The 2024 Avenue Sense Stakes served as a showcase for the longer term celebrity. Sovereignty is the winner of this yr’s Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes offered by NYRA Bets.
Highway to the 2026 Kentucky Derby Leaderboard
When the beginning gates opened for this yr’s Avenue Sense at Churchill Downs on Oct. 26, Pin Oak Stud’s Incredibold took some cues from Sovereignty’s technique and was named a front-runner for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
“A horse like him is trying on the street to the primary Saturday in Could,” stated Pin Oak’s director of operations, Michael Hardy. “To win that stake at the moment and to realize it right here at Churchill, hopefully we will proceed down the trail of sovereignty into subsequent yr.”
Turning his head because the beginning gate opened, Incredivolt broke slowly and located himself in final place, similar to Sovereignty, early within the 1 1/16-mile race. Though the tempo was slower than final yr’s race, Gunners clocked quarter-mile fractions of 24.29 seconds, 48.83 seconds, and 1:13.40. Nevertheless, that did not cease Incredivolt from making spectacular strikes. Incredibold, who took the lead from pole 16, received by 1 3/4 lengths in 1 minute 44.67 seconds. Pay $10.18 to win.
The Kenny McPeek-trained duo of Universe and Very Linked has received three straight.
“He takes somewhat little bit of time in his stride to get going,” stated successful jockey Jamie Torres. “On the again, I had quite a lot of confidence in him. He was operating brilliantly. I requested him just a few instances to know the place I wanted to maneuver. Each time I attempted to really feel the quantity of my horse, he was at all times there. I relaxed with him and tried to get away from three-eighths (pole).”
Jockey Torres has had full religion within the Bordolo colt since driving him for the primary time the morning earlier than his debut, satirically giving him the nickname “Little Soverienti.”
“Once I first heard about him within the morning, I stated to my agent (Liz Morris), ‘I feel that is the following Sovereignty,'” Torres stated. “We continued to coach him within the morning, and every time he felt higher and higher.
The colt made his debut at Ellis Park in August with a fourth-place end over six furlongs, and on September 28 at Churchill Downs he stretched to the flip mile and received by two lengths. Torres stated an extended interval is best for the stallion skilled by Riley Mott, son of Sovereignty’s Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott.
Together with his victory, the Incredibles moved one step nearer to imitating the Sovereignty. He earned 10 qualifying factors on the street to the Kentucky Derby, with factors awarded to the highest 5 finishes on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Incredibold, bred in Kentucky by Dean and Greg Bear, was bought on the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $75,000.
“He was at all times like a racehorse,” Hardy stated. “On the day he was a refined, double-turning, handsome horse. That is what attracted us to him. We just like the stallion and assume he is a stallion on the way in which. We hope Incredibold carries that flag.”
Bolt d’Oro will compete at Spendthrift Farm for the 2026 season for a $25,000 payment. Incredivolt is out of the successful Superior Once more filly Sapphire Spitfire.
