The 2026 Pennsylvania Derby takes place Saturday, September 19 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The Grade I race is contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds and carries a $1,000,000 purse.
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Track | Parx Racing |
| Race | Race 14 |
| Distance | 1 1/8 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Grade | Grade I |
| Purse | $1,000,000 |
| Age | 3-year-olds |
| Post Time | 5:48 PM ET |
Entry Update: The 2026 Pennsylvania Derby field is confirmed with 11 starters. Post positions, jockeys, trainers and official morning-line odds are listed in the odds table below.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zihnal (KY) | J. R. Velazquez | Jonathan Thomas | SCR |
| 2 | Iron Honor (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | 5/1 |
| 3 | Our Moneyman (LA) | Manuel Franco | William B. Calhoun | 8/1 |
| 4 | Igniter (KY) | Luis Saez | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | 8/1 |
| 5 | Talk to Me Jimmy (NY) | Ruben Silvera | Rudy R. Rodriguez | 12/1 |
| 6 | The Puma (KY) | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | 4/1 |
| 7 | Further Ado (KY) | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | 2/1 |
| 8 | Freedom's Echo (KY) | TBA | Guadalupe Preciado | 20/1 |
| 9 | Sassmaster (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | Todd A. Pletcher | 10/1 |
| 10 | Micanopy (FL) | Paco Lopez | Michael V. Simone | 15/1 |
| 11 | Ponder and Dream (PA) | Mychel J. Sanchez | Robert E. Reid Jr. | 20/1 |
Last Updated on 09/19/2026
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The Pennsylvania Derby is one of the final major Grade I races of the season restricted to 3-year-olds and regularly brings together leading horses from the Triple Crown trail and the summer's major sophomore stakes. The $1,000,000 event gives the division another championship-level test over 1 1/8 miles at Parx Racing.
The 2026 field is headed by Grade I Blue Grass Stakes winner Further Ado, who enters as the morning-line favorite. The Puma, Iron Honor and West Virginia Derby winner Zihnal add further graded-stakes depth to an 11-horse field with several runners seeking a major late-season Grade I victory.
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The Pennsylvania Derby was inaugurated in 1979 and has grown into one of the most important races on the calendar for 3-year-old dirt horses. The race was elevated to Grade III in 1981, Grade II in 2004 and achieved Grade I status in 2017.
Its recent winners include several nationally prominent horses. Baeza captured the 2025 edition, following Seize the Grey in 2024, Saudi Crown in 2023, Taiba in 2022 and Hot Rod Charlie in 2021.
Baeza won the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby under jockey Hector Isaac Berrios, completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.03.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Baeza | Hector Isaac Berrios | 1:48.03 |
| 2024 | Seize the Grey | Jaime A. Torres | 1:51.89 |
| 2023 | Saudi Crown | Florent Geroux | 1:50.62 |
| 2022 | Taiba | Mike Smith | 1:48.67 |
| 2021 | Hot Rod Charlie | Flavien Prat | 1:48.63 |
The 2026 Pennsylvania Derby is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It is Race 14 with a post time of 5:48 PM ET.
The Pennsylvania Derby is contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt.
The 2026 Pennsylvania Derby carries a $1,000,000 purse.
The Pennsylvania Derby is restricted to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Yes. The confirmed 2026 Pennsylvania Derby field has 11 starters: Zihnal, Iron Honor, Our Moneyman, Igniter, Talk to Me Jimmy, The Puma, Further Ado, Freedom's Echo, Sassmaster, Micanopy and Ponder and Dream.
Further Ado enters the 2026 Pennsylvania Derby as the morning-line favorite after establishing himself as one of the leading 3-year-olds of the season with a Grade I victory in the Blue Grass Stakes. The Brad Cox-trained colt faces another strong Grade I test at Parx against a field that includes The Puma, Iron Honor and West Virginia Derby winner Zihnal.
The latest 2026 Pennsylvania Derby odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as race-day prices change.
The Pennsylvania Derby is a Grade I dirt race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The race is contested at 1 1/8 miles and carries a $1,000,000 purse in 2026.
The Pennsylvania Derby is held at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
No. The 2026 Pennsylvania Derby is not designated as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" race, although its position late in the season makes it an important Grade I test for 3-year-olds potentially targeting the Breeders' Cup.
You can bet the Pennsylvania Derby online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, select Parx Racing, choose the Pennsylvania Derby and place your wager. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Baeza won the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby under jockey Hector Isaac Berrios, completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.03.
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