Successful the Kentucky Derby is the objective of any Thoroughbred jockey resulting from a number of components. First, it’s probably the most well-known and prestigious race on this planet, and that’s sufficient for many riders. Second, it presents a problem in contrast to some other race, requiring a jockey to navigate his horse 1 ¼ miles amongst a subject with as much as 19 opponents and in entrance of about 150,000 screaming followers. And, oh yeah, third: the victorious Kentucky Derby jockey will obtain roughly 10% of the winner’s share of the purse, or $310,000 out of $3.1 million (from the entire purse of $5 million this 12 months).
The roster of achieved jockeys for the 152nd Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve Might 2 at Churchill Downs consists of 5 riders which have already gained this race and 6 who’re competing within the first leg of the Triple Crown for the primary time. Let’s meet them.
Junior Alvarado
Age: 39
Initially from: Venezuela
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 6
Finest end: 1st in 2025 (Sovereignty)
2026 Derby horse: Chief Wallabee
Junior Alvarado gained his first Kentucky Derby final 12 months aboard eventual Horse of the Yr Sovereignty, giving the come-from-behind runner an ideal experience. He’s bought a strong likelihood to go back-to-back with Chief Wallabee, who joined the 2026 Derby subject final week off of the also-eligible record. That Florida-based colt has solely raced thrice however has proven tantalizing potential. Each Chief Wallabee and Sovereignty are educated by Invoice Mott, and Alvarado is Mott’s first-call rider – that means he’s possibility #1 for Mott when selecting a jockey.
Javier Castellano
Age: 48
Initially from: Venezuela
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 17
Finest end: 1st in 2023 (Mage)
2026 Derby horse: The Puma
Corridor of Famer Javier Castellano stuffed a spot on his résumé three years in the past when he swung Mage extensive into the stretch and rallied from off the tempo to win his first Kentucky Derby. Now, he’s again in Louisville using The Puma, who has the identical coach (Gustavo Delgado) and among the identical house owners as Mage. The Puma has been one of many extra constant 3-year-olds on the Derby path, boasting a win within the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby and a detailed runner-up end within the Curlin Florida Derby Offered by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa.
Christopher Elliott
Age: 20
Initially from: New Jersey
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 0
Finest end: n/a
2026 Derby horse: Proper to Occasion
Having simply turned 20 on April 21, Christopher Elliott is preparing for a serious steppingstone in his profession – his first experience within the Kentucky Derby. For recommendation on the way to deal with the hullaballoo of Derby day, he’ll must look no additional than his first cell-phone contact, as his father, Stewart, gained each the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004 aboard celebrity Smarty Jones. That was Stewart Elliott’s first Derby mount, and with a purpose to match his father’s mark Christopher Elliott might want to pilot longshot runner Proper to Occasion to a momentous upset. The younger Elliott was a finalist for champion apprentice jockey final 12 months primarily based on success using in New York.
Manny Franco
Age: 31
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 6
Finest end: 2nd in 2020 (Tiz the Legislation)
2026 Derby horse: Albus
New York-based Manny Franco has been a reasonably common presence within the Kentucky Derby since 2019, lacking solely the 2021 and 2024 races. He rode the 2020 Derby post-time favourite, Tiz the Legislation, to a runner-up end behind Genuine, which got here after Tiz the Legislation and Franco gained the Belmont Stakes in June. In a really bizarro-world situation, the Kentucky Derby was held in September that 12 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was the second leg of the Triple Crown adopted by the Preakness. Franco will pilot Albus within the 2026 Derby; that bettering colt made the sphere with a pointy win within the Wooden Memorial Stakes Offered by Resorts World On line casino.
Tyler Gaffalione
Age: 31
Initially from: Florida
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 7
Finest end: 2nd in 2024 (Sierra Leone)
2026 Derby horse: Fulleffort
Tyler Gaffalione has established himself as a number one rider in Kentucky with a number of meet titles on the commonwealth’s two most prestigious tracks, Churchill Downs and Keeneland. He almost scored his first Derby win two years in the past in arguably probably the most thrilling version of the race this decade, when he urged Sierra Leone by means of the stretch solely to fall a nostril brief behind Mystik Dan (and ending a nostril in entrance of Without end Younger). Gaffalione takes the reins on Fulleffort for the primary time in Derby 152. The grey or roan colt comes off of a formidable win within the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and will probably be making his debut on a mud observe within the Derby.
