Sports
Kentucky Derby 2026 Picks: Expert Predictions and Top Contenders
The challenge of picking the Kentucky Derby winner out of a field of 20 3-year-olds is imposing. Heading into the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs this week, just figuring out which horse will be favored is tough enough.
Journalism emerged as the clear favorite in last year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Santa Anita Derby and posting big speed figures in his last two prep races. Journalism, of course, wound up second to Sovereignty.
A handful of contenders could be the post-time favorite this Saturday. The morning-line choice, Arkansas Derby winner Renegade, drew the tricky inside post. The top three finishers in the Florida Derby — Commandment, The Puma and Chief Wallabee — finished within a length of each other. Further Ado romped in the Blue Grass Stakes, posting the field’s top speed figure.
Renegade was extremely impressive swooping the field and pulling away in the Arkansas Derby. He’s a deep closer, so the inside draw may not be as much of a disadvantage as usual. However, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will have to thread his way through the field to get into position to take the lead during the stretch run.
Commandment has won his last two races by slim margins, sneaking up the rail to beat Chief Wallabee in the Fountain of Youth, then closing from the outside to catch The Puma in the final stride of the Florida Derby.
The Puma got the jump on Commandment in that slow paced race, while Chief Wallabee awaited room along the inside, then swung out to finish just a half length behind. Clearly, there’s not much separating that trio.
Further Ado pulled away from a mediocre field during his Blue Grass romp but the speed figure for the race stands out. The mystery regarding Further Ado is whether he’s a ‘horse for the course’ — his two best races have come over the Keeneland track.
There are a few others to consider. So Happy won the San Anita Derby and while the California horses seem a cut below this year, his speed figure was competitive. The X factor is Danon Bourbon, a Kentucky bred who won all three of his races in Japan. Emerging Market captured the Louisiana Derby in just his second career start.
However, the winner is likely to come out of the first group of five. Which one? I’ll give a slight nod to Chief Wallabee.
Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado should be familiar to race fans — they were in the winner’s circle with Sovereignty last year.
Chief Wallabee doesn’t have as much experience as Sovereignty coming into this year’s race. Sovereignty won a stakes race at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. His stablemate didn’t even debut until January.
Mott is making an unconventional move for the Derby, adding blinkers to Chief Wallabee to help with his focus. Blinkers tend to make horses run closer to the pace, which could be pretty fast on Saturday.
However, the horse has posted sharp works since the addition of blinkers. Mott had Sovereignty ready to peak in the Derby last year — why can’t the Hall of Famer pull off the same feat?
Renegade’s running style could make it difficult for him to win but I see him as the most likely entrant to run in the money. Further Ado could work out a nice stalking trip. I’m not sure he’ll hold off all the closers.
Emerging Market is being ignored mainly due to his lack of experience but he could be the most talented horse in the race. He’s one to strongly consider in exotic wagers.
Top five: 1. Chief Wallabee; 2. Renegade; 3. Further Ado; 4. Emerging Market; 5. Commandment.
Sports
Marina Mabrey, Tempo seek upset in rematch vs. Valkryies
Jul 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) dribbles the ball away from Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images The defensive-minded Golden State Valkyries will attempt to work their magic once again on high-scoring Marina Mabrey when the Toronto Tempo visit San Francisco for the first of two meetings over a three-day stretch on Sunday night.
The clubs will duel again Tuesday.
The Valkyries (19-9) and Tempo (10-18) met July 8 in Toronto, with the visitors using a 26-16 fourth-quarter finish to pull out an 83-75 victory.
Golden State’s Janelle Salaun was the leading scorer that night with 26 points, somewhat of a rarity in a game involving Mabrey this season. She missed all three of her 3-point attempts and totaled just 11 points in the defeat.
Mabrey, who has gone over 20 points 13 times this season, has since averaged 2.9 3-pointers and 21.9 points over seven games.
Toronto enters the two-game sequence having lost five in a row, despite the fact that Mabrey has had 25- and 26-point performances. She went for 30 the last time the Tempo won, 93-91 over the New York Liberty on July 12.
The All-Star will have a new sidekick in San Francisco with the Tempo having traded for Connecticut’s Aneesah Morrow, who averaged 11.6 points in 20 games for the Sun this season.
Morrow is expected to join her new team for the start of a five-game trip.
