In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (3-29-26).
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my channel. Road to Derby video record (33 13-4-6).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse video channel, and through 33 points races, my top choices have 13 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 6 show finishes. The road to the Derby continues with Blue Grass (G1), SA Derby (G1), and Wood Memorial (G2) on April 4.
Wood Memorial field (race 12): 1 – Napoleon Solo, 2 – Talk to Me Jimmy, 3 – Right to Party, 4 – Steel, 5 – Ocelli, 6 – Minorinconvenience, 7 – Albus, 8 – Courting, 9 – Bravaro, 10 – Red Zone Runner, 11 – Ottinho, 12 – Buetane, 13 – Iron Honor.
My longtime top ranked Derby contender Paladin was injured after a workout in Florida on March 28 and is off the Triple Crown trail. He suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right front ankle and will need surgery. Two screws will be inserted and he will miss all of the big targets this summer and fall.
More bad news for Chad Brown. Tampa Bay Derby (G3) show finisher Canaletto is injured and out of action until fall.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 2 UAE Derby at Meydan (3-28-26): This one was cut and dry. Six Speed controlled the pace and had a clear lead. Wonder Dean emerged from the pack and came after the leader, and he had more stamina in the stretch and won by 2 1/2 lengths. Six Speed was clearly second best and my top choice Pyromancer never had a chance. He raced wide throughout and was best of the rest in third. The winner and runner-up might travel to Louisville to run in the Kentucky Derby.
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In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (3-23-26).
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my channel. Road to Derby video record (30 12-4-5).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse video channel, and through 30 points races, my top choices have 12 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. The road to the Derby continues with the Florida Derby (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1) on March 28.
Florida Derby field (race 14): 1 – Albus, 2 – Chief Wallabee, 3 – Wayne’s Law, 4 – Commandment, 5 – Redland Rebels, 6 – Nearly, 7 – Timeless Victory, 8 – The Puma, 9 – Gregarious.
Arkansas Derby field (race 13): 1 – Redland Rebels (15-1), 2 – Silent Tactic (5-2), 3 – Blackout Time (6-1), 4 – Bricklin (20-1), 5 – Taptastic (20-1), 6 – Renegade (3-2), 7 – Napoleon Solo (6-1), 8 – Exosome (20-1), 9 – Litmus Test (5-1).
Napoleon Solo will not run in the Arkansas Derby. He is being rerouted to the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct on April 4.
Redland Rebels is entered in the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby, and he is expected to run in the latter event. He was fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby in his last start.
Bricklin is entered in the Hot Springs Stakes on March 26 and the Arkansas Derby on March 28, and he is expected to run in the latter event. He was third in the Sunland Derby in his last start.
Read more at The Runaway Horse
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse video channel, and through 28 points races, my top choices have 10 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 5 show finishes. The road to the Derby continues with the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on March 21.
LA Derby field (race 12): 1 – Pavlovian, 2 – Autobahn, 3 – Chip Honcho, 4 – Universe, 5 – Golden Tempo, 6 – Spirit of Royal, 7 – Blacksmith, 8 – Easterly, 9 – Emerging Market
Jeff Ruby Steaks field (race 12): 1 – Turf Star, 2 – Fulleffort, 3 – Baytown Dreamer, 4 – Two Out Hero, 5 – Black Hornet, 6 – Medici, 7 – Maximus Prime, 8 – Chaos Agent, 9 – Brave Force, 10 – Argos, 11 – Stark Contrast, 12 – Stop the Car
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Recaps
Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs (3-14-26): Trips made all the difference in this one-turn event at a mile and an eighth. Buetane was bottled up in traffic from the inside post and never really had clear sailing. At the other end of the spectrum, Incredibolt ($14.40) worked out a great tactical trip under Jaime Torres. He tracked the three early leaders, pounced on those tiring runners, got the jump on the closers, and won by 4 lengths (88 BSF). Grittiness rallied from last of 10 to complete the exacta and Confessional closed wide and was best of the rest in third. A troubled Buetane ended up a better than appears fourth under Flavien Prat and he had energy on the gallop out. Lockstocknpharoah set the pace and weakened to 5th, and maiden Ocelli (6th), Clocker Special (7th), Work (8th), Epic Desire (9th), and disappointing 4-1 shot High Camp (10th) also ran. Riley Mott saddled the winner. Fractions: 23.49, 47.15, 1:11.33, 1:35.74, 1:47.76.
