Oaklawn Park affords a profitable path to the Kentucky Derby hosted by Woodford Reserve, resulting in a deep, proficient area and a sexy 3-year-old qualifying race for the Might 2 Prix de Rose at Churchill Downs.
Strategic Danger gained the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on January 3, and Silent Tactic gained the $1 million Southwest Stakes on February 6. Each horses will return for the third of 4 Kentucky Derby prep races at Scorching Springs Racetrack in Arkansas. stage stakes March 1st.
The 1 1/16-mile Insurgent S featured 10 3-year-old horses competing for a complete of 105 qualifying factors on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale for the highest 5 horses, successfully guaranteeing the winner a spot within the Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn’s highway to the Kentucky Derby concludes with the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on March twenty eighth. The Derby is a Group 1 race held over a distance of 1 1/8 miles, with 100 factors awarded to the winner.
The Insurgent Stakes might be aired on FOX Sports activities on Sunday throughout “America’s Day on the Races,” with put up time scheduled for six:23 p.m. ET.
Learn beneath to study extra concerning the 10 3-year-old horses that ran within the Insurgent Stakes. The Insurgent Stakes is a race gained this century by basic winners similar to Smarty Jones (2004), Carlin (2007), Lookin’ at Fortunate (2010), and American Pharoah (2015).
1. Bravalo (Morning line odds 8-1)
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta
coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Proprietor: Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, Paul Braverman
Work historical past: 3 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession revenue: $203,500
High numbers for equal base pace: 89
Kentucky Derby factors: 10
Pedigree: Upstart – Opera Star, written by Tamarkuz
colour: bay
Operating type: stalker
evaluation: Bravalo started his profession with back-to-back wins towards New York-bred horses at Aqueduct, together with a two-and-a-half size victory within the Sleepy Hole Stakes on October 25, 2025. The stallion Upstart returned from a three-month refresher on Kentucky Derby roads within the G3 Holy Bull S at Gulfstream Park on January 31, working a large lead over the extremely rated 3-year-old. Nearly. Bravalo did effectively towards stronger opponents in Holy Bull and will present worth to Stage S at a morning line value of 8-1, however he would wish to enhance his Equibase Pace Index by 10-15 factors to have a sensible probability of successful. He may additionally must hustle out of the beginning gate for positioning from the within put up. Be aware: Bravalo will run within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on February twenty eighth. In keeping with Mike Welsh of Each day Racing Kind:He’ll run within the prelude to the Kentucky Derby.
2. Litmus check paper (7-2)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
coach: bob baffert
Proprietor: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stone Road Stables, Diane Bashor, Decided Stables, Golconda Stables, Waves Edge Capital, Katherine Donovan
Work historical past: 5 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession revenue: $350,188
High numbers for equal base pace: 105
Kentucky Derby factors: 19
Pedigree: Nyquist – Examine exhausting, by Malibu Moon
colour: bay
Operating type: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: Litmus Check might be shipped from Southern California for Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert, who has gained the Insurgent Stakes eight instances since 2010 and most just lately on the Live performance Tour in 2021. The winner of the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity will very doubtless find yourself being the post-time favourite given his observe file in large races. Previous to his Los Alamitos Futurity victory, Litmus Check completed third within the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland final fall and completed fourth within the TAA-sponsored FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, three-quarters of a size behind Ted Nophy. The Nyquist Stallion returns from a two-month hiatus and makes his season debut because the quickest horse within the race by Equibase Pace Figures, and could also be tough to beat regardless of the low odds.
3. Class President (10-1)
Jockey: John Velasquez
coach: tod plecher
Proprietor: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, CHC Inc.
Work historical past: 2 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 three innings
Profession revenue: $53,700
High numbers for equal base pace: 88
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Finest High quality by High quality Highway
colour: bay
Operating type: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: Class President improved by two turns for the primary time within the $1 million Insurgent Stakes after successful his profession debut Dec. 22 at Gulfstream Park by three and 1 / 4 lengths over the one-turn mile and ending second within the seven-furlong Swale Stakes at Hallandale Seashore Racetrack in Florida on Jan. 31. His sire, Uncle Mo, was a fantastic racehorse with pace across the two corners, his dam was a stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles, and he gained a number of stakes at 1 1/8 miles. So there may be motive for optimism by way of stamina. However the class president, who boasts a career-high 88 equal base pace, should go fairly quick to succeed in the winner’s circle. He is 10-1 on the morning line for Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher, who gained this race in Malagasy in 2017 and Magnum Moon in 2018, and will boost a win or trifecta.