Juan Hernandez
Age: 34
Initially from: Mexico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 0
Finest end: n/a
2026 Derby horse: Potente
It’s a little bit of a shock, however 2026 will mark the Kentucky Derby debut for Juan Hernandez, who has been a number one jockey on the Southern California circuit the previous a number of years. He has established a very productive relationship with Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert, a six-time Kentucky Derby winner, and can experience Baffert’s Potente on Might 2. That calmly raced and gifted colt gained the San Felipe Stakes Offered by DK Horse after which completed second within the Santa Anita Derby for Baffert, with Hernandez within the irons for each races.
Edwin Maldonado
Age: 43
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 0
Finest end: n/a
2026 Derby horse: Pavlovian
Veteran California jockey Edwin Maldonado makes his first Kentucky Derby look aboard longshot Pavlovian, who gained one among his first eight begins earlier than Maldonado took the reins for the primary time within the Sunland Park Derby in February. Horse and rider hit it off, as Maldonado piloted Pavlovian to his first stakes win by a nostril, after which the colt arguably ran even higher within the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, setting the tempo and battling gamely earlier than shedding by a head. Maldonado is understood for being a very good tempo jockey – i.e., expert at getting his horses to run properly whereas on the lead – and count on him to be aggressive using Pavlovian within the Kentucky Derby.
Atsuya Nishimura
Age: 26
Initially from: Japan
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 0
Finest end: n/a
2026 Derby horse: Danon Bourbon
Atsuya Nishimura is an unknown to U.S. racing followers as he’s not solely scheduled to make his Kentucky Derby debut, he’s about to make his first begin in North America. The younger rider, a graduate of the Japan Racing Affiliation’s jockey academy, began his profession in 2018 and this 12 months is tied for fifth in wins on that circuit (the very best one in Japan) by means of April 19. Nishimura has been aboard undefeated Danon Bourbon for the final two of his three profession begins, together with a 3 ½-length stakes victory in March at Nakayama Racecourse. Danon Bourbon is Japan-based however Kentucky-bred as a son of $2 million earner Maxfield, a five-time winner at Churchill Downs.
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Age: 33
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 9
Finest end: 4th in 2019 (Unbelievable)
2026 Derby horse: Renegade
One other 12 months passes, and by some means Irad Ortiz, the main jockey in North America, has but to complete within the prime three within the Kentucky Derby. That is no slight on Ortiz in any respect, extra a reminder of how extremely tough it’s to win the Derby. In his protection, Ortiz has solely ridden the post-time Derby favourite as soon as in 9 appearances – and that introduced his finest consequence again in 2019 when 4-1 Unbelievable completed fifth and was moved as much as fourth by way of disqualification. Ortiz has a very good likelihood of using the 2026 Derby post-time favourite as he’s on Renegade, a colt who has impressively gained two prep races this spring with Ortiz within the saddle each occasions.
Jose Ortiz
Age: 32
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 10
Finest end: 2nd in 2018 (Good Magic)
2026 Derby horse: Golden Tempo
Irad Ortiz Jr.’s youthful brother, himself among the many prime jockeys in North America, has had extra success within the Kentucky Derby. Jose Ortiz rode Good Magic to a runner-up Derby end behind eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018 and has completed third as soon as and fourth as soon as. Ortiz relocated from New York to Kentucky in 2024 and instantly joined the higher echelon of jockeys at Churchill Downs, whereas wintering at Truthful Grounds in Louisiana and main that observe in wins by a big margin in each 2024-’25 and 2025-’26. Ortiz paired up with Golden Tempo on the New Orleans observe and has despatched him to 2 wins and two third-place finishes heading into the Kentucky Derby. Search for him to be rallying this deep-closing longshot from the again of the pack in Churchill Downs’ stretch.
Flavien Prat
Age: 33
Initially from: France
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 8
Finest end: 1st in 2019 (Nation Home)
2026 Derby horse: Rising Market
He’s arguably one of many prime two or three jockeys in North America, and one of the profitable Kentucky Derby riders lately as properly. Flavien Prat has an general Derby document of 1 win, one second, and 4 thirds in eight general begins within the race, and final 12 months he rallied Baeza to simply miss ending second by a neck. Prat’s Derby win got here by way of disqualification as Nation Home was moved from second to first again in 2019 after Most Safety was taken down for interference with a number of horses (however not Nation Home). Prat will experience Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Rising Market on this 12 months’s Kentucky Derby. That colt comes into the race off of solely two profession begins, each wins with Prat aboard.
