BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his weekly Derby Dozen for 2026, with a look at his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2.
The Derby prep schedule takes a relative breather this upcoming weekend, with only one qualifying points race scheduled: the 105-point Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County March 14 at Colonial Downs.
Check out America’s Best Racing’s Triple Crown page to keep up to date with stories and statistics on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Paladin
Paladin is considered the premier contender for the Kentucky Derby, a competition his father, Gun Runner, did not win, finishing third to Nyquist and Exaggerator in its 2016 edition. Gun Runner was slightly ahead as they entered the stretch in that Derby but couldn’t sustain his speed in the final quarter-mile. Gun Runner blossomed further as a 4-year-old, earning Horse of the Year recognition in 2017 and subsequently entering the Hall of Fame. He has since established himself as an exceptional breeding stallion. Paladin appears to be targeting the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 4, having completed two training sessions since his triumph in the Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes.
2. Commandment
Despite his strong finish to claim victory in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28, enhancing his record to three wins in four starts, he seemed to momentarily lose concentration approaching the wire, veering outwards and twitching his ears forward. His trainer, Brad Cox, suggests the horse might have reacted to track lights near the finish. The colt showed no signs of fatigue, maintaining a vigorous gallop post-race when encouraged by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Offspring of the seven-time leading sire Into Mischief have secured three Kentucky Derby wins in the last six years: Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (due to Medina Spirit’s 2021 disqualification), and Sovereignty (2025).
3. Nearly
Following a series of effortless half-mile workouts in February subsequent to his Jan. 31 Holy Bull Stakes win at Gulfstream Park, trainer Todd Pletcher, a two-time Derby victor, intensified Nearly’s training on March 6. This was in anticipation of the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby, with a five-furlong cooperative workout at Palm Beach Downs completed in 1:00.60. While his Holy Bull success was impressive—achieving a 5 ¾-length lead in 1:44.52—his last sixteenth of a mile was slow, recorded at :07.10, seemingly influenced by him maintaining a rapid early tempo. The 1 1/8-mile length of the Florida Derby is expected to offer an indication of his potential over 1 ¼ miles in the Kentucky Derby.
4. Chief Wallabee
Bill Mott, a Hall of Fame trainer who secured Derby wins last year with Sovereignty and in 2019 with Country House (who was promoted to first after Maximum Security’s disqualification), fields a less experienced horse on this year’s Derby circuit. Chief Wallabee demonstrably possesses significant talent, having triumphed in his first race before a wide-running second-place effort behind Commandment in the Fountain of Youth. Seven of Mott’s fourteen Derby entries have occurred since 2018, reflecting his increased involvement in this American classic. Possessing 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, this colt is in a strong position to accumulate enough points to enter the Derby if he places third or higher in any of the remaining preparatory races.
5. Class President
This colt, with a record of two wins from three starts, boasts affiliations with past Kentucky Derby victors. Todd Pletcher guided Super Saver to Derby glory in 2010 for WinStar Farm and achieved another Derby success in 2017 with Always Dreaming, under different ownership. Two of this colt’s co-proprietors, WinStar and CHC (China Horse Club), collaborated with additional partners to capture the 2018 Derby and Triple Crown with Justify, trained by Bob Baffert. Regarding Class President’s current rider, John Velazquez, who steered the colt to a close win in the Rebel Stakes, he is a three-time champion. Medina Spirit, trained by Baffert, would have granted him a fourth in 2021, but a medication infraction led to his disqualification.
6. Silent Tactic
The victor of the Southwest Stakes was narrowly beaten by Class President in the Rebel Stakes; however, it’s worth noting he carried the joint highest weight of 124 pounds. This was a five-pound disadvantage compared to Class President, whose prior achievements included only a debut maiden win and a stakes placing. In a contest determined by a mere whisker, this weight difference might have been a factor. Nonetheless, Silent Tactic performed admirably in his loss, positioning himself closer to the front than in previous outings. He remained within striking distance of the front-runners from a tracking position, thereby avoiding the necessity of overtaking nine competitors down the stretch, a maneuver he executed in the Southwest.
7. Renegade
His inclusion in the Derby Dozen rankings is understandable, given the quality of his competition as a 2-year-old last year. He crossed the finish line ahead of Paladin when they competed in a maiden race on Oct. 17 at Aqueduct, though he was subsequently disqualified for causing interference, and then placed second to Paladin in the Remsen Stakes on Dec. 6 at the same venue. An assertive early move and a wide course during the 1 1/8-mile race probably hindered him somewhat, allowing Paladin to pull ahead by two lengths. Renegade’s sole race at age 3, the Feb. 7 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, was impressive, and its strength was confirmed when The Puma, who finished third in that race, went on to win the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.
8. Canaletto
Even with his defeat in the Tampa Bay Derby, his wide third-place effort offered several positive aspects. Jockey Flavien Prat commented on the horse, making only his second start, stating, “He was distracted. He never truly found his stride.” Prat added, “The pace was quick, and I found myself in a tough spot right from the start… He showed enough courage to launch a charge, but I never felt he was moving comfortably.” Considering these factors, the assessment is that he possesses the greatest future potential for the Derby as he accumulates more race experience, which justifies his higher ranking compared to The Puma and Further Ado, who finished ahead of him.
9. Further Ado
He demonstrated resilience to hold off Canaletto for second place in the Tampa Bay Derby, yet he enjoyed the most unhindered run among the top three contenders. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. positioned him effectively with a three-wide, tracking journey, whereas The Puma and Canaletto navigated one or two paths wider on each turn. Having been absent from competition since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in late November at Churchill Downs, he failed to accelerate as expected when prompted to quicken while other horses made their moves on the second turn. The Blue Grass at Keeneland is anticipated as his next race, a surface he appears to favor. His most rapid performance by a significant margin occurred on that track last autumn when he triumphed in a maiden race by 20 lengths.
10. The Puma
Similar to Canaletto, he encountered early difficulties in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby, caught wide into the initial turn and dropping back to the very last position. He subsequently covered more ground on the second turn with an even wider move, but nonetheless managed to overtake the front-runners, displaying the strongest finish. His recorded time of 1:43.23 for 1 1/16 miles was somewhat leisurely when compared to the 4-year-old Disruptor’s winning time in the Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes, run 3 ½ hours earlier on the same program. However, a rain shower preceding the Tampa Bay Derby might have reduced the track’s speed, despite it still being officially rated as fast.
11. Potente
While heartened by a resolute surge to secure victory in Saturday’s San Felipe Stakes, sponsored by DK Horse, thereby enhancing his record to two wins from two starts, he enters these rankings at number 11, towards the lower end, considering the dynamics of the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe race. His highly favored stablemate, Brant, conceded on the second turn, and with So Happy, who finished third, showing a decline in his inaugural two-turn outing, the San Felipe presented an open opportunity. Potente overtook the front-runner Robusta in the stretch, but that competitor was a 67.30-1 longshot and not considered a serious Derby prospect by most. Nonetheless, this 3-year-old is a promising talent, well-suited for longer distances, and is under the tutelage of six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
12. Reagan’s Honor
This gifted colt—named for co-owner David Ingordo’s daughter, Reagan—is comparable to horses like Cherokee Nation and Emerging Market due to achieving impressive speed ratings against less formidable opponents. He is included in the Derby Dozen, unlike the others, primarily because he achieved his nearly record-setting time in an allowance race on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. Their respective victories were earned in maiden races at Santa Anita Park and Tampa Bay Downs. Reagan’s Honor, slated for the Blue Grass next month, recommenced his training gallops on March 6, completing a five-furlong exercise in 1:00.40 at Fair Grounds.