4. Blackout Time (8-5)
Jockey: brian hernandez jr.
coach: Ken McPeek
Proprietor: Brookdale Racing Inc., Lance Gasaway, Magdalena Racing
Work historical past: 3 starters – 1 win – 2 seconds – third place 0
Profession revenue: $210,691
High numbers for equal base pace: 94
Kentucky Derby factors: 5
Pedigree: Not this time – magnificence salons, the elusive high quality
colour: darkish bay or brown
Operating type: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: Blackout Time hasn’t raced since ending second to Ted Nophy within the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders Futurity. The Grade 1 race was celebrated with Ted Nophy successful the TAA-sponsored FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old colt. Previous to that second place, Blackout Time stormed out by 9 and three-quarters of a size after ending second in his profession debut within the first one-mile race at Ellis Park. The horse made his first begin in 4 and a half months as a morning favourite with eight wins and 5 losses within the Stage S. Though he’s a powerful candidate for Equibase’s pace determine, that is an unremarkable end result and a really brief value to pay for a racehorse returning after a protracted break. Blackout Time seems like the favourite to win, however clearly Underlay Underneath the circumstances.
Is that this your first time horse racing? Let me clarify…
Ann Underlay A horse race is a horse whose odds are decrease than its probability of successful. Betting on horses with odds worse than truthful worth is a poor long-term technique.
5. Honeys to Blame (20-1)
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel
coach: Ken McPeek
Proprietor: John Hallman and Magdalena Racing
Work historical past: 5 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 2/3
Profession revenue: $161,200
High numbers for equal base pace: 84
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Blame – Harly Honey, Harlan’s Vacation
colour: bay
Operating type: stalker/nearer
evaluation: Honeys to Blame, who completed third in two turf races final summer time, picked up his first win within the three-quarter mile grime dash at Oaklawn Park in December towards fellow Arkansas bred. He gained by a landslide by 5 3/4 lengths after which stepped up his competitors to win the 1 1/16-mile Open Allowance Optionally available Declare Race at Oaklawn on February eighth. It can even be an enormous check by way of class, as Honeys to Blame will make her stakes debut within the $1 million Kentucky Derby qualifier. Coach Kenny McPeek is not any stranger to upsets in large races. Saraba, who gained the 2002 Belmont Stakes in 70 seconds, 25-1, and Mystic Dan, who gained the 2024 Kentucky Derby with 18 seconds, 61-1, come to thoughts, however Honeys to Blame’s victory might be hailed as McPeak’s new shocker. On paper, the Blame colt is probably not quick sufficient, however he might probably overtake a couple of late horses and win the secondary prize.
6. Strategic dangers (8-1)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
coach: mark cass
Proprietor: John Oxley
Work historical past: 7 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession revenue: $417,300
High numbers for equal base pace: 90
Kentucky Derby factors: 10
Pedigree: Noble Chook – Technique, written by Afleet Alex
colour: bay
Operating type: stalker/nearer
evaluation: 10 strategic dangersthEnding within the $1 million Southwest Stakes was a very hair-raising end result. Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse was at a loss for an evidence for the misfire apart from to invest that missed coaching periods as a result of unhealthy climate had a extra damaging affect than on his steady’s successful Southwest horse Silent Tactic. Previous to that race, Strategic Danger appeared to have discovered his calling in two-turn grime races with back-to-back stakes wins. The horse gained the FTBOA Florida Sires in Actuality Stakes by 9 lengths at Gulfstream Park in November, and the Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oak Garden by 4 and a half lengths. Even with a bounce-back effort, the bay Nyquist colt will doubtless want to extend his Equibase pace determine by 10 to fifteen factors to have a sensible shot at successful the Insurgent Stakes, however he might nonetheless provide some worth at 8-1 within the Ecsta and Trifecta ticket. Jockey Javier Castellano gained this race in Malagasy in 2017.