Luis Saez
Age: 33
Initially from: Panama
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 12
Finest end: third in 2021 (Important High quality)
2026 Derby horse: Commandment
Luis Saez skilled the fun of using a Kentucky Derby winner for round 18 minutes again in 2019, solely to have Most Safety taken down from first and positioned seventeenth within the subject resulting from an incident in higher stretch the place he interfered with a number of horses. Saez has been one of the profitable jockeys in North America for greater than 10 years and on Might 2 he’ll have arguably his finest likelihood at grabbing that elusive Derby win since he rode post-time favourite and third-place finisher Important High quality in 2021. Saez is scheduled to take the reins on Commandment for the primary time within the Derby, and the colt comes into the run for the roses on a four-race successful streak, together with recreation victories within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes and Curlin Florida Derby Offered by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa.
Ryusei Sakai
Age: 28
Initially from: Japan
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 1
Finest end: third in 2024 (Without end Younger)
2026 Derby horse: Marvel Dean
Sakai, one of many main riders in his house nation of Japan, made an excellent impression on U.S. racing followers in his Kentucky Derby debut two years in the past. He rode Without end Younger to an exhilarating third-place end within the Derby, rallying the colt from off of the tempo to complete a head behind winner Mystik Dan and a nostril behind runner-up Sierra Leone. Sakai and Without end Younger have since teamed as much as win the $20 million Saudi Cup twice and in addition final 12 months’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. The gifted jockey now will get aboard one other Japan-bred and -based runner, Marvel Dean, for the primary time within the Kentucky Derby. Marvel Dean is available in off of a grinding win within the UAE Derby Sponsored by Jumeirah.
Mike Smith
Age: 59
Initially from: New Mexico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 28
Finest end: 1st in 2005 (Giacomo) and 2018 (Justify)
2026 Derby horse: So Pleased
If Mike Smith wins his third Kentucky Derby on Might 2, he’ll turn out to be the oldest jockey to take action, surpassing Invoice Shoemaker. That legendary California-based rider gained aboard Ferdinand in 1986 at age 54. Smith is already the second-oldest jockey to win the Derby, having accomplished so at age 52 on eventual Triple Crown winner Justify again in 2018. “Massive Cash Mike” has not had a mount previously three Derbys however is again this 12 months with a number one contender in Santa Anita Derby winner So Pleased, a colt he has ridden in all 4 profession begins.
Cristian Torres
Age: 28
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 0
Finest end: n/a
2026 Derby horse: Silent Tactic
Cristian Torres emerged as a profitable younger jockey a number of years in the past at Oaklawn Park, successful two consecutive using titles on the Arkansas observe in 2022-’23 and 2023-’24, He’s presently locked in a detailed battle for the wins lead on the present meet. Torres took the reins on Mark Casse-trained Silent Tactic within the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn in February and guided the colt to a formidable off-the-pace win. He’s since stayed aboard for 2 runner-up finishes in Kentucky Derby preps at Oaklawn and can make his debut within the run for the roses aboard a dwell longshot.
Jaime Torres
Age: 27
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: n/a
Finest end: 0
2026 Derby horse: Incredibolt
Jaime Torres is not any relation to Cristian however has in widespread with that colleague a rising profession trajectory. He’s already captured a Triple Crown race, guiding Seize the Gray to a gate-to-wire win within the 2024 Preakness Stakes for legendary coach D. Wayne Lukas. That victory was the fifteenth and ultimate Triple Crown race victory for Lukas, who died final June at age 89. Torres has paired up properly with gifted Incredibolt, steering him to wins final fall within the Avenue Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Virginia Derby Offered by New Kent County this March at Colonial Downs. Incredibolt and Albus are the primary two Kentucky Derby horses for younger coach Riley Mott, son of Invoice Mott.
John Velazquez
Age: 54
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Earlier rides within the Kentucky Derby: 26
Finest end: 1st in 2011 (Animal Kingdom), 2017 (All the time Dreaming), and 2020 (Genuine)
2026 Derby horse: Additional Ado
At this level in his profession, if Corridor of Famer John Velazquez is assigned a Kentucky Derby contender, chances are high good that it’s going to be among the many morning-line favorites. Up to now 10 years, he’s picked up his third and fourth Derby wins and in addition been aboard a first-place finisher in 2021’s Medina Spirit that was subsequently disqualified resulting from a medicine violation. Velazquez didn’t take part within the 2025 Derby as his assigned mount was scratched, however he’s again in 2026 aboard “buzz horse” Additional Ado. He’ll experience that colt for the primary time within the Kentucky Derby and can search to summon a efficiency just like Additional Ado’s blowout 11-length win within the latest Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
