The final surge to qualify for the Kentucky Derby (G1) begins on Saturday with the Louisiana Derby (G2) and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), the first two of seven prep races offering 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers.
Translated: The winners and runners-up of these Derby qualifiers will earn enough points to Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 2.
At the Fair Grounds, a field of nine 3-year-olds is entered for the 1 3/6-mile Louisiana Derby, a race that has produced four Kentucky Derby winners – Black Gold (1924) and Grindstone (1996) won both races, Funny Cide was third in the Louisiana Derby and first in the Kentucky Derby (2003) and Mandaloun was sixth in the Louisiana Derby and won the Kentucky Derby (2021) after Medina Spirit was disqualified.
Golden Tempo, No. 7 in the latest US Racing 2026 Kentucky Derby Top 10 Contenders, looks to secure a berth in the Derby with a solid effort in the Louisiana Derby. Winner of the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and third in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) for trainer Cherie DeVaux, the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin is 17th on the Derby leaderboard with 23 points.
At Turfway Park, over the synthetic surface, a field of 12 is entered for the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby (formerly known as the Jim Beam Stakes and the Spiral Stakes), which has produced three Derby winners. Lil E. Tee (2002) and Animal Kingdom (2011) won both races, and Rich Strike was fourth in the Jeff Ruby and won the Derby in 2022.
With Incredibolt’s four-length victory in the $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, trainer Riley Mott has himself a promising Kentucky Derby contender.
The colt rebounded from a sixth-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) to improve to three wins in five starts. He also won the Street Sense Stakes (G3) to close out his 2-year-old campaign.
“He's bred to do it, and he's shown us he can finish races going long,’’ Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, said, “so we're optimistic and hopeful we can make it to the first Saturday in May.’’
With the win, Incredibolt earned 50 Derby points and is currently second on the leaderboard with 60 points. He’s also 16-1 in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (pool 5).
None of the top 5 raced over the weekend, and none are running on Saturday. However, March 28 is another big day with the Florida Derby (G1) and the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Florida Derby contenders include top-ranked Commandment, No. 2 Nearly and Chief Wallabee, on the Top 10 bubble with 25 Derby points. Commandment, trained by Brad Cox, could instead run in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 4.
The Arkansas Derby probables include No. 5 Silent Tactic, No. 8 Renegade, Bob Baffert-trained Litmus Test, and Kenny McPeek-trained Blackout Time.
Still waiting for commitment to a final prep for Fountain of Youth winner ... Worked 4 furlongs in 50.00 second on March 13 at Payson Park ... Winner of three in a row since debut fourth at Keeneland in October ... Maiden win came at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1 at 7 furlongs ... Owner: Wathnan Racing ... Purchased for $500,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Breeding: Into Mischief-Sippican Harbor, by Orb ... Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28/Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, April 4 ... No. 6 on Derby points leaderboard (50) ... Derby future wager odds (pool 5): 12-1
Worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.10 at Palm Beach Downs on March 13, his fifth breeze since Holy Bull win on Jan. 31 ... Still needs top 3 in final prep (Florida Derby) to make Derby field ... Owner: Donald Little’s Centennial Farm ... Purchased for $350,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Breeding: Not This Time-IB Prospecting, by Mineshaft ... Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28 ... No. 21 on Derby points leaderboard (20). Derby future wager odds: 12-1
Worked 4 furlongs in 49.80 seconds at Payson Park on March 13, his third breeze since winning Risen Star on Feb. 14 ... Sports 3-0 record – won the Remsen at Big A on Dec. 6 ... Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, Summer Wind Equine ... Pedigree: Gun Runner-Secret Sigh, by Tapit ... Purchased for $1.9 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next start: Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, April 4 ... No. 1 on Derby points leaderboard (60). Derby future wager odds: 8-1
Could be returning to Oaklawn for Arkansas Derby after winning Rebel against tough field on March 1 ... One of three Top 10 contenders for Pletcher (Nearly, Renegade are the other) ... Training at Palm Beach Downs ... Owners: WinStar Farm, First Go Racing., CHC (China Horse Club) ... Pedigree: Uncle Mo-Top Quality, by Quality Road ... Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 28 ... No. 5 on Derby points leaderboard (50) ... Derby future wager odds: 28-1
Strong closer with enough points to make Derby field ... Came up a nose short in Rebel, but could get a chance to avenge that loss in Arkansas Derby ... Owner: John Oxley ... Pedigree: Tacitus-Magical Sign, by Gun Runner ... Purchased for $500,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training 2025 ... Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 28 ... No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (50). Derby future wager odds: 17-1
Rebounded from sixth-place finish in Holy Bull in 3-year-old debut with rousing four-length Virginia Derby win ... Had three wins in five starts for Mott, son of Bill Mott, the Hall of Famer and trainer of 2025 Derby winner and Horse of the Year Sovereignty ... Owner: Pin Oak Stud ... Purchased for $75,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 2 ... No. 2 on Derby points leaderboard (60) ... Derby future wager odds: 16-1.
Needs solid placing as 7-2 second choice in Louisiana Derby to move into Kentucky Derby field ... Worked 4 furlongs in 48.80 seconds at the Fair Grounds on March 13 ... Will be fitted for blinkers to keep him more focused ... Won Lecomte and ran a closing third in Risen Star ... Owners: Phipps Stable, St. Elias Stable ... Pedigree: Curlin-Carrumba, by Bernadini ... Next start: Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, March 21 ... No. 12 on Derby points leaderboard (35). Derby future wager odds: 36-1
San Felipe Stakes winner in just his second start gives Baffert a prime Derby contender as he seeks record seventh win in Run for the Roses ... Owner: Speedway Stables ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Sweet Sting, by Awesome Again ... Purchased for $2.4 million at 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 4 ... No. 8 on Derby points leaderboard (50). Derby future wager odds: 18-1
Broke maiden in style in Tampa Bay Derby over favorites Further Ado and Canaletto on March 7 ... Delgado, trainer/co-owner, Castellano and fellow co-owner Ramiro Restrepo won 2023 Derby with Mage ... Owners: OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing ... Pedigree: Essential Quality-Eve of War, by Declaration of War ... Purchased for $150,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale for 2-Year-Olds in Training ... Nest start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28 ... No. 2 on Derby points leaderboard (56) ... Derby future wager odds: 23-1.
Worked 4 furlongs in 49.33 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on March 7 ... Won Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 ... In previous two starts, finished first in maiden race but was DQ’d (Paladin was elevated to first) at Big A on Oct. 17 and ran second in Remsen ... Owners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, Repole Stable ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Spice is Nice, by Curlin ... Purchased for $975,000 at Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next race: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, March 28 ... No. 14 on Derby points leaderboard (25). Derby future wage odds: 13-1.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
