Kentucky Derby 2026: Race favorites, celebrity buzz and fashion trends take over Churchill Downs

A number of celebrities were spotted enjoying the festivities at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, including Melissa Joan Hart, Danica McKellar, SI Swimsuit model Camille Kostek, Dave Portnoy, NSYNC’s Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, Richie Sambora, Patti LaBelle, Neil Patrick Harris, Rob Gronkowski, Dannielynn Birkhead and her father Larry Birkhead, and Miss America Cassie Donegan.

Hart paired a white fascinator with a flower on top with a blue halter dress and McKellar sported a bright pink and orange hat with a flower-patterned dress for the occasion.

In an interview, Hart said this year is her sixth derby and noted she even met her husband there 24 years ago.

“I keep getting lucky in Kentucky,” she joked.

Kostek, who paired a pale pink short-sleeved dress with a white, wide-brimmed hat, wrote on her Instagram that it was her first time at the derby.

“Here we go!” she wrote.

Tim Laird, who goes by America's Chief Entertaining Officer, shared fun ideas on Saturday for giving a Kentucky Derby vibe to any party.

The food and drink expert told “Fox & Friends Weekend” that he recommends a bacon and pecan pimento cheese for the party, which “can be a spread, a sandwich, or even a dip. So, that’s a wonderful thing. Very traditional at derby parties.”

He also suggests Hot Brown sliders, named for being invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, which is an open faced turkey sandwich with bacon, cheese and tomatoes.

For dessert, Laird recommends his exclusive Oaks Lily bars. “Actually, it tastes like the classic Oaks Lilly cocktail that’s quintessential here at the derby,” he said.

Laird noted that Oaks Lily cocktails – which he created 20 years ago - are selling as well at the derby as mint julips at the derby.

He said the cocktail is “really easy to make,” and includes an ounce of vodka, an ounce of lemonade, a quarter ounce of orange liqueur and three ounces of cranberry juice, and a blackberry garnish.

“This gives it a beautiful pink color that emulates the stargazer lily,” he said.

He also made an alcohol-free version of a mint julip, substituting iced tea for the bourbon.

Celebrity chef Paula Deen told Fox News Digital that she loves the food and drinks enjoyed at the Kentucky Derby – noting the mint julip is the “star” – but what she looks forward to most is the fashion.

"I love looking at the ladies and the gentlemen," she added. "I mean, they really go Old South with their clothes too. The men — they look so dapper. But I adore looking at all the hats and outfits."

Deen did it up derby-style for her interview with Fox News Digital, donning a black and black feathered fascinator with a black and white print dress.

Fox News’ Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

There are no shortage of storylines heading into first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.

The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert’s second appearance since being banned for four years. He was handed a suspension after his record-breaking seventh victory at the race in 2021 was later stripped due to a failed drug test.

Cherie DeVaux, the trainer of Golden Tempo, is looking to make history and become the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.

Vicki Oliver was the last woman trainer to have a horse in the derby, when Hidden Stash finished 13th in 2021. Shelley Riley has the best finish for women trainers, when Casual Lies came in second in 1992.

Smith, the jockey of So Happy, is 59-years-old and looking to become the oldest jockey to ever win the Kentucky Derby.

Willie Shoemaker currently holds the record for oldest jockey to win, as he was 54 when Ferdinand won in 1986. Shoemaker died at 72 in 2003.

Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead’s 19-year-old daughter Dannielynn Birkhead dressed boldly for this year’s Kentucky Derby in a two-toned black and white dress with matching fascinator.

The strapless black dress included a 3D white flower.

Her father matched her look in a white suit with an open collar black shirt.

On Friday at the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve party, Birkhead donned a goth-inspired look, explaining she wanted something “edgy and cool.”

Other stars who wore their best looks included Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Camille Kostek, Melissa Joan Hart and Danica McKellar, Nicole Scherzinger, Miss America Cassie Donegan, and Joey Fatone and Lance Bass of NSYNC.

Fox News’ Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

Normally, there would be 20 3-year-old horses who would compete for a $5 million purse, with the winner of the 1¼-mile race taking home $3.1 million, but there are only 19 horses in this year's Kentucky Derby.

The Puma was scratched less than 12 hours from post time, past the deadline where the horse could be replaced. The Puma was scratched due to some swelling that they discovered in his leg due to skin infections, his trainer said.

The Puma was the fourth horse to be scratched this year.

Silent Tactic was scratched due to a foot injury and will be replaced by Great White. Fulleffort was scratched with an ankle injury and is replaced by Ocelli. Right to Party was scratched due to right front lameness and will be replaced by Robusta.

It is the second straight year in which only 19 horses are running at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Debry is always a glamorous affair and this year hasn’t disappointed.

Spectators were seen rocking many classic looks – polka dots were on trend this year – with summery pastels winning the day despite the cool temperatures.

Some fans got a little wild with their looks, with some even wearing the Churchill Downs itself – complete with racing horses – on their heads.

The weather on Saturday is having little impact on the Kentucky Derby, FOX Weather’s forecast shows, a welcome change from a muddy run last year.

Race day is shaping up as partly cloudy with 10 mph winds and temperatures hovering in the high 50s to possibly 60 degrees.

The ideal temperatures for horse racing are between 50 and 75 degrees.

This year’s race may be one of the coldest Kentucky Derbies in history.

Last year, the horses raced on a muddy track following heavy rains.

Master distiller Elizabeth McCall unveiled her $5,000-dollar mint julip to Fox News at the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

She explained that the pricy pick-me-up will go to a good cause, namely Closely Crafted, a charity which she said celebrates American craftsmanship.

The drink includes simple syrup and Double Oaked whiskey – “Two ounces of bourbon for two minutes of sports,” she explained.

The thirst quencher is also patriotic, with McCall adding a red, white a blue flower garnish inside a gold cup with thirteen stars that represent the original American colonies.

“It’s just kind of a fun way to celebrate American craftsmanship with Closely Crafted and then with our cup this year," McCall said.

There are only 19 horses competing in this year’s Kentucky Derby after The Puma’s late scratch. Who are the favorites to win the Run for the Roses?

Renegade, who is trained by Todd A. Pletcher, is the current favorite at 4-1. Commandment, who is trained by Brad H. Cox, and Further Ado, who is also trained by Cox, are both at 6-1.

Chief Wallabee, who is trained by William I. Mott, is at 8-1. The Puma, who was scratched on Saturday morning, had some of the shortest odds in the field.

Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC.

Here are all the horses and their jockeys:

Renegade (Irad Ortiz Jr.) 4-1

Albus (Manny Franco) 30-1

Intrepido (Hector Berrios) 50-1

Litmus Test (Martin Garcia) 50-1

Right to Party (Chris Elliott) SCRATCHED

Commandment (Luis Saez) 6-1

Danon Bourbon (Atsuya Nishimura) 20-1

So Happy (Mike Smith) 15-1

The Puma (Javier Castellano) SCRATCHED

Wonder Dean (Ryusei Sakai) 30-1

Incredibolt (Jaime Torres) 20-1

Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado) 8-1

Silent Tactic (Cristian Torres) SCRATCHED

Potente (Juan Hernandez) 20-1

Emerging Market (Flavien Prat) 15-1

Pavlovian (Edwin Maldonado) 30-1

Six Speed (Brian Hernandez Jr.) 50-1

Further Ado (John Velasquez) 6-1

Golden Tempo (Jose Ortiz) 30-1

Fulleffort (Tyler Gaffalione) SCRATCHED

Great White (Alex Achard) 50-1

Ocelli (Joe Ramos) 50-1

Robusta (Cristian Torres) 50-1