Spice Runner

Spice Runner joined the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby as early as possible, claiming victory in the series-opening Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Spice Runner raced greenly down the homestretch of the one-mile race, drifting around the track while pursuing heavy favorite Comport. But in the final strides, he got up to win by a head.

• Click here for the full pedigree profile

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a tremendous performance in the Champagne (G1), leading all the way to dominate by 6 1/2 lengths.

Speed is clearly a strong suit for Napoleon Solo. In the Champagne, he set blazing fractions of :22.53, :44.24, and 1:07.88 on his way to a final time of 1:34.57 for one mile. But does he have the necessary stamina to last 1 1/4 miles in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1)?

• Click here for the full pedigree profile

Intrepido

In recent years, the dominant sire (and grandsire) of Kentucky Derby (G1) winners has been Into Mischief.

Since 2020, Into Mischief has sired a record-equaling three Derby winners: Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025). In addition, Into Mischief’s son Goldencents sired 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, which means Into Mischief is either the sire or grandsire of four of the last six Derby winners.

Perhaps Into Mischief’s sire line will strike again in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1). His son Maximum Mischief is the sire of Intrepido, who unleashed a big late rally to win the American Pharoah (G1) on the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby.

• Click here for the full pedigree profile

Ted Noffey

In the 151-year history of the Kentucky Derby (G1), only five stallions have sired three winners of the Run for the Roses. The latest to match the record is Into Mischief, courtesy of his sons Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025).

Into Mischief has ranked as North America’s leading sire by progeny earnings every year since 2019. Now he’s poised to become the first stallion to sire four Kentucky Derby winners.

One of Into Mischief’s top contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is Ted Noffey. The undefeated gray colt is already a three-time Grade 1 winner, having dominated the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga, the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, and the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.

• Click here for the full pedigree profile

Incredibolt

Incredibolt joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby sooner than many horses. The early-maturing colt won the Street Sense (G3) during the fall meet at Churchill Downs with a last-to-first rally.

It isn’t surprising to see Incredibolt excelling from an early age. His sire, Bolt d’Oro, was a star two-year-old who won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and FrontRunner (G1) before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

• Click here for the full pedigree profile

Further Ado 

Further Ado joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a rallying win in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

A decade ago, the Kentucky Jockey Club marked the stakes debut of Further Ado’s sire, Gun Runner. The future 2017 Horse of the Year struggled in the Kentucky Jockey Club, finishing fourth, but matured to win 10 graded stakes (including six Grade 1s) and finish third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

• Click here for the full pedigree profile

SATONO VOYAGE

Into Mischief has been the dominant sire of Kentucky Derby (G1) winners in recent years. He’s sired a record-equaling three winners of the Run for the Roses: Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025). In addition, he’s the grandsire of the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

Now Into Mischief is launching a multinational assault on the 2026 Kentucky Derby. In the U.S., he’s the sire of probable champion two-year-old male Ted Noffey. And in Japan, he’s the sire of Satono Voyage, who kicked off the 2025-26 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with a sharp success in the Cattleya S. at Tokyo Racecourse.

• Click here for the full pedigree profile