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In this horse racing video, I take a look at Kentucky Derby 2026 Future Wager Pool 5. This pool opens on Friday, March 13 and closes at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, March 15.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (3-8-26).
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my channel. Road to Derby video record (27 10-4-5).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (3-2-26).
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my channel. Road to Derby video record (25 10-4-3).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (2-24-26).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
The John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park was the latest road to Kentucky Derby prep race and Great White held off Fulleffort by a neck. In this report, I will recap the John Battaglia Memorial, update the points standings, and share my exceptional eleven Derby contenders.
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse video channel, and through 22 points races, my top choices have 8 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 2 show finishes. The next Derby points race is the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 28. The Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park will also be run on Feb. 28, and the other Derby points race this week is the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 1.
Gotham field: 1 – Balboa, 2 – Hammond, 3 – Crown the Buckeye, 4 – Fourth and One, 5 – Right to Party, 6 – Iron Honor, 7 – Exhibition Only, 8 – Creole Chrome, 9 – Dirty Rich.
Fountain of Youth field: 1 – Jackson Hole, 2 – Rockies Balboa, 3 – Talkin, 4 – Commandment, 5 – Bravaro, 6 – Chief Wallabee, 7 – Napoleon Solo, 8 – Bull by the Horns, 9 – Global Aviator, 10 – Solitude Dude, 11 – Lost Money.
Rebel Stakes field: 1 – Bravaro, 2 – Litmus Test, 3 – Class President, 4 – Blackout Time, 5 – Honey’s To Blame, 6 – Strategic Risk, 7 – Silent Tactic, 8 – Rancho Santa Fe, 9 – Time for Music, 10 – Soldier N Diplomat.
Read more at The Runaway Horse.
My top ranked Kentucky Derby 2026 contender Paladin made his much anticipated return in the Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, Feb. 14, and he stalked the pace and wore down Chip Honcho in a quality effort. In this report, I will recap the Risen Star and Sunland Park Derby, update the points standings, and share my exceptional eleven Derby contenders.
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse video channel, and through 21 points races, my top choices have 8 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 2 show finishes. The next Derby points race is the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park on Feb. 21.
Mesquite and Thunderously are both off the Derby trail. The former, trained by Cherie DeVaux, finished second in the Lecomte (G3) in January. He has a soft tissue injury and will be evaluated this week. The latter, a Bill Mott runner, easily won his dirt route debut at Gulfstream on Jan. 10 (88 BSF). He has an undisclosed injury and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds (2-14-26): Chip Honcho (blinkers off) made the running and almost went all the way. Race favorite Paladin ($3.40) stalked from fourth and moved up to challenge Chip Honcho with three furlongs to go, and he gradually wore that one down to prevail by a half-length (93 BSF). Chip Honcho fought hard throughout and was clearly second best in a fine effort. Golden Tempo rallied from the back of the pack to secure the show and Universe was an even fourth. Carson Street (5th), Courting (6th), Quality Mischief (7th), and Colt Forty Seven (8th) also ran. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for Chad Brown. Paladin’s regular rider Flavien Prat was in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and he guided Nysos to a runner-up finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup. The Fair Grounds main track played to forwardly placed runners on Saturday and Gaffalione kept Paladin within striking range throughout. Fractions: 23.81, 47.49, 1:11.53, 1:36.37, 1:49.14.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my updated Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (2-17-26).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this horse racing video, I take a look at Kentucky Derby 2026 Future Wager Pool 4. This pool closes at 6PM ET on Sunday, February 15.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes video analysis at Santa Anita Park (2-7-26). This is a Kentucky Derby 2026 points race. Road to Kentucky Derby 2026 video record (19 7-3-2).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my updated Exceptional 11 Derby contenders (2-9-26).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my updated Exceptional 11 Derby contenders.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this horse racing video, I take a look at Kentucky Derby 2026 Future Wager Pool 3.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
In this Kentucky Derby 2026 video, I share my Exceptional 11 Derby contenders.
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
