With the 2026 Kentucky Derby post time approaching at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, bettors are looking for an edge for the 152nd Run for the Roses. So does the starting post position matter? There is no simple answer to that question. But there are some post positions that have had more success over the years than others. Since 1930, the post position with the most wins is post 5 with 10, with the last winner being Always Dreaming in 2017. Post positions 8 and 10 have nine winners, while posts 1 and 7 have eight. On the other end of the spectrum, post 17 has no winners, while post 19 has one — I’ll Have Another in 2012. Posts 6, 11 and 14 have just two. 

With so much to consider while making your 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, a little expert help can go a long way. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to get up to $400 in bonus bets, double what’s available to the general public:

Veteran trainer Bill Mott and his son Riley are set to make history on Saturday. The two will become just the second father-son duo to saddle horses in the same Kentucky Derby. The only other time that happened was in 1964. That year, Red Wingfield saddled Dandy K, who went on to finish eighth, while his son Bobby saddled Wil Rad, who finished 10th.

Chief Wallabee (8-1) will look to make Bill Mott the first trainer to win back-to-back Kentucky Derby races since Bob Baffert did it in 1997 and 1998 with Silver Charm and Real Quiet. Chief Wallabee will be ridden by last year’s Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado. Trainer Riley Mott, meanwhile, will be represented by Albus (30-1) and Incredibolt (20-1). Jockey Manny Franco will ride Albus from post 2, while Jaime Torres has the mount on Incredibolt.

Given all the history of the race, there’s a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Kentucky Derby like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2026 Kentucky Derby picks possible.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also nailed the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order. Anyone who has followed him on those picks could be up huge at sites like FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires, and 1/ST BET.

Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby post positions set and odds on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby betting predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby futures bets at FanDuel Racing here to get $25 in bonuses with a $5 wager:

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby expert picks

Here’s a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine’s Jody Demling:

Kentucky Derby Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $48.32 at the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty and Journalism.

Kentucky Derby Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $231.12 at the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza.

Kentucky Derby Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned a colossal $1682.27 at the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty, Journalism, Baeza and Final Gambit.

While Renegade is the 4-1 favorite, Demling isn’t high on the Arkansas Derby winner and barely has the colt finishing in the top 10. Instead, he is building his tickets around The Puma (10-1) and an even bigger longshot who could “be a freak,” spicing up his 2026 Kentucky Derby exotics. You can see his picks here. 

How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby bets

Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Kentucky Derby 2026. He’s sharing them over at SportsLine.

So which horses do you take, and in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling’s picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds, futures, horses, post positions

Despite having long been regarded as one of the most talented fighters in boxing, David Benavidez has spent years chasing the sort of opportunity he’ll have on Saturday. Benavidez is set to face WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Benavidez twice held the WBC super middleweight championship, but lost the title outside of the ring both times. First, Benavidez was stripped of the title after failing a drug test due to the presence of cocaine. After winning the belt back, he was stripped again when he failed to make weight for his title defense against Alexis Angulo.

Despite those missteps, Benavidez remained an elite super middleweight fighter, but could not find his way back to a world championship after Saul “Caleno” Alvarez became undisputed champion and avoided defending his belts against Benavidez.

David Benavidez embarking on ambitious attempt to conquer a third weight class: ‘I’m not looking for safe’

Brian Campbell

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After tiring of waiting for an opportunity that seemed as though it would never come, Benavidez made the decision to move to the light heavyweight division.

He picked up the WBC interim light heavyweight title in his first fight at the new weight, defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk. A win over David Morrell followed, adding the WBA secondary title to Benavidez’s collection.

Finally, prior to his third light heavyweight fight, Benavidez was world champion once again as the WBC promoted him to full champion. He followed that up with a successful title defense, stopping Anthony Yarde in seven rounds.

Now, Benavidez looks for another new challenge as he moves to cruiserweight for the first time in his career to face Ramirez.

Ramirez is also a former super middleweight champion, having won the WBO title in April 2016 and successfully defending the belt five times before a move to light heavyweight.

Ramirez eventually earned a shot at light heavyweight gold, but lost to Dmitry Bivol in their bout for the WBA title.

A move to cruiserweight was next, and Ramirez picked up the WBA title with a win over Arsen Goulamirian and added the WBO title win a victory against Chris Billam-Smith. Ramirez has since defended his unified titles once, defeating Yuniel Dorticos.

The co-main event sees a fun matchup at super middleweight when Jaime Munguia takes on Armando Resendiz. Plus, Oscar Duarte returns to action at junior welterweight when he takes on Angel Fierro.

Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the undercard for Saturday night in Las Vegas along with how you can watch the fights before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

Ramirez vs. Benavidez fight card, odds

Odds via DraftKings

• David Benavidez -390 vs. Gilberto Ramirez (c) +290, unified cruiserweight title
• Jaime Munguia -200 vs. Armando Resendiz +155, super middleweights
• Oscar Duarte -1000 vs. Angel Fierro +600, junior welterweights
• Isaac Lucero -800 vs. Ismael Flores +500, junior middleweights
• Jorge Chavez -115 vs. Tito Sanchez -110, junior featherweights
• Daniel Blancas -700 vs. Raul Soloman +450, super middleweights
• Juan Carrillo -500 vs. Marlon Delgado +350, light heavyweights

Where to watch Ramirez vs. Benavidez

• Date: May 2 | Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
• Start time: 8 p.m. ET (main card)
• Streaming: Prime PPV/DAZN PPV | Price: $79.99

Prediction

There are interesting questions coming into this fight, including whether Benavidez’s power will translate to the 200-pound division. At light heavyweight, Benavidez didn’t seem to have the same level of pop he’d shown at super middleweight and also fatigued a bit in his first two fights at the weight. However, everything seemed to come together against Yarde, and he looked much like the Benavidez boxing fans had become accustomed to seeing.

Ramirez is a solid cruiserweight, but is unspectacular in most aspects of his game. Assuming Benavidez is able to fight to the level of talent he has shown throughout his career, there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to become a unified champion for the first time in his career. Pick: David Benavidez via UD

Who wins Ramirez vs. Benavidez, and which method of victory prop presents massive value? Visit SportsLine now to see Josh Nagel’s best bets for the Saturday, May 2, cruiserweight bout, all from the combat sports specialist who has covered the sport for more than 20 years, and find out.

The 15-member India squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday. As expected, Harmanpreet Kaur is the captain of the side, with Smriti Mandhana being the vice-captain. A whole host of star names feature, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh. Amanjot Kaur is among the high-profile names to miss out due to injury. Batters Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol, and spin-bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana are also not part of the squad.

India Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav.

There are no standby players.

In the press conference following the announcement of the squad, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed that Bharti Fulmali has been selected as a middle-order replacement for the injured Amanjot Kaur. Fulmali impressed in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with her aggressive batting.

Pacer Nandani Sharma, who finished as the joint highest wicket-taker of WPL 2026 with 17 scalps from 10 matches, has also been included in the squad.

Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav are set to lead India’s spin attack in England and Wales. The trio edged out the likes of Sneh Rana and 20-year-old Vaishnavi Sharma. Harmanpreet highlighted Radha as an all-round option, with the latter having impressed with her batting during WPL 2026 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

The experienced Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud and Nandani form the pace attack.

Yastika Bhatia has been selected as the back-up wicket-keeper.

The Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in England and Wales, and is set to begin on June 14.

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While many will immediately look to the top of the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds board when making horse racing picks, others will look towards the bottom. There are three thoroughbreds tied for being the biggest longshots, all priced at 50-1. Intrepido, Six Speed and Great White could return quite the investment with Kentucky Derby bets if they were to emerge victorious come Saturday. The Kentucky Derby 2026 will go to post at 6:57 p.m. ET at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the exclusive TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to receive up to $400 in bonus bets here, double what’s available to the general public:

As for those favorites, Renegade is chief among them at 4-1. Then, both Further Ado and Commandment are at 6-1 in the Kentucky Derby odds, with Chief Wallabee (8-1) the only other colt at single digits. The favorite hasn’t prevailed at The Run for the Roses since 2018, which could affect your horse racing betting strategy. The Puma, who was 10-1 on the morning line, scratched on Saturday, leaving 19 horses in the field. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions and best bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also predicted the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order, helping him cash a $1,682 superfecta, and called the exacta in last year’s Preakness. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up. 

Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go to SportsLine to see them.

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions

One of Demling’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: Demling is fading Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1. Renegade has history, in multiple aspects, working against him for Saturday’s race. One is by simply being the favorite, as it has been eight years since the favored horse prevailed at The First Jewel of the Triple Crown. Another is by having the No. 1 post which hasn’t produced a winner since 1986, and over the last eight years, the horse from the 1-post has an 8.7 average finishing position.

Renegade’s connections include trainer Todd Pletcher, a two-time Derby champion. However, Pletcher’s last win came nearly a decade ago, and he hasn’t seen any of his last 13 Derby starters even hit the board. Renegade will be ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz, who has seemingly excelled everywhere except at Churchill Downs. He has over 4,000 career wins but is 0 for 9 with previous Derby rides, never finishing in the money even when riding the post-time favorite. See who to back at SportsLine.

