Welcome to the Kentucky Derby Prospect Profile. Every week, we spotlight latest winners of the Street to the Derby schedule, the place horses earn factors towards qualifying for the 1 1/4-mile traditional race on Could 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs.
This week, we’ll take a more in-depth take a look at Extra commotionreceived the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 29 by a 3/4 size margin. With the win, Father Add piled up 10 factors, earned him a beginning gate place within the Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve, and moved him into seventh place on the Street to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
Race abstract: Moreover, Addo completed fifth in his debut race in July and moved as much as third in his second dash at Saratoga Race Course on August thirtieth. His third begin was Oct. 10 at Keeneland Race Course, the place he obtained off to a powerful begin stretching to 1 1/16 miles and ran about 20 lengths, with the velocity determine makers in sizzling pursuit to evaluate his victory. Ado additionally completed the ultimate eight miles sturdy in 12.45 seconds.
The stallion Gun Runner made his stakes debut within the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes over the identical 1 1/16-mile distance, however needed to make a substantial effort at Churchill Downs. He picked up the tempo from fourth place below Irad Ortiz Jr. and took on Soldier N Diplomat close to the entrance. The duo battled by means of a lot of the ultimate stretch, with Father Add passing him within the ultimate 50 yards and Universe passing Soldier N. Diplomat in his ultimate stride for second place.
Moreover, Addo confirmed tenacity within the stretch and proved to be up for a combat, however he didn’t end as quick as his earlier begins, operating 13.33 seconds over the ultimate furlong and 25.96 seconds over the ultimate quarter mile. Nevertheless, he was broad all through the flip and stretch, so floor loss was an element.
“He was in a position to present a unique dimension at the moment. I used to be in a position to decelerate and have a reasonably good journey,” Ortiz mentioned. “He needed to push fairly late to get to the wire first. I feel this race will actually profit him sooner or later.”
Velocity numbers: Addo additionally made an enormous leap in his final begin, posting career-best Equibase velocity numbers of 114 and Beyer velocity numbers of 98 in October. Each are elite numbers for a 2-year-old horse. He returned to earth with a 93 Equibase and 82 Beyer within the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes. It’s extremely doubtless that he reacted negatively to the monster effort within the entrance race, however to Father Add’s credit score, he nonetheless managed to claw his technique to victory within the essential class take a look at with out placing in his greatest effort.
Working fashion: Addo additionally picked up the tempo within the Kentucky Jockey Membership S, profitable by a landslide within the begin two races earlier. When he sprinted at Saratoga, he was just a little behind and the outcomes weren’t as optimistic, so I would prefer to see Father Add use his tactical velocity to both transfer ahead or push the tempo. Excessive cruising velocity is a precious asset on the Derby Path.
Pedigree notes: Father Advert, bought for $550,000 on the OBS Spring 2-12 months-Previous Horse Coaching Sale, was the 2017 Horse of the 12 months Gun Runner and shall be inducted into the Horse Racing Corridor of Fame in 2024. Gun Runner was a number one new sire in 2021 and a number one second and third crop sire in 2022 and 2023. He ranks within the prime 5 in total efficiency. He has been included within the sire record yearly since 2022, together with 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic winner Sierra Leone. Different notable Grade 1 winners round Flip 2 embrace 2021 champion 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu, 2022 Preakness winner Early Boating, 2025 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Tremendous Corredora, in addition to Locked, Society, Cyberknife and Taiba.
Moreover, Advert is a offspring of Sky Dreamer, a G3 winner out of Sky Mesa. Sky Dreamer received the 2012 Arlington Oaks at 1 1/16 miles and completed second at 1 1/8 miles. Sky Dreamer additionally produced stakes winner Kim Bear, and is a pedigree of the older mare Stunning Pleasure, the 1999 champion, and father Advert’s third dam (maternal great-grandmother).
Derby prospects: I’d have favored Father Add to match or exceed the velocity figures he had in his earlier race, however the colt Gun Runner confirmed loads of dedication within the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes. The essential factor is that he has a minimum of confirmed he’s able to operating big races. Moreover, Addo’s pedigree means that he ought to be capable to stretch to a minimum of 1 1/8 miles, and maybe 1 1/4 miles, with some maturity and basis within the coming months. I feel Father Advert is a powerful candidate for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, though he is undoubtedly a skeptic primarily based on his regression velocity numbers.
