The Puma profile: 2026 Kentucky Derby odds, post position, history and more to know
The Puma is one of the few horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field with competitive races against top contenders like Renegade, Commandment, and Further Ado, including a win in the Tampa Bay Derby. Trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by Javier Castellano, he has shown consistent performance despite a late start to his racing career. With a strong Beyer Speed Figure and favorable preparation time before the Derby, The Puma is considered a credible contender despite limited experience at age two.
- ▪The Puma has faced and competed against the top four morning-line favorites—Renegade, Commandment, Further Ado, and Chief Wallabee—in 2026.
- ▪He won the Tampa Bay Derby and finished second in the Florida Derby by a nose, earning a best Beyer Speed Figure of 100.
- ▪Trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by Javier Castellano, The Puma is one of the few recent Derby contenders to skip racing at age two, similar to Mage who won in 2023 under the same trainer.
- ▪Purchased for $150,000, The Puma did not race until January 2026 and has already made four starts this year.
- ▪He will enter the Kentucky Derby off a five-week break after running in the Florida Derby just three weeks following the Tampa Bay Derby.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Puma profile: 2026 Kentucky Derby odds, post position, history and more to know Get caught up with The Puma's past performances, jockey, trainer and full analysis heading into the Run for the Roses By Gene Menez Apr 30, 2026 at 12:57 pm ET • 3 min read USATSI Only one horse in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field has faced each of the top four heavyweights on the morning line: The Puma. And the Gustavo Delgado trainee has held his own against Renegade, Commandment, Further Ado and Chief Wallabee this year, even beating Further Ado in the Tampa Bay Derby. On Saturday, The Puma can vault to the head of the 3-year-old class when he leaves the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at CBS Sports.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from CBS Sports
