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.
Three key Kentucky Derby qualifying factors races are scheduled for this weekend: the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday and the Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Sunday.
Try America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page for the newest tales and stats on the highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Paladin
Two years in the past, Paladin’s proprietor and coach Chad Brown had many on the verge of profitable the Kentucky Derby, however settled for second place when Sierra Leone completed a nostril forward of Mystic Dan within the three-horse photograph and Japanese star Without end Younger completed third. (A type of house owners, Michael Taber, gained the Derby in 1995 with Thunder Gulch, educated by D. Wayne Lucas.) Unbeaten in three begins and winner of the 2025 Remsen Stakes and the Feb. 14 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes, Paladin provides his connections an excellent likelihood at profitable the elusive Derby prize. Subsequent up is the Toyota Bluegrass S at Keeneland on April 4th.
2. Additional introduction
He posted good leads to his first two begins on the course, profitable his first race by 20 lengths at Keeneland on October tenth, after which profitable the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs on November twenty ninth. Father Add had a very good run at 1 1/16 miles, ending second to Paladin. The Paladin can also be confirmed at distances as brief as 1 1/8 miles. Coach Brad Cox, who gained the 2021 Derby wherein Mandalon was promoted to first place after Medina Spirit was disqualified for a drugs violation, is coaching Father Add nicely at South Florida’s Payson Park Coaching Heart in preparation for the March 7 Esmark Tampa Bay Derby.
3.Virtually
Although thought-about by many to be the right 3-year-old to race at Gulfstream Park this winter, the Jan. 31 Holy Bull Stakes winner will miss the Feb. 28 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes and anticipate the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby. The transfer is meant to go away one thing in place for the Florida Derby after which the Kentucky Derby on Might 2nd. Coach Todd Pletcher boasts an unimaginable strike price within the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, a race he has gained eight occasions since 2007. John Velasquez, Neary’s common jockey, had 4 of Pletcher’s winners and two extra ridden by different trainers. The stallion ran a sluggish half-mile in 50.98 seconds at Palm Seaside Downs on February 20, nevertheless it was a far cry from the Florida Derby.
4. Commandments
Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth ought to spotlight his means to deal with two turns. All three of his begins have been across the first nook in lower than a mile, and he has achieved good outcomes, most not too long ago profitable the Mucho Macho Man S on January third. Into Mischief has produced three Kentucky Derby winners, and his offspring embody a mixture of sprinters and routers. Shipican Harbor, out of Commandment, scored her most essential win in 2018 when she gained the Spinaway Stakes over seven furlongs, however she did not have a lot of an opportunity to show herself as a router. She completed sixth within the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, however had a fall with a damaged ankle that worsened upon her return to coaching and was retired.
5. Silence ways
Corridor of Fame horseman Mark Casse does not place as a lot emphasis on spacing his stakes horses as different well-known trainers, preferring to allow them to run. After profitable the Southwest Stakes on February sixth, So Silent Tactical will return to the Degree Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 1st with fellow stablemate Strategic Threat. Silent Techniques must keep away from a bounce again after placing on one of the best efficiency of their profession, dominating their opponents with a powerful stretch rally within the Southwest Match. Insurgent has three Derbyders within the line-up, with others trying to be a part of the rankings, and it seems like it will likely be a contentious race.
6. Blunt
The horse, which bought for $3 million at public sale final yr, gained his first two begins at Del Mar, together with the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity, however slumped to 3rd after setting the tempo within the 1 1/16-mile FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offered by TAA. For Brandt, endurance is unsure. Trainee Bob Baffert fell again within the last levels of the Juvenile race, most likely attributable to an absence of preparation for the 2 turns main as much as the race. After a little bit of wind earlier this yr, Baffert improved on Feb. 21 with a six-furlong gate breeze at Santa Anita Park in 1 minute, 11.80 seconds. Subsequent up is the San Felipe Stakes Introduced by DK Horse on March 7 on the identical racetrack.
