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.
There’s a relative respite on this weekend’s Derby preparation schedule, with just one qualifying factors race scheduled: the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park on February twenty first.
Take a look at America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page for the most recent tales and stats on the street to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Paladin
Paladin made his 3-year-old debut within the Fasig-Tipton Risenstar Stakes on the Fairgrounds on February 14, rising from third place to the highest of the Derby Derby. The win, his third outing, produced his greatest effort from a visible standpoint, clock and velocity numbers. He ran down the free lead of Chip Honcho, exhibiting the tactical velocity to seize the ahead place and the kick wanted to cross 1 1/8 miles. Mixed with one other stakes win in final 12 months’s Remsen Stakes, he’s now confirmed twice at 1 1/8 miles, and the Derby’s 1 1/4-mile journey seems to be proper in his consolation zone.
2. Additional introduction
The colt had not raced because the fall, however fell to second place after his victory within the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 29 didn’t appear to equal Paladin’s Risen Star victory. As well as, Help gained the Kentucky Jockey Membership by 1 3/4 lengths over Universe, however Universe most just lately completed fourth by 7 3/4 lengths at Risen Star by a easy yardstick. A lot of the different Kentucky Jockey Membership runners had common outcomes at greatest in subsequent begins, except for Soldier N Diplomat, who completed third within the Southwest Stakes. Nonetheless, it is vital to do not forget that Father Add did as properly in his first stakes race as he did in his solely different route, when he gained by 20 lengths at Keeneland on Oct. 10.
3.Nearly
Should you try this 12 months’s high Beyer Velocity outcomes for 3-year-old horses, you may see his identify in 1st and 2nd place. After posting a beginning 97 within the seven-furlong Arrowwansion Choice Claimer within the opening spherical of his 3-year-old season, he gained the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 31 with a Beyer 98. Paladin runs 93 Beyer on Risen Star and is just a little decrease on the checklist. Equibase velocity numbers do not match up, with Paladin’s Equibase numbers of 93 at Risen Star (and 96 at December’s Remsen Stakes as a 2-year-old) in comparison with Neary’s 90 and 92 in two runs as a 3-year-old. Numbers apart, this stallion is clearly fairly good, successful three straight after ending sixth on his debut at Aqueduct final fall. Subsequent up is the Curlin Florida Derby on March twenty eighth at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream.
4. Commandment
Like Neary, he was dropped in his first begin, however improved visibly with expertise and distance after competing in a six-furlong dash at Keeneland on October 4. He raced seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on November 1st, and ran greater than a mile within the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on January third, ending six and three-quarters of a size forward with a furlong of 12.87 seconds. From high to backside, Mucho Macho Man was comparatively gentle in comparison with different 3-year-old stakes this 12 months, however Commandment gained the best manner. Testing will happen across the second nook, almost certainly on the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on February twenty eighth.
5. Silence techniques
His inventory is on the rise following his win within the $1 million Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on February sixth. In Churchill Downs’ newest Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed on February 15, bettors pegged him because the fifth alternative for particular person betting at odds of 19-1. Why the optimism? He overtook horses on the southwest straight and looked like a horse having fun with extra driving floor. That wasn’t his solely nice race. He has gained the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, and has a file of two wins, 2 losses, and 0 losses in 4 races underneath coach Mark Casse, who’s aiming for his first Derby victory.
6. Blunt
Together with Paladin and Father Add, he’s the third Gunrunner stallion within the high six on this rating. Considered one of North America’s high younger stallions, Gun Runner earned $250,000 in royalties at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky. It looks like it is solely a matter of time earlier than he is represented as a Kentucky Derby winner. Sierra Leone got here a detailed second within the 2024 Derby two years in the past, virtually handing the stallion the feat. Brandt was bought for $3 million as a 2-year-old and went 2-0-1 in three begins final 12 months. He had a blast successful the Del Mar Futurity in his debut and setting the tempo till ending third in his solely street on the TAA-sponsored FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
7. Litmus check
Brandt and Litmus Take a look at, who completed fourth within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, are the highest two finishers in that race nonetheless on the Derby course. Winner Ted Nophy and runner-up Mr. AP needed to withdraw attributable to bodily sickness. Though he did not run in addition to Juvenile Brant within the litmus check, he was nonetheless aggressive, racing just a few lengths off the tempo from starting to finish, and narrowly closing the hole to a three-quarter size lead on the end, only a neck behind the Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Brant. Following this race, Litmus Take a look at earned an ideal journey victory on the Los Alamitos Futurity on December thirteenth, ending his freshman season with a 2-0-1 file in 5 begins.
8. Renegade
Though he was inactive final week, Risenstar’s win from Paladin made him even higher and moved him up a number of positions within the rankings. The stallion completed forward of his rival in his maiden race on October seventeenth, however was solely relegated to second place for interference, and completed a distant second at Remsen, two lengths behind Paladin. Renegade, who turned 3 this 12 months, was a decisive winner within the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February seventh towards a discipline horse, successful by a three-quarter size.
9. Plutarch
The Robert B. Lewis S. winner would be the third Derby dozen horse for six-time Kentucky Derby winner and two-time Triple Crown winner coach Bob Baffert. Along with this stakes victory, this horse additionally has robust pedigree, being out of Into Mischief, who has produced three Kentucky Derby winners, and out of the champion mare Stella Wind. Plutarch appears to be an upwardly growing kind. His aggressive driving to the entrance appeared to make a distinction on Lewis, retaining him inside placing distance of the main Intrepid and eventual second-placed Intrepid in a slow-paced race suited to horses near the entrance.
10. Blackout Time
After recording his first work on the Fairgrounds this winter, he galloped 5 furlongs and one minute flat at Oaklawn Park on February eleventh in preparation for his scheduled begin within the March 1st Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He wanted 5 furlongs of coaching there and passable check outcomes to get off the California Horse Racing Board’s veterinarian checklist of ineligible runners, who had a regulatory scratch finally fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar Racetrack. Oaklawn stated he plans to return to the Fairgrounds in the midst of this week and have his closing wind earlier than leveling with stakes-winning horse Gould’s Gold this weekend. Spokesperson Robert Yates. Blackout Time confirmed his class capacity final 12 months with a runner-up end between Ted Nophy and Litmus Take a look at within the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
11. Canaletto
Talking with Blood Horse after Risen Star, coach Chad Brown appeared leaning towards working the dominant debut winner on Jan. 25 within the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream slightly than ready for the Esmark Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7. Do not forget that Fountain of Youth was a return goal for Ted Nophy even earlier than he was declared off the Derby course. Subsequently, this race is just not thought-about tough by rival trainers. However in some circumstances, such a serious departure may end up in a number of trainers having the identical “let’s take benefit” mindset, inflicting a deep discipline.
12. Golden Time
Though he had efficiency at Risen Star, he was disillusioned as he was unable to achieve the highest and fell six lengths again on the end line, dropping to the underside of the rankings. As a more in-depth, he defeated Maidens in a dash on December 20 and gained the Le Comte Stakes on January 17 with a quick tempo, however Risen Star’s tempo and stream didn’t swimsuit him when Chip Honcho raced uncontested on the entrance. Paladin was the one horse who had the tactical velocity to take a seat shut however was in a position to lower into the chief’s margin. The 20-horse race within the Derby is often quick paced, appropriate for Golden Tempo, however you may want quite a lot of horse racing luck to overhaul.
