Byron King’s Top 12 Derby Picks for April 2

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 2, 2026 8:09 AM ET

Byron King’s Top 12 Derby Picks for April 2

BloodHorse news editor Byron King released a Top 12 list on April 2. It outlines his leading Derby picks for the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Weekend preps

Three final 200-point preps run this weekend. They are the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland, Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby.

Where to follow

Follow road-to-Derby coverage on Filmogaz.com’s Triple Crown page. The hub will carry results, analysis and updated statistics.

Top contenders

Renegade dominated the March 28 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. He won by four lengths in 1:49.70 for 1 1/8 miles. That effort produced a 107 Equibase and a 98 Beyer, both career highs.
Commandment prevailed in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. He won by a nose over The Puma, with Chief Wallabee a half-length back. The race featured multiple ranked horses and left Nearly with just 35 Derby points.
Chief Wallabee finished third in the Florida Derby under Junior Alvarado. Trainer Bill Mott noted it was only the colt’s third race and he should improve with experience.
The Puma closed from last and raced wide in the Florida Derby. The finish required a photo and the placing judges delayed the official result.
Class President won the Rebel Stakes on March 1 by a nose over Silent Tactic. He targets the April 4 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland for a Grade 1 test. Todd Pletcher has won the Blue Grass four times, most recently with Tapit Trice in 2023.
Silent Tactic ran second to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby. Renegade proved clearly better on Oaklawn’s 1 1/8-mile trip.
Emerging Market won the March 21 Louisiana Derby by a head over Pavlovian. Chad Brown now lists him as his top hope with Paladin sidelined. Golden Tempo finished a length behind in third.
Further Ado is a Spendthrift Farm runner who won last fall’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He romped by 20 lengths in a juvenile route at Keeneland. Later he finished second to The Puma in the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby.
Potente, trained by Bob Baffert, drew post 2 for the Santa Anita Derby. Unbeaten in two starts, he won the March 7 San Felipe Stakes over Robusta and So Happy.
Pavlovian won the Sunland Park Derby and was runner-up in the Louisiana Derby. He seeks to become the first California-bred Derby winner since California Chrome in 2014.
Incredibolt rebounded from a sixth in the Holy Bull to win the Virginia Derby by four lengths on March 14. He also won the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs last year.
Reagan’s Honor has no Kentucky Derby points to date. He needs a top-two finish in the Blue Grass to reach the Derby gate. He ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.02 at Fair Grounds on Feb. 19.