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.
Two key Kentucky Derby qualifying factors races are scheduled for this weekend: the Esmark Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs and the San Felipe Stakes offered by DK Horses at Santa Anita Park.
Try America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page for the most recent tales and stats on the highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Paladin
Will this 3-3 colt, who began his three-year-old profession by successful the Fasig-Tipton-Risenstar Stakes on the Fairgrounds, put an finish to the Derby jinx of a horse that ran within the Remsen Stakes as a two-year-old? No Remsen-bred horse has gained the Derby since Thunder Gulch in 1995. In recent times it has develop into a professional G2. Remsen winners Moe Donegal and Dornoch each gained the 2022 and 2024 Triple Crown finals, respectively, within the Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets. Dornoch’s runner-up on the 2023 Remsen, Sierra Leone, completed second within the Derby by a nostril and was subsequently honored because the 2024 Champion 3-year-old colt. Gained the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic.
2. Commandment
He handed the primary two-turn check within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on February 28, transferring him from fourth to second within the standings. Comanto was gritty within the win and powerful when jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. nudged him into the race. It was just like the horse was testing how a lot he had left within the tank. Commandment raced 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33, incomes an Equibase Velocity Determine of 99 and a good higher Beyer Velocity Determine of 101. The latter determine is the very best ever recorded by a 3-year-old horse in 2026. As well as, the horse has a confirmed monitor report at Churchill Downs, finishing necessary preparation at Fountain of Youth, which has produced 15 Derby winners, together with Sovereignty, who gained each races final 12 months.
3. Additional introduction
After successful his first race by 20 lengths on his first monitor at Keeneland final fall, expectations have been so excessive that he gained the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29 by 3/4 lengths, however some observers have been nonetheless disillusioned along with his efficiency. He was workmanlike in wins and regressed in pace numbers. So his return within the Esmark Tampa Bay Derby on March seventh will say rather a lot about his Derby eligibility. Along with his “bounce again” on the Kentucky Jockey Membership, will he be capable to get again to his first win? He’s anticipated to have the ability to do this.
4.Virtually
On February 27, the day earlier than different Florida-based 3-year-olds run within the Fountain of Youth Stakes, he simply ran the half-mile in 50.17 seconds at Palm Seashore Downs for the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby. It is no marvel Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher has focused the Holy Bull Stakes winner for the Florida Derby. It is a Grade 1 stud manufacturing race, and Neary has an unbeatable report at Gulfstream Park. The Florida Derby has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners, greater than some other prep horse.
5. Chief Wallaby
Though he missed out on Command within the Fountain of Youth by a neck, he ran a wider distance, so we will anticipate him to be ranked prime within the Ragozin Seat and Solograph determine heading into the race. He was a bit of underweight, which is one other think about these service numbers. In any case, this was an excellent effort from a horse who had solely began as soon as, in his maiden race of seven furlongs, and who gave up seasoning to all his rivals. He has the potential to be top-of-the-line within the division if these races weren’t so robust early in his profession.
6. Class president
The horse ran in his first two-turn race within the Insurgent Stakes held at Oaklawn Park on March 1st, and confirmed a courageous efficiency by coming from behind to win by a nostril after being handed in a straight line. The win gave him 50 qualifying factors heading into the Derby and secured him a spot within the beginning gate for the Kentucky Derby. However he’ll most likely make another cease on his approach to Churchill Downs for the Grade 1 race. His 1 1/16-mile degree time of 1:43.21 was 0.31 seconds quicker than Explorer’s 1:43.52 within the Honey Bee Stakes. 3 12 months previous mare 1 hour in the past. This time earned him an Equibase Velocity Determine of 99 and a Beyer Velocity Determine of 91.
7. Techniques of silence
This late horse on the mercy of his rivals as he regarded to the entrance along with his sights set on the highest contenders within the Insurgent Stakes, however the Class President proved to be a cussed opponent. Silent Techniques took the lead throughout the stretch, however the class president fought again and gained. Regardless of the loss, Insurgent nonetheless put in a high quality efficiency for Silent Techniques and was as robust as his earlier Southwest Stakes win, as mirrored by the taut discipline on the again.
8. Blunt
The horse is considered one of two horses ridden by Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert within the San Felipe Stakes Introduced by DK Horses on March 7 at Santa Anita Park, the opposite being debut dash winner Potente. After scoring in his debut at Del Mar final summer season, he added Del Mar Futurity and positioned third within the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by TAA on Oct. 31. Word that though this flashy grey horse misplaced energy within the ultimate phases and completed third, he nonetheless had the very best efficiency among the many juvenile-bred 2-year-olds who’re nonetheless candidates for the Derby. Winner Ted Nophy and runner-up Mr. AP needed to withdraw on account of bodily sickness.
9. Renegade
After successful the Stage With Class President, jockey Todd Pletcher will goal the March 28 Arkansas Derby with the colt, who gained the Sam F. Davis Stakes with authority within the kickoff of the 3-year-old race. Pletcher prefers to attend no less than a month between begins and tends to keep away from back-to-back races after touring lengthy distances. The Corridor of Fame coach works the same work schedule to Neary, choosing a reasonable half-mile wind with practically 4 weeks left within the race.
10. Canaletto
A showdown with Father Addo looms in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby. His rival has a bonus over him in expertise and two-turn seasoning, however this horse’s expertise appears to be on par. On Jan. 25, Canaletto’s first win in a solo begin at Gulfstream in only a one-mile flip was lovely. He displayed pure pace, kindly settling in to let his two rivals inside him on the backstretch and leaving them within the mud when known as upon on the descent. The whole lot about his race urged stakes capacity and potential for longer races.
11. Reagan’s Honor
In successful prize cash on the Fairgrounds on February nineteenth, he set a near-record time of 1 minute 42.02 seconds for the 1 1/16 mile, in addition to an Equibase pace of 105 and a Beyer pace of 96. Nevertheless, the circulate of the fairground allowance race suited his front-running model. The fraction of the race was energetic, however horses that have been 1-2-3 early ended up in the identical place on the end. The following showdown with the top-ranked Paladin will happen on April 4th on the Toyota Bluegrass S at Keeneland.
12. Blackout Time
Though he disillusioned by ending fourth within the Insurgent Stakes, the colt’s second place to Ted Nophy in October’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity as a 2-year-old final 12 months allowed him to carry onto the ultimate spot within the race forward of Insurgent Present finisher Litmus Take a look at, Gotham Stakes winner Iron Honor, and fast-track debutants Cherokee Nation and Rising Market. Absent since that race, the blackout time given to him after a regulatory scratch within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile could have been obligatory for Insurgent to enhance his health.