Another stunner: Demling is high on Danon Bourbon, a 3-year-old colt who qualified for the Kentucky Derby via the Japan Road. He won the Fukuryu Stakes in March of this year by an astounding 10 lengths, and looks to become the first horse based out of Japan to win the Kentucky Derby after eight others have tried and come up short. 

“Of the two Japanese horses, Danon Bourbon has more speed than Wonder Dean, which is why I have him ranked higher,” Demling said. “This son of Maxfield was bred in Kentucky and is generating a bit of buzz on the backside.” See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can sign up for FanDuel Racing for the Kentucky Derby here and get $25 in bonus bets with a $5 wager:

How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Demling is also high on a stunning longshot who “could be a freak.” Anyone who backs this sleeper pick could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which stunning longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds

Judgement day beckons for Arne Slot. Not directly on Sunday, even if Liverpool and Manchester United can always judge themselves against each other and a showdown at Old Trafford provides an easy opportunity for a comparison between teams who were separated by 42 points last season.

It may not even relate to Slot’s employers, with the sense he will remain at Anfield for next season. Speculation has swirled around Slot but Liverpool have not generated it or given indications they are considering a change. If many of the fanbase came to a definitive conclusion about a title-winning manager months ago, perhaps after a run of nine defeats in 12, and if the Dutchman refused to complain, saying it is up to others to determine if he is harshly judged, there is one verdict which is still to be delivered. His own.

He is still unsure what the finding will be. “It depends on the outcome,” he said. “I will judge myself in four games.” And if that is a hint that Champions League qualification has a significance beyond the financial consequences for Liverpool and the psychological importance of playing in the European elite, Slot’s eventual decision would be instructive. He has said it would be unacceptable for Liverpool to miss out on the Champions League. Secure the top-five finish that looks likely, however, and instead of a failure, does he deem it a damage-limitation job, given the mitigating circumstances?

But a manager who often sounds dissatisfied by elements of victories felt a perfectionist in success last season. Given some of the vitriol directed towards him, he is probably not his own sternest critic now. But he may find fault.

“Of course, I am judging myself constantly,” he added. “Was it the right decision to play five at the back in Paris? Was it the right decision to play him, play him, play him? These are the questions you are asking yourself. It is an ongoing process. You have to make 30, 40, 50 choices every single day and you try to judge them but, in the end, you can say, ‘okay, how was this season?’ I already have a certain opinion about that but the outcome of the next four games could make a massive difference in the way I judge myself over this season.”

Slot arguably merits credit in the bank, as the head coach who won only Liverpool’s second league title in 35 years. The man who dropped Mohamed Salah in November nevertheless pointed out that past deeds are not alone enough to keep a player in the team, or a manager in the dugout.

“Do I have to prove myself as Virgil [van Dijk] does?” he asked. “Yes, he has proven himself as one of the best and Mo [has] and we all have to prove ourselves but we’ve already shown in the past what we’re able to do. It doesn’t mean that is enough to keep playing every three days or stay in your job.”

Liverpool’s season has contained 17 defeats in all competitions. They are 15 points off the Premier League summit. They are 24 points down on this stage this season, when they had become champions. Slot does not believe the past can offer infinite protection.

“If a player won the last five years the Premier League, he needs to show up every week to stay in the team. That is how this industry works, so yeah, we – and I am part of ‘we’ – have to prove ourselves the week after and the week after,” he said.

“That is the football world. Every day we have something to prove. But it is up to others to judge if a quarter-final place in the Champions League has been good or bad. Losing to Paris Saint-Germain twice in a row; they are the best team in Europe in my opinion. Is it a reality to go through the league and the cups having the amount of players we have [out]?”

He will be without Salah at Old Trafford on Sunday, perhaps Alisson too. The winger’s imminent departure is a sign an era is ending; that will appear still more the case if the goalkeeper goes, too. “The players that won the Champions League and Premier League with Jurgen, I think if you look now, might only be Virgil and Joe [Gomez] contracted to the club [next year],” said Slot; omitting Alisson may have been a moment of forgetfulness or a broader indication of the Brazilian’s future. Liverpool have spent £450m, but part of Slot’s verdict on himself seems based on a sense they are in transition, albeit a particularly expensive version of it.

“I think the transition hasn’t been completed yet,” he added. “Again this summer, as a minimum of two will leave.” The sense is the manager will remain. Part of his argument for why next season will be better is that he expects fewer injuries, even though Hugo Ekitike will miss the start of the campaign. Part of his explanation for this year lies on the treatment table.

“What makes it hard is trying to win the next game with so many players unavailable,” he said. “That is hard. But that you get criticised in a job like this, that is not hard. I get to hear a few things but if I say I hear 10 per cent of what has been said I would say that has been a lot. But the last time I checked, the Strait of Hormuz being closed is not my fault, is it?”

