The 2026 Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes will be run Saturday, September 5, at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky. The Grade II race is contested at 1 5/16 miles on turf for 3-year-olds with a $3,000,000 purse.
| Date | Saturday, September 5, 2026 |
| Track | Kentucky Downs |
| Race | Race 8 |
| Distance | 1 5/16 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Grade | Grade II |
| Purse | $3,000,000 |
| Age | 3-year-olds |
| Post Time | 4:36 PM CT |
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Causeway (KY) | C A Torres | D Stewart | 20/1 |
| 2 | Royal Guard (KY) | F Geroux | B H Cox | 8/1 |
| 3 | Glacius (GB) | L Saez | H Palmer | 4/1 |
| 4 | Caroline St Beat (NY) | T Gaffalione | M Clement | 20/1 |
| 5 | Versailles Road (KY) | J R Velazquez | T A Pletcher | 12/1 |
| 6 | Causeway (IRE) | R L Moore | A P O'Brien | 5/2 |
| 7 | Fuzzbuster (KY) | M Gutierrez | V H Oliver | 20/1 |
| 8 | Fancy Sailor (KY) | B J Hernandez, Jr. | B A Lynch | 8/1 |
| 9 | Gostam (GER) | A Fresu | A Wohler | 6/1 |
| 10 | Go Grey (KY) | J L Ortiz | M J Maker | 20/1 |
| 11 | Nil Bua Gan Dua (KY) | B Curtis | J P O'Brien | 10/1 |
| 12 | Blackmail (KY) | J Castellano | M E Casse | 15/1 |
Last Updated on 09/02/2026
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The Nashville Derby is the signature race for 3-year-olds at Kentucky Downs and one of the richest turf races for sophomores in North America. The Grade II event is contested over 1 5/16 miles on Kentucky Downs' undulating turf course and carries a $3 million purse in 2026.
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The race was inaugurated in 2014 as the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs. It was renamed the Nashville Derby in 2024, reflecting Kentucky Downs' proximity to Nashville, Tennessee.
The race was upgraded to Grade III status for 2022 and was elevated to Grade II for the 2026 season.
Recent winners include Moon Over Miami in 2020, Accredit in 2021, Kitodan in 2022, Anglophile in 2023, Bellum Justum in 2024, and Wimbledon Hawkeye in 2025.
Wimbledon Hawkeye won the 2025 Nashville Derby under jockey Frankie Dettori for trainer James Owen, defeating Burnham Square by a head and completing the 1 5/16 miles in 2:03.74.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) | Frankie Dettori | James Owen | 2:03.74 |
| 2024 | Bellum Justum (IRE) | Frankie Dettori | Andrew M. Balding | 2:07.28 |
| 2023 | Anglophile | Declan Cannon | Brian A. Lynch | 2:08.93 |
| 2022 | Kitodan | Gerardo Corrales | Eric N. Foster | 2:15.41 |
| 2021 | Accredit | Martin Garcia | Pavel Matejka | 2:10.94 |
| 2020 | Moon Over Miami | Javier Castellano | William I. Mott | 2:06.76 |
The 2026 Nashville Derby is scheduled for Saturday, September 5 at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky. It will be run as Race 8, with post time set for 4:36 PM CT.
The Nashville Derby is contested at 1 5/16 miles on turf at Kentucky Downs.
The 2026 Nashville Derby carries a $3,000,000 purse.
The Nashville Derby is an invitational race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.
The 2026 Nashville Derby field includes Royal Causeway, Royal Guard, Glacius, Caroline St Beat, Versailles Road, Causeway, Fancy Sailor and other leading 3-year-old turf runners. Check USRacing.com for current race-day odds and updates.
The latest 2026 Nashville Derby odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as race-day prices change.
The Nashville Derby is a Grade II Thoroughbred turf race held at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky. It is contested at 1 5/16 miles for 3-year-olds.
The Nashville Derby is held at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky.
You can bet online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, and select Kentucky Downs and the Nashville Derby from the available racing markets. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Wimbledon Hawkeye won the 2025 Nashville Derby under jockey Frankie Dettori for trainer James Owen, completing the 1 5/16 miles in 2:03.74.
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