Five Two-Year-Olds to Watch on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby

With the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar set to be contested in seven weeks, and the 2026 Kentucky Derby just 232 days away, it's a good time to tab a handful of youngsters that have impressed me most through this stage of the season.    

Ted Noffey – I was bullish on the chances of this colt entering the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga. He delivered with a fantastic performance, drawing off to a commanding tally to move his mark to a spotless two-for-two. Presumably named in reference to the long-standing farm manager at Spendthrift Farm, the Into Mischief youngster doesn’t boast the deepest catalog page in his crop, but he seems capable of anything right now. 

Brant – $3 million juvenile purchase from the mighty Baffert barn could be the current leader in a stable full of strong juvenile prospects. The gray son of Gun Runner led throughout in a stylish score in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his second outing and will move forward with additional seasoning. He will be a force on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

It’s Our Time – Tom Amoss pupil was arguably the most impressive two-year-old debut winner at Saratoga this summer, following his eye-popping, 17 3/4-length romp at first asking. The dark bay son of Not This Time earned a stout 100 Brisnet Speed number while being geared down late in that superb performance, and his ceiling appears to be very high. 

Bottas – While this Vekoma colt might be campaigned primarily on the grass going forward, he was especially impressive to me when dusting his foes at Saratoga at first asking for Miguel Clement, and I’d love to see the $300,000 purchase run on the main surface. It’s worth noting that his half-brother, Parenting, was three-for-three on the dirt and looked like a budding star last season before being shut down with a presumed injury. 

Magna Victor – Japanese-based two-year-old raced at Hanshin on Sept. 6 and completely dominated his foes from start to finish while looking like a star in the making. The son of exciting young stallion Maxfield went from a $75,000 yearling purchase to a $1 million juvenile buy, so he obviously moves exceptionally well. He could evolve into the one to beat on the 2026 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.