How to bet the Kentucky Derby Day mandatory-payout $110,100 Pick 6 carryover

One of the best betting opportunities on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs is the 20-cent “Derby City 6” Pick 6, which features the mandatory payout of a $110,100 carryover.

Last year’s mandatory payout Pick 6 on Derby Day attracted over $2 million in wagers and paid $2,062.47. The year before that, the wager attracted a similarly large pool and resulted in a massive $345,073.62 payoff.

Here’s how we recommend betting the 2026 Kentucky Derby Day mandatory-payout Pick 6:

Churchill Downs: Race 7: Pick 6 wager

• 20-cent Pick 6: 2,3,4,5 with 1,4,6 with 4 with 2,6 with 3,6,9,10 with 1,6,7,9,12 ($96)

Analysis

Race 7: Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) (one mile on turf)

#2 Sweet Rebecca (5-2) is 2-for-2 this year and exits a fast-finishing triumph in the Sand Springs S. #3 Portfolio Duration (4-1) has dominated her last two starts at Tampa Bay Downs for high-percentage trainer Chad Brown. #4 Temptable (8-1) is eligible to improve in her second North American start after finishing seventh in the Goldikova (G2) last fall. Honey Fox (G3) runner-up #5 Classic Q (6-1) has a chance to shake loose on an uncontested lead. We’ll use these four to start the Pick 6. 

Race 8: Pat Day Mile (G2) (one mile on dirt)

#6 Crude Velocity (5-2) and #1 Englishman (3-1) are both 2-for-2 sprinting, and either could be a Grade 1 winner in the making. But if they falter while stretching out in distance, #4 Secured Freedom (20-1) has upset potential. He’s cutting back to one turn after recording top-four finishes against quality fields in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and San Felipe (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Race 9: American Turf (G1) (1 1/16 miles on turf)

#4 Stark Contrast (4-1) is 3-for-4 on turf, with his lone defeat coming by three-quarters of a length against an international field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Returning to grass off a runner-up effort in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on synthetic can send this talented colt back to the winner’s circle under two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat.

Race 10: Churchill Downs (G1) (seven furlongs on dirt)

#6 Knightsbridge (9-5) has gone 4-for-4 since returning from a layoff in November, along the way winning a trio of Grade 3 stakes by a minimum of 4 3/4 lengths. He’s a serious talent with a big win chance, but we’ll also use #2 Cornucopian (7-2), whose 2-for-2 record this year includes a fast triumph in the San Carlos (G3).

Race 11: Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) (1 1/8 miles on turf)

This competitive grass contest looks wide-open on paper. We’ll spread deep with Jockey Club Derby (G2) conqueror #3 Asbury Park (8-1), Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) winner #6 Rhetorical (5-2), Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) hero #9 Test Score (7-2), and Dubai Turf (G1) fourth-place finisher #10 Make Me King (6-1).

Race 12: Kentucky Derby (G1) (1 1/4 miles on dirt)

In a deep edition of the Kentucky Derby, we’ll use five horses: Florida Derby (G1) 1-2-3 finishers #6 Commandment (6-1), #9 The Puma (10-1), and #12 Chief Wallabee (8-1), impressive Arkansas Derby (G1) hero #1 Renegade (4-1), and the undefeated Japanese raider #7 Danon Bourbon (20-1). All have shown talent and strong finishing speed, suggesting they can perform well over the Derby’s testing 1 1/4-mile distance.

Good luck!