Alessandro “Alex” Zanardi, a decorated Italian race driver and later para-cyclist, has died suddenly at the age of 59, his family said in a statement on Saturday. 

“Alex fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones,” the statement said.

The family didn’t go into details on the cause of death, but the double amputee suffered severe cranial injuries in a road accident when riding his handbike in Siena in northern Italy in 2020. 

Who was Alex Zanardi? 

Zanardi was considered one of the brightest prospects of his generation in motorsport, but the stars never aligned for him in Formula 1.

The Jordan, Minardi and Lotus teams he drove for in his first F1 stint were all uncompetitive when he was in the cockpit, and his best career finish was sixth.

Still, Zanardi made enough of a name for himself that he was offered a good drive with Chip Ganassi Racing in the now defunct CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) single-seater series in North America.

He was immediately among the front runners and won the championship in 1997 and 1998, before returning for another roll of the dice in F1 with Williams, alongside Ralf Schumacher. Here, too, his timing was off — reaching the Woking-based team just one year before they would once again have a competitive car and engine. 

On his return to the CART series in 2001, Zanardi suffered a life-changing crash at the Lausitzring in Germany.

He spun, slid back across the track and was then struck by another oncoming car moving at full speed, shearing off the front of his car completely and severely damaging his legs. Zanardi barely survived the crash, almost bleeding out at the scene. Both legs had to be amputated, one at the hip and the other at the knee. 

Zanardi would return to the cockpit in specially modified cars in the World Touring Car Championship and some other events, still showing race-winning pace at times despite his disadvantages. 

A cycling enthusiast prior to his injuries, Zanardi also moved into Paralympic competition as a hand-cyclist, winning four gold medals and two silvers for Italy in 2012 and 2016. 

What did Zanardi’s friends and admirers say in tribute?

Zanardi’s peers, admirers and even Italy’s prime minister rushed to pay tribute to the famously gregarious and upbeat racer and his relentless positivity.

The FIA World Motorsport Federation called him an “enduring symbol of courage and determination.”

The president and CEO of F1, Stefano Domenicali, hailed his “dear friend” Zanardi in an statement online. 

“He was truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete. I will always carry with me his extraordinary strength. He faced challenges that would have stopped anyone, yet he continued to look forward, always with a smile and a stubborn determination that inspired us all,” Domenicali said. 

“No words can express my feelings about this guy,” Zanardi’s old team boss Chip Ganassi wrote after the pair shared back-to-back championships in the late 90s. “I like winners.” 

Even Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni lauded Zanardi’s spirit and character. 

“Italy has lost a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every trial of life into a lesson in courage, strength, and dignity,” she wrote.

Italy’s Olympic Committee (CONI) asked all sporting bodies in the country to hold a minute’s silence in Zanardi’s honor at sporting events this weekend. 

Edited by: Louis Oelofse

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The Real Madrid has been linked with making a summer move to Manchester United

Paul Pogba has given an insight into what Manchester United would be getting if they sign Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni.

The Frenchman is reportedly near the top of the club’s midfield shortlist and could be offloaded by the 15-time European champions, provided they can secure a quality replacement. Los Blancos have linked with Manchester City’s Rodri, whom president Florentino Perez is said to admire.

Signing a player entering his prime years would be a real statement of intent by United, who have been linked with a host of other midfield options, including Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.

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Ex-United midfielder Pogba knows all about Tchouameni, having played alongside him in the French national team. Speaking in 2021, Pogba raved about the then-21-year-old, telling RTL: “Very, very good. He’s not a boy, he’s a man. It’s a pleasure to play next to him.

“He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality. We wish him to play a lot more games and that I am always by his side.”

The pair’s time together in the national team was brief as Pogba hasn’t played for France since 2022, while Tchouameni has become a key figure in Didier Deschamps’ midfield.

Meanwhile, Tchouameni has already been told what to expect if he decides to swap the Bernabeu for Old Trafford. Raphael Varane made the switch in 2021, having won 18 trophies during his decade in Spain.

Having turned United down earlier in his career, Varane explained why he felt it was the right time to head to Manchester on The Bridge podcast with Tchouameni in March last year.

Despite an injury-hit spell at United, he has no regrets. Varane told him: “Madrid is indescribable, it’s exceptional, but I’ve already experienced it. And I said to myself, ‘I want to experience something else.’

“For me, England, and Manchester in particular, is where you feel the passion for football. You feel it, you live it every day. Now that some time has passed, I have no regrets because it was an incredible experience.”

United will hope those words of wisdom left a lasting impact on Tchouameni as he weighs up his future.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.