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 Might 2nd.
This weekend’s Derby preparation schedule is a relative breather, with just one qualifying factors race scheduled: the 105-point Virginia Derby hosted by New Kent County on March 14 at Colonial Downs.
Take a look at America’s Finest Racing’s Triple Crown web page for the most recent tales and stats on the street to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Paladin
Paladin charges himself as a prime candidate for the Kentucky Derby, a race that eluded stallion Gun Runner, who ran in 2016 and completed third behind Nyquist and Exagarator. Gun Runner held a slim lead coming into the Derby straight, however was reversed within the last 400 meters. Gun Runner went on to grow to be a superb 4-year-old horse, successful Horse of the 12 months in 2017 and later being inducted into the Corridor of Fame. Since then he has grow to be an incredible stallion. Paladin seems to be on observe for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 4 after present process two changes after successful the Fasig-Tipton-Risen Star Stakes.
2. Commandment
He had an excellent outcome within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on February twenty eighth, ending 4th and third, however he appeared to lose focus a bit because the end approached, drifting late and turning his ears ahead. Coach Brad Cox suspects the horse ran away from the observe lights close to the end line. The colt confirmed no indicators of getting drained and ran well when jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. urged him to take action. The offspring of seven-time main sire Into Mischief has received three Kentucky Derbies prior to now six years: Genuine (2020), Mandalone (2021 by disqualification of Medina Spirit) and Sovereignty (2025).
3.Nearly
After successful the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31 and principally shaking off a simple half-mile in February, two-time Derby-winning coach Todd Pletcher ran 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 at Palm Seaside Downs on March 6 and requested for extra in preparation for the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby. Holy Bull received by 5 and three-quarters of a size in a time of 1 minute 44.52 seconds, however his last sixteenth place was a gradual 07.10 seconds, which can have been partially resulting from him pushing his tempo so quick. The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Florida Derby ought to be a barometer of his potential for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.
4. Chief Wallaby
Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott, who received the Derby final 12 months with Sovereignty and 2019 with Nation Home (promoted to first place after Most Safety’s disqualification), is working an inexperienced horse within the Derby this 12 months. Chief Wallaby was clearly of top of the range and received on debut, adopted by Remark in Fountain of Youth, who got here a detailed second. Seven of Mott’s 14 Derby begins have come since 2018, and he is ramped up his American Traditional appearances. With 25 factors to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, the colt is in an excellent place to earn sufficient factors to qualify for the Derby if he finishes third or higher in certainly one of his last preparations.
5. Class president
Two of those three stallions have ties to Kentucky Derby wins. Todd Pletcher skilled Tremendous Saber to win the Derby at Winstar Farm in 2010 and added one other Derby in 2017 with At all times Dreaming, who competed for one more proprietor. Two of the stallion’s co-owners, Winstar and CHC (China Horse Membership), additionally labored with different companions to win the 2018 Derby and Triple Crown with Justify, skilled by Bob Baffert. As for present class president jockey John Velasquez, he’s a three-time winner who led his colts to a slim victory within the Stage S. Medina Spirit, skilled by Baffert, was anticipated to take fourth place in 2021, however was disqualified resulting from a drugs violation.
6. Techniques of silence
Notice that the winner of the Southwest Stakes, who misplaced to Class President within the Insurgent Stakes, was a horse in the identical weight class carrying 124 kilos. That was 5 kilos greater than Class President, who entered the race with solely his debut win and stakes place. In a race decided by inches, that will have made the distinction. In any case, Silent Tactic ran effectively within the loss and was positioned additional in entrance than in earlier begins. His stalking place stored him inside vary of the leaders, so he did not must go 9 horses within the lane like he did within the Southwest.
7. Renegade
Contemplating his efficiency as a 2-year-old final 12 months, it is no surprise he is within the Derby Dozen rankings. He completed in entrance of Paladin in his first match at Water Duct on October seventeenth, however was disqualified for interference, and completed second to Paladin within the Remsen Stakes on December sixth. The early motion and large journey possible compromised him to some extent, and Paladin surged two lengths forward within the 1 1/8-mile race. Renegade’s solely third-place begin was spectacular within the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February seventh, and his racing kind was validated when third-placed Puma got here again to win the Esmark Tampa Bay Derby on March seventh.
8. Canaletto
Though they misplaced within the Tampa Bay Derby, they completed in third place by a big margin, which drew quite a lot of consideration. “He was wanting round. He by no means actually traveled,” jockey Flavien Prat stated of the second-time runner. “They had been going quick and I used to be in deep water out of the gate. … He had sufficient braveness to get away, however I simply did not really feel like I used to be going effectively in any respect.” Given the circumstances, the view right here is that he might have one of the best benefit in future derbies as he positive aspects expertise, and subsequently ranks above The Puma and Father Add, who beat him.
9. Additional Preface
Though he had the need to push Canaletto again to second place within the Tampa Bay Derby, he had the smoothest path of the highest three. Irad Ortiz Jr. was in good place with a three-wide stalking journey, and Puma and Canaletto raced on one or two large roads at every nook. Since successful the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs in late November, the horse simply would not kick when requested to quicken when different opponents tried to race him into the second nook. Keeneland bluegrass is probably going subsequent, and he has an affinity for that floor. By far his quickest race came visiting that water final fall, when he received his first race by 20 lengths.
10. Puma
Like Canaletto, he gave the impression to be in bother early on within the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby, hanging large within the first flip and falling again to final place. After that, he made one other large step ahead in flip 2 and fell down the order, however he was capable of chase down the leaders anyway and achieved his strongest outcome. A time of 1 minute, 43.23 seconds for the 1 1/sixteenth mile was slower than the time clocked by the 4-year-old Disruptor who received the Michelob Extremely Challenger S three and a half hours earlier on the cardboard, however though he was thought of quick, a rainstorm earlier than the Tampa Bay Derby could have slowed Baba down.
11. Highly effective
He received Saturday’s San Felipe Stakes Offered by DK Horses on the again of a decided rally and improved to 2-2, however given the way in which the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe unfolded, his debut was eleventh, close to the underside of the rankings. Together with his favourite stablemate Brandt dropping out in flip two and third place So Glad falling again about two activates his first begin, San Felipe was ripe for the taking. Potente ran away with stretch chief Robusta, however his rival, at odds of 67.30 to 1, barely made the quick checklist of Derby candidates. Nonetheless, the three-year-old is well-suited for prolonged distances and is an up-and-comer skilled by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert.
12. Reagan’s Honor
Named after co-owner David Ingold’s daughter Regan, this gifted stallion matches into the identical class as horses like Cherokee Nation and Rising Market when it comes to his excessive pace efficiency towards lesser opponents. He’s ranked within the Derby Derby Dozen, however not within the Derby Dozen. It’s because he ran no less than near the document time on the Fairgrounds on February nineteenth. Their wins had been their first at Santa Anita Park and Tampa Bay Downs, respectively. Regan’s Honor, scheduled for subsequent month’s Blue Grass, ran 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 on the Fairgrounds on March 6 in a light-weight breeze.
