington Bear needed a police escort.

To watch this with subtitles go to BBC iPlayer and search for Morning Live from 06/05/2026.

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Thai Board of Investment (BOI) approves TikTok’s $25 billion investment in data infrastructure

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TikTok Announces Strategic Long-Term Investment in Thailand

The Thai Board of Investment (BOI) has officially approved a $25-billion data infrastructure investment by TikTok, part of a larger $29-billion package of six major projects aimed at bolstering Thailand’s digital economy.

Key Points

  • Investment Scope: TikTok’s $25-billion investment is focused on expanding data storage and processing infrastructure in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao.
  • Economic Context: The project is part of a total of $29 billion in new investments approved by the BOI, reflecting a 2.4-fold year-on-year surge in investment applications in early 2026.
  • Strategic Objectives: The infrastructure expansion is intended to support the rising demand for digital services and strengthen Thailand’s position in regional digital connectivity and AI-aligned growth.
  • Workforce Development: TikTok has pledged to provide educational resources, including digital literacy and e-commerce training, to create new business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs.
  • Corporate Presence: TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has operated in Thailand since 2021 through its regional office, TikTok Technologies Co, and currently serves millions of users and business entities across Southeast Asia.

The total investment value of TikTok ‘s data infrastructure project in Thailand is 842 billion baht (approximately $25 billion). This large-scale expansion, approved by the Board of Investment (BOI) in May 2026, involves installing additional servers and expanding data storage and processing infrastructure.

The project will focus on strengthening regional digital infrastructure with facilities across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao. This latest approval follows a previously granted 127-billion-baht data-hosting project in 2025 and a broader commitment by TikTok owner ByteDance to invest in Thai digital literacy and e-commerce. The investment comes amid a surge in Thai digital sector applications, which exceeded 1 trillion baht in the first quarter of 2026.

This massive undertaking involves expanding servers and data processing capabilities across Bangkok and surrounding provinces to meet increasing digital demand. Beyond infrastructure, TikTok has committed to supporting Thailand’s digital workforce by developing literacy and e-commerce curricula for local entrepreneurs, further cementing the country’s role as a regional hub for digital services and AI-driven growth.

The surge in digital sector investments in Thailand is primarily driven by massive capital inflows into data infrastructure and a strategic shift toward an AI-centered economy. The Board of Investment (BOI) recently reported that investment applications in the first quarter of 2026 exceeded 1 trillion baht, a 2.4-fold increase year-on-year, fueled by mega-projects in digital and electronics sectors.

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A major catalyst for this growth is the expansion of digital infrastructure, highlighted by a $25-billion investment from a local unit of TikTok to install servers and expand data processing across Bangkok and neighboring provinces. Global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) processing and cloud services now accounts for 86% of the total digital investment value, attracting investors from Singapore, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Thailand is positioning itself as a regional semiconductor and electronics hub through national strategies aimed at developing a high-tech workforce and supporting AI-driven hardware demand.

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