Veteran trainer Bob Baffert will saddle two contenders, Litmus Test and Potente, at the Kentucky Derby 2026, as he targets a record-breaking seventh win following his return from a three-year ban.
Baffert currently shares the record for most Kentucky Derby wins with six victories, tied with legendary trainer Ben Jones. His most recent triumph came in 2020 with Authentic.
However, his bid for a standalone record was derailed in 2021 when his horse Medina Spirit was stripped of the title after testing positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone. The fallout led to a three-year ban from Churchill Downs-affiliated tracks.
Return to the Derby stage
Baffert returned to the Derby in 2025 with Citizen Bull and Rodriguez, but neither made a significant impact. Citizen Bull finished 15th, while Rodriguez was scratched before the race due to a foot bruise.
Now back for 2026, the 73-year-old trainer is once again chasing history on horse racing’s biggest stage.
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Baffert has entered two horses in this year’s race:
- Potente enters at 23/1 odds and will be ridden by jockey Juan J. Hernandez. The colt is seen as the stronger of Baffert’s two runners, though still not among the leading favourites.
- Litmus Test, listed at 34/1, will have Martin Garcia aboard. With longer odds, Litmus Test is considered more of an outsider heading into the race.
What are their chances?
Neither Potente nor Litmus Test enters as a top contender on paper, but Baffert’s track record at Churchill Downs keeps both horses in the conversation. His experience in preparing Derby runners has often produced results beyond expectations.
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That said, the competition remains strong, and both horses would likely need to outperform projections to deliver a historic seventh win for their trainer.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is set for a 6:57 pm ET post time, with Baffert once again under intense scrutiny. A victory would see him move past Ben Jones to become the most successful trainer in Derby history.