7. Litmus check
Jockey Bob Baffert plucked the stallion from the postponed Southwest, and though he by no means despatched him to Oaklawn Park from his house base in Southern California, he’s now concentrating on Sunday’s Insurgent Stakes with him at Oaklawn Park. The Corridor of Fame coach has gained eight occasions at Insurgent, however not for the reason that 2021 Live performance Tour. Since his good journey at Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 13, Litmus Take a look at has been coaching nicely and making ready for his first race. All three of his routes have proven promise, with third within the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and fourth within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile earlier than his success at Los Alamitos Racetrack.
8. Renegade
Like stablemate Neary, Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Renegade additionally ran the half-mile with relative ease this week, clocking a 50.80 on Feb. 20 at Palm Seaside Downs in South Florida. Coach Todd Pletcher has chosen him for the March 28 Arkansas Derby. By racing Renegade at Tampa Bay Downs earlier than heading to Oaklawn Park, coach Pletcher will comply with an identical schedule to Tremendous Saber, the coach’s first Derby winner in 2010. (Nonetheless, Tremendous Saber ran within the Tampa Bay Derby and never within the Sam F. Davis Stakes.) All the time Dreaming, Pletcher’s second Derby winner in 2017, adopted the racetrack that took him by means of Gulfstream Park after which to Florida Racetrack. Derby.
9. Plutarch
He hasn’t labored since profitable the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 7, however there is not any must rush as Bob Baffert plans to skip the race at San Felipe. Plutarch was not among the many eight candidates working within the 1 1/16 mile race. Nonetheless immature for a 2-year-old horse, Plutarch seems to be on the upswing as a 3-year-old. “This horse jogs my memory of Genuine,” jockey Baffert mentioned after Robert B. Lewis, referring to the 2020 Derby winner. “He continues to get higher each week. I do not suppose distance is a matter for him. That is very thrilling. He is legit.”
UPDATE: Plutarch has been withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby Prep Collection and can miss the race, in line with coach Bob Baffert, who instructed Day by day Racing Kind that the colt continues to be present process gentle coaching however is concentrating on a race later in the summertime.
10. Blackout Time
One of the proficient horses at Sunday’s stage, he hasn’t raced since ending runner-up within the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in early October, so it is exhausting to learn within the $1 million race. Recall that he suffered a regulatory damage within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31. Though his coaching seems to be progressing nicely after being given a while off after being recognized with bone reworking, McPeak acknowledged earlier this winter that he had a comparatively brief window to be prepared for the Rebels. If this turnaround is profitable, there’s a excessive risk that the blackout time will enhance.
11. Canaletto
Coach Chad Brown thought-about working him in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth, however determined to stay together with his authentic plan of working him within the Tampa Bay Derby one other week. Canaletto, who has made only one begin with an thrilling win in his debut at Gulfstream Park on January twenty fifth, is on tempo to make two extra begins into the primary Saturday of Might and can’t afford to fall again. If you wish to safe Kentucky Derby qualifying factors and problem for the Derby, a lot much less problem it, it is advisable to load up on seasoning. Justify and Mage each ran thrice earlier than the Derby and gained the Derby as unraced two-year-olds, however many different horses had tried with out success.
12. Reagan’s Honor
Prix Reagan took the ultimate spot within the Derbyders rankings, changing fellow Cherie Devaux-trained Lecomte Stakes winner Golden Tempo, after profitable a hard-fought first-class allowance contest on the Fairgrounds on February 19. The horse, who had gained his second consecutive race on the identical route, lined 1 1/16 miles in 1 minute 42.02 seconds, simply shy of the report time set by eventual Group 1 winner Olympiad. 1:42.01 within the 2022 Mineshaft Stakes. DeVoe instructed Day by day Racing Kind his subsequent begin may very well be within the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. Primarily based on previous tendencies, Reagan’s Honor would wish one win and two losses to safe sufficient qualifying factors to qualify for the Derby.
