BloodHorse Information Editor Byron King introduces the 2026 Derby Weekly as he profiles the primary contenders for the Kentucky Derby, to be hosted by Woodford Reserve on Might 2nd.
There have been no qualifying factors preparations scheduled for final weekend, however two are scheduled for January thirty first: the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the Wizards Stakes at Aqueduct. The Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park has been postponed to February sixth.
Take a look at America’s Finest Racing’s Triple Crown web page to remain updated with tales and stats on the highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Ted Nophy
A day after profitable the Eclipse Award because the 2025 Champion 2-year-old colt, jockey Ted Nophy returned to work with two-time Kentucky Derby-winning coach Todd Pletcher at Palm Seashore Downs on January 23, working the 800 meters within the firm in a snug 50.81 seconds. The wind was clearly not meant to be harsh, as this was his first half-mile since profitable the TAA-sponsored FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a 4-0 document as a 2-year-old. His coaching rider was below a hammerlock your complete time. A 3-time Group 1 winner, two of them through this route, he’s battle-proven in a means not like every other participant on this checklist. Subsequent up is the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on February twenty eighth.
2. Additional introduction
After profitable the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes by three-quarters of a size at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29, coach Brad Cox gave him some respite, despite the fact that the horse appeared to cease shifting shortly after galloping out. The transfer is comprehensible, because the stallion’s velocity numbers at KJC had been a step again from his 20-horse run within the first two-turn take a look at when he ran the 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland a month in the past. On January twenty fifth at Payson Park in a light-weight breeze for 3 furlongs, Cox returned to the circulate and began driving the wind in 37.37 seconds. You may in all probability want 3-4 extra exercises to get race match.
3. Commandments
Brad Cox gave racing just a few weeks off after his beautiful victory within the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January third. This race surprisingly doesn’t award qualifying factors on the highway to the Kentucky Derby, despite the fact that different one-mile races qualify. Subsequently, this stallion has but to attain any factors on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. His different win got here at Churchill Downs within the fall with a 2-out, 7-furlong first rating. A showdown with Ted Nophy may happen on the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, however there are at all times different derby choices.
4. Paladin
Paladin overcame a disqualification to win his debut after which gained final fall’s Remsen Stakes, establishing himself as a professional Kentucky Derby contender. Remsen’s lack of a Derby winner since Thunder Gulch wore a wreath of roses in 1995 can finest be chalked as much as unhealthy luck. There are additionally high-quality horses working, together with 2023 first- and second-place finishers on this race, NYRA Bets winner Dornoch of the Belmont Stakes Introduced, and eventual Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner Sierra Leone. The latter, saddled by Paladin coach Chad Brown, misplaced by a nostril within the Derby to ground-saving Mystic Dan.
5. Blunt
There are issues concerning the colt on the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance after fading to 3rd place within the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, however one factor that’s past query is Brandt’s expertise. He’s a proficient horse who was bought final yr as a juvenile for $3 million and gained his first two races, together with the 2025 Del Mar Futurity. I’ve excessive hopes for him to have success on the brief routes in California this yr, however I am much less smitten by his prospects towards deeper lineups over 1 1/8 miles.
6. Litmus paper
Coach Bob Baffert, a six-time Derby winner, has repeatedly mentioned that growing distance fits the colt. The horse had a terrific end late final yr, profitable the Los Alamitos Futurity, a race gained in 2024 by 2025 Preakness Stakes winner Journalism. However Litmus Check did not get the identical consideration for profitable that race. Earlier than that race, he completed third as soon as and 4th twice in three G1 races for 2-year-olds final yr. He’s working within the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, which has been postponed from January thirty first to Friday, February sixth because of freezing temperatures in Arkansas.
7. Incredivolt
The Riley Mott coach will compete within the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January thirty first, making his first return to motion since profitable the Road Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on October twenty sixth. The brief straights featured within the 1 1/16-mile race could also be an obstacle for horses together with his sluggish working fashion, however at the least he pulled the rail, which may maintain his rivals inside vary. The horse’s five-furlong observe time of 1:02.30 at Palm Meadows on January 23 wasn’t very quick, but it surely was a lot simpler than his fellow Win Nation jockey, and he simply pulled away on the sign from the rider to gallop out.
8. Golden time
Carlin’s offspring have persistently proven good outcomes on dust tracks, and the Lecomte Stakes on the Fairgrounds on January 17 was no exception. Regardless of profitable just one six-furlong victory on his debut, he ran the 1 1/16-mile distance like a seasoned professional, rallying from the again to chase down his opponents and enhance his document to 2-2. Because of the quick floor of the fairgrounds, his time was 1:44.98 and his velocity numbers had been low general. He clearly has room for additional development.
9. Strategic dangers
Like different horses from Oaklawn Park, Arkansas (and horses stabled in Kentucky, Maryland, New York and different states), coaching has been affected by the extreme winter climate of the previous few days. Coaching at Oak Garden on January twenty seventh was canceled in addition to the day earlier than. One benefit he has from a health standpoint is that he maintains an energetic racing schedule, profitable the FTBOA Florida Sire-In Actuality Stakes at Gulfstream on Nov. 29 after which including the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on Jan. 3. He’s additionally one of many horses entered to compete within the Southwest Stakes, which has been postponed from Saturday to Friday, February sixth.
10.Virtually
His fellow class president, trainee Todd Pletcher, recorded his quickest distance in a light-weight breeze for a half-mile at Palm Seashore Downs on Jan. 24 in 48.59 seconds. This fast work means that the up-and-comer, who has had some nice wins at Gulfstream this winter, shall be again at his finest in Saturday’s Holy Bull Stakes. However neither victory was achieved inside two turns, so Sacred Bull ought to train us rather a lot. His dam’s two wins got here in sprints, however there is a component of stamina in different elements of his pedigree.
11. Canaletto
Making his debut in his first race at Gulfstream on January 25, the wide-stomping colt impressed with jockey Flavien Prat, displaying controllable velocity and fast bursts when requested to select up the tempo within the corners, earlier than ending sturdy by eight lengths. The $1 million yearling ran the mile in 1:36.28, incomes him a Beyer velocity score of 89 and an Equibase velocity score of 94. A son of Into Mischief and a half-brother of main prize winners She Cannot Sing and Sandman, he has not solely expertise but additionally pedigree. These strengths might want to offset his restricted expertise if he’s to achieve success within the derby. It is not unattainable. Justify (2018) and Mage (2023) gained the Derby after auspicious winter debuts as 3-year-olds.
12. Blackout Time
Returning to a public monitor for the primary time since getting a regulatory scratch on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31, he has been added to the Derby Dozen rankings and will transfer up additional if his coaching goes easily. He nonetheless must log 5 furlongs of breeze to clear remedy exams and different protocols and get off the vet’s checklist. Having simply accomplished the primary three-eighths of his profession, we can’t see a lot of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity runner-up till March.