7. Silence ways (9-2)
Jockey: Christian Torres
coach: mark cass
Proprietor: John Oxley
Work historical past: 4 begins – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 instances 3 instances
Profession revenue: $594,422
High numbers for equal base pace: 103
Kentucky Derby factors: twenty 5
Pedigree: Tacitus – Magical Signal, by Gunrunner
colour: bay
Operating type: close by
evaluation: On February 6, within the 1 1/16-mile Southwest Stakes at this observe, Silent Tactic ran the ultimate quarter mile robust in 24.56 seconds to win by 3 1/4 lengths. The win at odds of 12-1 was a pleasant enchancment from Stableman Strategic Danger’s second place within the Smarty Jones Stakes on January 3, lifting his Equibase Pace Index by 20 factors from 83 within the Smarty Jones Stakes to 103. This can be a brief turnaround (twenty third) after a career-best efficiency, so a brief relaxation might set him again, and his last working type would not have plenty of pace to set within the race. However I liked the video games I noticed within the South West, and I am keen to guess he is effectively fueled in his third begin since being fired…particularly given the beneficiant odds of 9-2 on the morning line. Silent Tactic gave Corridor of Fame coach Mark Kass his first win within the race, giving him a fantastic probability to earn a ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
8. Rancho Santa Fe (12-1)
Jockey: Airado Ortiz Jr.
coach: brad cox
Proprietor: Gary and Mary West
Work historical past: 4 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 instances 3 instances
Profession revenue: $189,457
High numbers for equal base pace: 97
Kentucky Derby factors: 5
Pedigree: Tapit – Household Tree, written by Sensible Strike
colour: chestnut
Operating type: stalker/nearer
evaluation: The colt gained each begins as a 2-year-old and was despatched to Oaklawn Park by coach Brad Cox to start his sophomore marketing campaign. Rancho Santa Fe had an unremarkable efficiency in his stakes debut within the Smarty Jones Stakes on January 3, however made an enormous step ahead in his second begin as a 3-year-old. Within the $1 Million Southwest Stakes on February sixth, he joined the group of horses with deep progress and completed in third place whereas enhancing his private finest 97 Equibase Pace Determine. Rancho Santa Fe misplaced by three and a half lengths to Insurgent’s Silent Tactic within the Southwest, so he might want to take one other step ahead right here if he’s to develop into a favourite. The horse is produced by SmartStrike out of Tapit, the main sire of the 2016 Indiana and Iowa Oaks successful household tree, and is bred to run all day and has some tactical pace, so his morning line odds of 12-1 seem like strong worth. Cox gained the Insurgent in 2024 with Timberlake.
9. Music time (30-1)
Jockey: Keith Asmussen
coach: Steve Asmussen
Proprietor: mike mccarty
Work historical past: 6 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession revenue: $100,016
High numbers for equal base pace: 85
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Not This Time – Bling On the Music, Too A lot Bling
colour: grey or roan
Operating type: close by
evaluation: Time for Music is predicted to compete for the longest odds within the Insurgent division. The horse completed ninth out of 11 lengths in his solely try at stakes racing within the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes on December twentieth, shedding by 14 lengths and 14/4 lengths, and most just lately misplaced by 21 lengths at this observe at a distance of 1/16 mile in his season debut on February eighth. His solely win got here within the dash at his first particular weight race at Keeneland in October. Coach Steve Asmussen has gained this race 4 instances, with Snack Inn (2000), Windward Passage (2002), Curlin (2007) and Lengthy Vary Toddy (2019), however the colt will want a pointy turnaround in type and a 15-20 level enchancment in his Equibase pace determine to develop into a favourite.
10. Soldier N Diplomat (10-1)
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
coach: Steve Asmussen
Proprietor: St. Elias Stables
Work historical past: 5 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 second
Profession revenue: $350,634
High numbers for equal base pace: 97
Kentucky Derby factors: 13
Pedigree: Military Mule – A diplomat’s mistake as a result of violence
colour: darkish bay or brown
Operating type: please choose up the tempo
evaluation: Soldier N Diplomat confirmed important enchancment when prolonged to a mile at Churchill Downs in October 2025, successful by 9 lengths and incomes a 94 equal reference pace determine. He then took the lead within the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes held at Churchill Downs on November 29, however ran out of steam within the last levels and stalled, ending in third place, two and 1 / 4 lengths behind Father Add. Soldier N Diplomat as soon as once more led in his 3-year-old debut within the $1 million Southwest Stakes on February 6, however fell in need of winner Silent Tactic, 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner with 1 mile and 16 seconds left in second place. The Military Mule colt seemed to be enhancing with a brand new career-best 97 equal reference pace determine within the Southwest, however fell into two deep stretches at 1 1/16 miles. He has a superb file of 10-1 on the morning line, however might want to discover one thing extra within the later levels for coach Steve Asmussen, who has gained this race 4 instances, most just lately with Lengthy Vary Toddy in 2019.
