Today the Daily Racing Blog brings you the second portion of the field for the 152nd Kentucky Derby– horses 8 through 14.
There has been one defection since Monday as SILENT TACTIC has been scratched due to a foot bruise. That means first alternate GREAT WHITE is in and he will be profiled on Friday.
8. SO HAPPY [ML 15-1] Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Mark Glatt. He is the leading California-based contender, coming off of a game victory in the Santa Anita Derby, his third win in four career starts. This is a very talented racehorse but will probably remain double-digit odds come Post Time based on the lack of quality 3-year-old contenders in California this winter and spring. Can he find another gear and outrun his bloodlines in the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby? Big Money Mike should have the colt in a good position to find out when the field turns for home.
9. THE PUMA [ML 10-1] Jockey: Javier Castellano. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. His connections (jockey, trainer, owner) are the same folks that gave us 2023 upset Derby winner MAGE. THE PUMA confirmed himself as a contender with a win this year in the Tampa Bay Derby, beating FURTHER ADO by three-quarters of a length, followed by a nose defeat to COMMANDMENT in the Florida Derby. He gamely battled through the stretch in both races, and he’s boosted his speed figures each time through four starts. Could he be sitting on a peak effort in the Kentucky Derby?
10. WONDER DEAN [ML 30-1] Jockey: Ryusei Sakai. Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi. A Japan-bred and -based colt, he earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby by winning the United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai. The points earned in that race helped him qualify for the Derby via Churchill Downs’ European/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby series. WONDER DEAN has an unclear pedigree for stretching out to 1 ¼ miles in the Derby and overall profiles as a longshot who will need a substantial step up in form, and a lot of racing luck to get into the money.
11. INCREDIBOLT [ML 20-1] Jockey: Jaime Torres. Trainer: Riley Mott. He gets the edge over stablemate ALBUS as this trainer’s best contender for his first Derby. He bounced back from 6th-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, which was his 3-year-old debut, by winning the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in March. This colt is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs, both wins coming last fall when he was a 2-year-old, the highlight being a victory in the Street Sense Stakes. His pedigree, while solid, is less promising for stretching out in distance compared with most of the top-level Kentucky Derby contenders.
12. CHIEF WALLABEE [ML 8-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Bill Mott. He won on debut in a sprint race at Gulfstream and then showed some big-league talent in his second race when he lost the Fountain of Youth by a neck to COMMANDMENT. Next in the Florida Derby he rallied to challenge THE PUMA in mid-stretch while being joined by COMMANDMENT. In the three-way battle to the wire CHIEF WALLABEE finished 3rd, a half-length behind COMMANDMENT. CHIEF WALLABEE appeared to lose focus during that stretch run, so blinkers will be added for the Kentucky Derby to help him concentrate.
13. SILENT TACTIC [SCRATCHED] Jockey: Cristian Torres. Trainer: Mark Casse.
14. POTENTE [ML 20-1] Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Triner: Bob Baffert. Won the San Felipe Stakes in March and then ran well in the Santa Anita Derby only to run 2nd when he was out finished by SO HAPPY. His pedigree whispers he might like the added distance in the Derby. Jockey Hernandez is making his Kentucky Derby debut.
On Friday the Daily Racing Blog will profile the final six entrants for the 2026 Kentucky Derby and perhaps make a bold prediction.
So be sure to stop back.
