BloodHorse Information Editor Byron King introduces the 2026 Derby Weekly as he profiles the principle contenders for the Kentucky Derby, to be hosted by Woodford Reserve on Could 2nd.
After greater than per week of wintry climate throughout giant swathes of the jap United States, the street to the Kentucky Derby is again on monitor with two qualifying factors races rescheduled for February 6 (Wizards Stakes at Aqueduct and Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park) and two extra races as initially scheduled on February 7 (Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa). Anita Park).
Take a look at America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page to remain updated with tales and stats on the street to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Additional introduction
With Ted Nophy sidelined with a bone bruise, Father Add rose from second place to the highest spot within the first two weeks of the Derby Dozen. Each horses are owned by Derby Dozen sponsor Spendthrift Farm, however the stallions are acknowledged primarily for his or her achievements. Many 3-year-old horses nonetheless have query marks over their course, however he isn’t one among them. After successful his first race at Keeneland in October by 20 lengths, he additionally gained the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes by 3/4 size at Churchill Downs on November 29, each victories at 1 1/16 miles. So not solely is the Brad Cox coach a confirmed router, he additionally has a powerful monitor report at Churchill Downs, simply as Sovereignty did previous to his 2025 Derby victory.
2.Nearly
The stallion moved up from ninth to second within the standings after successful the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 31 and is “nearly” on the entrance of his class. As spectacular as this win was, forcing the favored Cannonier into submission and pulling away by 5 3/4 lengths in his two-turn debut, chasing Father Add on this area was all about his success at Gulfstream Park. He might be able to switch his kind elsewhere, however the reality is he was one race away from Gulfstream and dropping when he debuted with a sixth-place end at Aqueduct final fall. His last sixteenth place at Holy Bull was additionally sluggish at .07.10, however a fraction of the take a look at resulted in a late end.
3. Commandments
Like Father Addo, jockey Brad Cox can be on a two-fight successful streak. He gained his first seven-furlong race at Churchill Downs on November 1st, then adopted up within the one-turn-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January third. Having made all three begins in one-turn races, along with his debut over six furlongs, he has not but established his credentials as a two-turn router. He perfected the Mucho Macho Man who might deal with the additional floor, however the gradual enhance in distance does not imply that Cox noticed him as a slam dunk router from the start. His subsequent race will function a barometer not just for his stamina, but additionally whether or not he can rating qualifying factors for the Kentucky Derby. He at present has nothing.
4. Paladin
He completed second amongst particular person bettors within the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool at Churchill Downs, which ended on January 18, with a report of 14 wins and 1 loss, leaving solely Derby candidate Ted Nophy at 6 wins and 1 loss. It is apparent why the general public likes him. Paladin gained the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct final fall within the 1 1/8 mile after successful his debut race within the 1 mile after a disqualification. Bought for $1.9 million, the yearling has a notable pedigree to match his kind. His sire, Gun Runner, is without doubt one of the most efficient horses in North America, and his dam, the Tapit mare Secretsay, is a half-sister to Japanese G1 winner and stallion Mozu Ascot.
5. Blunt
His two exercises this winter had been easy solo actions. When Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert will get his horses in form for a race, he tends to place them by way of more durable coaching, together with a peppy gallop out. Baffert did not even choose Blount for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on February 7, selecting as an alternative to place a few of his stablemates there. The 2025 Del Mar Futurity winner is more likely to return in March, maybe within the San Felipe Stakes on March seventh or in a suburban Derby prep race. After falling to 3rd place on his solely route on the 2025 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by TAA, this spring’s lengthy distance races ought to present additional clues about his endurance.
6. Litmus paper
The winner of the 2025 Los Alamitos Futurity is scheduled to start out within the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 6 at Oaklawn Park, in accordance with Oaklawn Park racetrack announcer Matt Dinerman. Buetan would be the starter within the race for coach Bob Baffert, Dinerman posted on X. Will probably be fascinating to see the place the litmus take a look at will probably be held subsequent. The stallion is an skilled two-turner, working fourth behind Ted Nophy within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and third behind his at present sidelined opponent within the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.
7. Golden time
The horse’s house owners, Phipps Secure and St. Elias Secure, have gained the Derby individually with different horses. The Phipps steady and Stuart Janney III gained the 2013 Derby with the Shag McGaughey-trained Orb, whereas the St. Elias steady of the Vinny Viola steady gained the 2013 Derby with the Brooklyn Boys steady and MeB Ray. -Sing Secure, Teresa Viola Racing Secure, Siena Farm and West Level Thoroughbreds, gained the 2017 Derby with All the time Dreaming, educated by Todd Pletcher. Golden Tempo, who improved to 2 wins and a pair of losses within the Lecomte Stakes held on the Fairgrounds on January seventeenth, was once more blessed with the wind on January thirtieth.
8. Strategic dangers
Oaklawn Park’s essential monitor hasn’t been opened for a few week after the winter blast that hit the nation, which might have an effect on horses from native stables, together with Smarty Jones Stakes winner Strategic Danger, who’re making ready for Friday’s Southwest Stakes. Horses from hotter climates that obtain constant monitor coaching elsewhere, corresponding to on the fairgrounds, Santa Anita Park, or at racetracks and coaching facilities in Florida, might retain a health benefit. At the least this can be a horse that has stored an energetic racing schedule. His two filth routes have introduced him overwhelming wins, however he has but to run in a serious stakes race.
9. Blackout Time
He ran a 0.5-mile time of 49.40 seconds on the Fairgrounds on Jan. 30, his second coaching since being restricted within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. As coaching progresses additional, he nonetheless should full a five-furlong breeze to move the assessments required by regulators and be faraway from the vet’s record. There isn’t any doubt about his expertise. When he completed second within the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland final fall in his third profession race, he was working behind Ted Nophy and in entrance of Litmus Take a look at.
10. Canaletto
Coach Chad Brown ran the Into Mischief-bred within the first mile, leaving little question in regards to the stallion’s sustainability. The $1 million yearling ran the mile at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 with a promising lengthy stride of 1:36.28, incomes thrilling velocity numbers throughout the board. He’s more likely to begin at most three video games by the primary Saturday in Could. So every part is more likely to have to go completely to qualify for the Derby, and if not, Brown might as an alternative select to attend for the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, as he did efficiently with mild race winners Cloud Computing and Early Voting.
11. Desert Gate
One in every of California’s prime two-year-olds final 12 months, he missed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile attributable to a hock an infection, however has been coaching positively in current weeks. On January thirty first at Santa Anita, he was co-ridden with stablemate Litmus Take a look at and clocked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 with much less strain from his jockey. He gained his first two races final 12 months, together with the Greatest Pulse Stakes at Del Mar, and can end second to Brant and Intrepid within the 2025 Del Mar Futurity and American Pharoah Stakes Offered by DK Horse, respectively. He could have a rematch with Intrepid in Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
12. Liberty Nationwide
After an eye catching second-place win at Churchill Downs within the fall, he fell wanting expectations within the Gun Runner Stakes on the Fairgrounds on Dec. 20. Though he was a aggressive second, he actually didn’t catch his opponents as simply as he did in his first victory, towards an skilled opponent and when he tried to slip up the fence. Possibly the three-week therapy interval made him slightly extra susceptible to regression. He’ll get one other win for stakes firm in Friday’s Southwest Stakes at Oak Garden. Observe that it bought for $525,000 on the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. This was the very best priced 37-year-old horse bought by coach Ken McPeek because the sale’s agent.
