Jody Demling’s Kentucky Derby Picks – Backing a Long Shot

Every year, the world of horse racing fans patiently awaits crucial pieces of information to decide who has the best chances of securing the Triple Crown and the individual legs of the race. 

One of the key sources of such information is Jody Demling, a renowned handicapper who has been among the most searched-for names online to help horse racing aficionados decide who to back. 

The Kentucky Derby is going to take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs, and Demling already has a few ideas. 

Demling Is Hesitant about One of the Previous Favorites

One of the biggest surprises in Demling’s most recent appraisal of the odds is that he is not as confident about Chief Wallabee, who was largely cited as one of the very strong contenders for the titles. 

Demling bases his case on the fact that, despite a strong start this year, the horse has now faced an increasingly stiff competition that is making him inclined to think that he may have hurried to give him an early favorite position.

More contenders have emerged, and while Chief Wallabee is expected to end up in the top echelon of the Kentucky Derby, Demling does not feel as confident as before. In his characteristic style, Demling has now “dropped” one of the favorites and has perhaps unsurprisingly replaced it with one of the dark horses – Renegade.  

Renegade is a really long shot here as the current odds have the horse at +1300, but the horse has already won two races back-to-back.

Even the Best Oddsmakers Tell People to Be Careful

The question remains whether the horse can keep clocking in the same results, and more importantly, make it through the Kentucky Derby. 

In the meantime, the news about the Kentucky Derby won’t keep on coming. Mike Battaglia, the legendary oddsmaker for the race, has retired ahead of the 152nd running of the event. He is a remarkable handicapper, picking the favorite for 39 out of 51 races, and has one of the most impressive prediction records.

Even Battaglia, though, argues that there is no such thing as a shoo-in, and cautions against excessive betting on the Kentucky Derby.