Into Mischief a major player in 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1)

With three of the most highly-regarded horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1), Into Mischief looks to become the first horse in the history of the Derby to sire four winners.

Into Mischief’s previous Derby winners were Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021) and Sovereignty (2025). Into Mischief is currently tied with former sires Bull Lea, Sir Gallahad III, Falsetto and Virgil as sires with three Derby winners.

Into Mischief’s 2026 Derby trio is comprised of Commandment, Renegade and Potente, and all three bring very solid credentials into the Run for the Roses.

Commandment, who has won four races in a row dating back to last November, drew post 6 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Luis Saez. Commandment was a valiant winner of both the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park and is the only horse in the Derby field to register more than one triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure.

Commandment, who is 4-0-0 in five starts and has earned $1,017,339, is owned by Wathnan Racing, who purchased the bay colt for $500,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale. Commandment was bred in Kentucky by Lee Poloik.

Potente drew post 14 for six-time Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert, while jockey Juan Hernandez is making his Derby debut. Potente began his career in late January with a maiden win, then took the San Felipe S. (G2) in his stakes debut. Most recently he was second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Potente turned in one of the more eye-catching workout over the past week at Churchill Downs, drilling five furlongs in :57 4/5 in the bullet move. Owned by Speedway Stables LLC, Potente sold for $2.4 million at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton August Yearling sale. The bay colt was bred by Pam & Martin Wygod.

Renegade, the Derby morning line favorite, drew post 1 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. seeking his first Derby win. Trainer Todd Pletcher shipped Renegade to Oaklawn Park, where he was a dynamic winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1). Prior to that, he was an easy winner of the Sam F. Davis S. and was a close second to Paladin in the Remsen S. (G2) at the end of his 2-year-old season.

Renegade is owned by Repole Stable and Robert & Lawana Low, the latter also his breeders. Renegade has also earned over $1 million while posting a record of 2-2-1 in five starts.

The Derby will be run Saturday at 6:57 pm ET and can be seen on the NBC family of networks.