“The message in going on the road trip is: We’re going to compete,” Toronto coach Sandy Brondello promised this week. “We have to show some fight. When we’re winning, it’s all good, and when we’re losing, it’s all bad.
“We’ve got to face adversity, and we are. What kind of team do we want to be? We can still fight, regardless of the score.”
The Valkyries have dealt well with adversity this season. They’re currently on a two-game losing streak, their third of the year. On the previous two occasions, they responded to the threat of a third straight defeat with four- and nine-game winning streaks.
Golden State point guard Veronica Burton expects better than the performance that led to a 91-89 road loss to the Phoenix Mercury in the team’s most recent game Wednesday.
“I think even being in that game was impressive for us because we did a lot of things wrong,” she told reporters afterward. “There’s a lot to learn from – just being on the same page, keeping our composure. (We’ve) just got to bounce back from it.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pirates place Ryan O'Hearn (quad strain) on 10-day IL
Jul 31, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn (29) walks off the field with assistance in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Ryan O’Hearn on the 10-day injured list on Saturday, after the first baseman/outfielder suffered a left quad strain late in Friday’s 8-7 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
While meeting with the media before Saturday’s game in Cincinnati, O’Hearn said he will miss six-to-eight weeks.
O’Hearn ,33, had to be helped off the field in the ninth after he unsuccessfully tried to beat out a high chopper to second. He hopped awkwardly as he crossed the first base bag.
A free-agent acquisition in the offseason, O’Hearn is hitting .270 in 96 games. His 17 home runs tie his career high, and he has driven in 69 runs.
In a corresponding move, the Pirates activated catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores, Jr. from the seven-day concussion IL. Flores, Jr. has played in eight games for Pittsburgh in 2026, collecting four hits in 15 at-bats, with his first career home run and two RBIs.
Flores, Jr. is in Saturday’s lineup, batting eighth and playing first base.
Also, Antwone Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and fellow right-hander Isaac Mattson was recalled from the same affiliate.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sabrina Ionescu (27 points), Liberty surge past Mercury
Aug 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) against Phoenix Mercury forward Noemie Brochant (1) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Sabrina Ionescu had 27 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and the New York Liberty overcame a 10-point second-half deficit for a 94-92 victory over the host Phoenix Mercury on Saturday afternoon.
Breanna Stewart had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Han Xu had season highs with 17 points and three 3-pointers for the Liberty (17-13), who have won four of five.
DeWanna Bonner had a season-high 25 points along with seven rebounds and Kahleah Copper also scored 25 for the Mercury (11-19), who had a three-game winning streak broken.vAlyssa Thomas contributed 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Jonquel Jones added 16 points and nine rebounds, and her putback gave the Liberty an 89-83 lead with 1:38 left. Rebecca Allen’s 3-pointer on the next possession made it 92-84.
The Liberty swept the three-game season series after winning back-to-back games in New York on May 27 and 29.
Bonner made a 3-pointer after a New York turnover to close the gap to 92-90 with 24.1 seconds remaining after the last of three straight Liberty turnovers.
Stewart hit two free throws with 12.7 left for a 94-90 lead. Thomas’ layup with four seconds left brought the Mercury close, but the Liberty inbounded the ball and the Mercury could not foul as time expired.
The Liberty had a 37-23 rebounding edge, 16 second-chance points and 44 points in the paint.
Ionescu had seven points in the first quarter, when the Liberty scored 11 of the first 12 points and used a late 9-2 run for a 26-15 edge at the quarter. Their largest lead of the game was 13.
Bonner scored eight points as the Mercury closed the second quarter on an 18-9 stretch to get within 46-43 at the break. Stewart, who passed Candace Parker as the 10th-leading all-time scorer in the league Thursday, had six points in the first half.
Noemie Brochant’s 3-pointer gave the Mercury their first lead at 50-48 with 8:17 left in the third quarter.
Copper’s second 3-pointer capped a 12-0 run to give the Mercury their largest lead at 62-52 with 4:06 remaining in the third. The Liberty closed on a 12-1 run capped by Ionescu’s 3-pointer for a 66-65 edge.
The Liberty did not trail the rest of the way.
–Field Level Media
Marina Mabrey, Tempo seek upset in rematch vs. Valkryies
Pirates place Ryan O'Hearn (quad strain) on 10-day IL
