The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby just reached a fever pitch following a pulse-pounding edition of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. While the winner, Paladin, naturally commands the headlines and shortens the 2026 Kentucky Derby Odds, sharp bettors focused their eyes on the runner-up. Chip Honcho, a gritty son of Connect, nearly pulled off a massive gate-to-wire upset, leading the field through stiff fractions before yielding only in the final sixteenth of a mile. This performance signals a massive shift in his development under Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. You must pay attention to this horse because he represents the quintessential "tactical speed" profile that wins championships. If you plan to bet on Kentucky Derby online, understanding why a horse like Chip Honcho belongs on every exotic ticket is the difference between a winning Saturday and a "what if" afternoon.
Chip Honcho did not just participate in the Risen Star; he dictated the terms of engagement from the moment the latch pulled. Breaking from the five-hole, jockey Luis Saez sent the colt aggressively to clear the field. He carved out an opening quarter in :23.81 and a half-mile in :47.49. These are serious internal fractions for a three-year-old traveling nine furlongs in February. When you look at the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, you see horses who inherited wins via pace meltdowns, but Chip Honcho earns his keeps by creating the friction. He maintained a clear advantage through six furlongs in 1:11.53, repelling mid-race bids from several highly-regarded Kentucky Derby contenders. This display of raw energy suggests that he possesses the natural engine required to navigate the chaotic 20-horse field at Churchill Downs.
Currently, the market favors deep closers and flashy "TDN Rising Stars," which keeps the price on blue-collar grinders like Chip Honcho very attractive. While the 2026 Kentucky Derby Odds for horses like Paladin or Nearly hover in the single digits, Chip Honcho remains a value-driven alternative. Bettors often overlook the horse that "tired" to finish second, yet history proves these are exactly the runners that fill out the Exacta and Trifecta. Steve Asmussen knows how to bridge the gap between early speed and late-race stamina. We have seen this trajectory before with horses who dominate the Louisiana circuit. By the time we reach May, the public will likely pivot toward the winners of the final round of Kentucky Derby prep races, leaving Chip Honcho as a hidden gem for those digging into the data early.
You cannot discuss the top Kentucky Derby contenders without weighing the influence of Steve Asmussen. The winningest trainer in North American history specializes in taking speed-oriented colts and teaching them to carry that speed over 10 furlongs. Chip Honcho showed significant improvement between his victory in the Gun Runner Stakes and his second-place finish in the Risen Star. He is learning to relax while traveling at high speeds, a trait known as "high cruising speed." When you engage in 2026 Kentucky Derby betting, you aren't just betting on the horse; you are betting on the trainer's ability to peak that horse on the first Saturday in May. Asmussen’s regimen typically results in horses that are harder, leaner, and more resilient than their peers.
The Kentucky Derby rarely rewards a horse that sits 18th in the early stages unless the pace is historically suicidal. To secure a consistent profit in 2026 Kentucky Derby betting, you must prioritize horses that can "sit and sprint." Chip Honcho possesses the "tactical speed" to stay out of the kickback and avoid the traffic jams that ruin the chances of deep closers. In a field of 20, being in the first flight of four or five horses is a massive advantage. If he can lead the Risen Star field until the final 100 yards, he has already proven he can handle 90% of the Derby distance. The final furlong is about heart and conditioning, and Chip Honcho has plenty of the former while Asmussen provides the latter.
If you are looking for a lock to finish in the top three, look no further than this colt. When building your Trifecta and Superfecta tickets, you need reliable "underneath" horses that won't quit when the real running starts. Chip Honcho has never finished out of the money in his stakes appearances this season. His consistency makes him a dream for those playing Kentucky Derby futures or daily exotics. Even if a monster closer sweeps past him in the final strides at Churchill, Chip Honcho’s ability to dig in and hold onto second or third place is invaluable. He is the type of horse that keeps your ticket alive when the favorites falter or the longshots fail to fire.
With his runner-up finish in the Risen Star, Chip Honcho secured 25 points, bringing his total to 39 and vaulting him into the top three of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. This virtually guarantees him a spot in the starting gate. This security allows Asmussen to tailor his training specifically for the 1 1/4-mile distance rather than chasing points in late March. Having a "locked-in" contender this early is a luxury for bettors. It means the horse won't be over-raced or forced into a desperate effort just to qualify. You can watch his final prep race with the confidence that he is already a major player in the 2026 Kentucky Derby betting landscape.
Critics will point to his sire, Connect, and wonder if 1 1/4 miles is his ceiling. However, Chip Honcho’s dam-side provides plenty of stamina, and his physical frame suggests he is still growing into his power. When evaluating Kentucky Derby contenders, we look for efficiency of stride. In the Risen Star, Chip Honcho didn't look like a horse "hanging" or struggling; he simply met a very talented rival in Paladin, who had a perfect stalking trip. By the time the 2026 Kentucky Derby Odds are finalized, Chip Honcho will have another two months of physical maturity. Connect has already sired runners capable of handling classic distances, and this colt looks like his most talented offspring to date.
When you decide to bet on Kentucky Derby online, the most effective strategy is to "key" Chip Honcho in the second and third positions of your Exactas and Trifectas. If you believe a favorite like Paladin is the most likely winner, you pair him with Chip Honcho underneath. This "cold" Exacta often pays significantly better than a straight win bet on the favorite. Furthermore, in the Kentucky Derby futures pools, you might find Chip Honcho at 30-1 or higher. Locking in those odds now, before he potentially wins the Louisiana Derby, is the sharpest move a horse racing journalist can recommend.
The road to Churchill Downs is littered with flash-in-the-pan speedsters, but Chip Honcho is different. He possesses the grit of an old-school campaigner and the tactical brilliance required to navigate a 20-horse stampede. As he continues to climb the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, his value will only become more apparent to the betting public. Do not wait until the morning of May 2nd to decide your strategy. The data from the Kentucky Derby prep races is screaming at us: this horse is a must-include for anyone serious about winning big.
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The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
