Paladin is just about ready to ride into the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Winner of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, Feb. 14, Paladin earned 50 qualifying points for the Derby (G1), all but clinching one of 20 coveted berths to Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 2.
With 60 qualifying points, including 10 for winning the Remsen Stakes, Paladin has enough to qualify for the field based on historical Kentucky Derby Leaderboard cutoffs.
Trained by Brad Cox, Paladin moves up No. 2 in the latest US Racing Kentucky Derby Top 10 Contenders, with Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Nearly still No. 1.
“The horse really performed well off a freshening, and he showed why we chose this race,’’ Brown said after the Risen Star. “He needed every bit of the stretch to get there.”
In pool 4 of the Derby future wager, Paladin is now the 9-1 favorite on the list of 39 individual horses with Nearly next at 10-1. All other 3-year-olds (not on the list) is the 9-2 overall favorite in the wager.
There was little movement in the Top 10 this week after the Risen Star and Sunland Derby, which was won by Pavlovian. Golden Tempo ran a strong closing third in the Risen Star and checks in at No. 5 while Plutarch slips a few spots to No. 10.
A few Derby prospects more than capable of jumping into the fray in the next few weeks include Commandment, Blackout Time and Chip Honcho, the Risen Star runner-up.
Also, Al Haram won the Saudi Derby on Saturday, topping Orientation, and picked up 30 qualifying points on the Euro/Mideast road to the Derby.
One Derby prep is set for Saturday, the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. The 1 1/16-mile race awards Derby points on a sliding scale of 20-10-6-4-2 to the top five finishers.
A field of 13 is entered for the race that goes off at 9:55 p.m. ET.
The pressure build in two weeks, Feb. 28-March 1, when three Derby preps are on tap – the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park and the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. All offer qualifying points of 50-25-15-10-5 to the top five finishers.
Silent Tactic, Strategic Risk, Blackout Time and Brant are possible for the Rebel; Commandment and Napoleon Solo are possible for the Fountain of Youth (Napoleon Solo also is being considered for the Gotham.
Moving forward as scheduled; worked 4 furlongs in a speedy 48.62 on Feb. 13 at Palm Beach Downs, third fastest of 23 at the distance ... It was Not This Time colt’s first work since Holy Bull victory on Jan. 31 ... Has won three in a row, all at Gulfstream Park, since running sixth and last in career debut at Aqueduct on Oct. 26 ... Owner: Donald Little’s Centennial Farm ... Purchased for $350,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ... Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 28 ... No. 11 on Derby points leaderboard (20). Derby future wager odds (pool 4): 10-1
Made a final surge to win 1 1/8-mile Risen Star by a half-length on Feb. 14 to remain unbeaten in three career starts ... Win came over a few other Derby prospects, Chip Honcho and Golden Tempo. Gaffalione subbed for regular rider Flavien Prat, who was in Saudi Arabia ... 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: TBD ... No. 1 on Derby points leaderboard (60). Derby future wager odds: 14-1
Working steadily for 3-year-old debut, posting a 4-furlong work in 48.50 at Payson Park on Feb. 14, the fourth fastest of 90 at the distance ... Has a maiden win by 20 lengths and a last time out win in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28 ... Owner: Spendthrift Farm ... Pedigree: Gun Runner-Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa ... Purchased for $510,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training ... Next start: Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 7 ...... No. 18 on Derby points leaderboard (10). Derby future wagers odds: 24-1.
One of several Mark Casse current contenders (Strategic Risk, Ewing among them), this one won the Southwest by 3 ¼ lengths on Feb. 6 ... 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: Rebel Stales, Oaklawn Park, March 1 ... No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (25). Derby future wager odds: 19-1
A late rally for third in the Risen Star keeps the Curlin colt in the Derby picture with the longer Derby distance seeming to be in his wheelhouse ... Won Lecomte over same Fair Grounds track to go 2-0 before first loss ... Owners: Phipps Stable, St. Elias Stable ... Pedigree: Curlin-Carrumba, by Bernadini ... Next start: Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, March 21 ... No. 3 on Derby points leaderboard (35). Derby future wager odds: 32-1
Continues to work toward 3-year-old debut with a Feb. 14 work of 4 furlongs in 47.40 at Santa Anita, fourth fastest of 78 at the distance ... Won Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 13 and could be Baffert’s top contender as he seeks record-setting seventh Derby win ... Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan ... Pedigree: Nyquist-Study Hard, by Malibu Moon ... Purchased for $875,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next race: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 7 ... No. 13 on Derby points leaderboard (19). Derby future wager odds: 38-1.
Champagne winner on Oct. 4 and 2-0, prepping for 3-year-old debut, working 5 furlongs in 1:01.45 at Palm Meadows Training Center on Feb. 13 ... Owner: Gold Square (Al Gold) ... Pedigree: Liam’s Map-Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy ... Purchased for $40,000 at Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2024 ... Next race: Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park or Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct, both Feb. 28 ... No. 17 on Derby points leaderboard (10). Derby future wager odds: 30-1.
With Sam F. Davis win at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7, Pletcher added another contender ... Previous two races: finished first in a maiden race but was DQ’d (Paladin was elevated to first) at Aqueduct on Oct. 17, finished second in the 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: Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, March 3 ... No. 5 on Derby points leaderboard (25). Derby future wage odds: 16-1
Gives Baffert another “legit’’ Derby contender after impressive win in Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7 ... Needed five races for first career win, but previously ran second in Del Mar Juvenile Turf and third in the in the American Pharoah ... Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor ... Pedigree: Into Mischief-Stellar Wind, by Curlin ... Purchase price unavailable ... Next race: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 4 ... No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (23). Derby future wager odds: 27-1
Owns a win over Plutarch in the American Pharoah, then was beaten three-quarters of a length by him in Robert B. Lewis ... Owner: Dutch Girl Holdings, Irving Ventures ... Pedigree: Maximus Mischief-Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect ... Purchased for $385,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training 2025 ... Next race: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 7... No. 6 on Derby points leaderboard (23). Derby future wager odds: 82-1.
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.
