Horses to follow in 2026: Fully Subscribed

While Chad Brown will have Kentucky Derby (G1) hopes like Paladin, and a murderer’s row of turf horses led by Breeders’ Cup-winning import Gezora, don’t overlook the potential of Fully Subscribed in the older dirt female division.

If not for an injury that sidelined her for the bulk of 2025, Fully Subscribed probably would have been involved in the marquee races for three-year-old fillies. I’m tempted to argue that the divisional picture may have been clearer with her participation throughout the season, and it was rendered murkier by her absence.

Fully Subscribed is from the first crop of the top-class Tiz the Law, who never got the chance to develop his talents as an older horse. She’s out of Sweetbaby, a daughter of Candy Ride and the turf millionaire Rutherienne. Because Rutherienne is by Pulpit, and Tiz the Law hails from the sire line of Pulpit’s pre-eminent son, Tapit, Fully Subscribed sports two crosses of Pulpit. 

Purchased for $300,000 as an OBS April two-year-old, the Klaravich Stables runner debuted at Aqueduct in mid-October 2024. She drew the rail in a seven-furlong maiden, but handled it like a seasoned professional for Dylan Davis. Fully Subscribed settled well, steadily advanced on the inside, angled out turning for home, and rolled by four emphatic lengths.

After missing the better part of a year, Fully Subscribed finally made her comeback in a Sept. 1 allowance at Saratoga. She was favored, despite tackling a mile off the long layoff, and her ring-rustiness showed in a third-place effort. Still, she worked out a good stalking trip and contended between foes, holding her ground in tight quarters, until tiring late. 

Fully Subscribed was bet down to 1.21-1 favoritism in her two-turn debut back at Aqueduct, where she was the only rival who threatened the pace-controlling winner. Staying on resolutely in the 1 1/8-mile allowance, the chestnut came up a neck shy. But she pulled 8 3/4 lengths clear of third while registering a 100 Brisnet Late Pace rating.

Even in defeat, the entry-level allowance served its purpose as a course-and-distance stepping stone to the Nov. 8 Mother Goose (G2). Fully Subscribed moved forward in her third start off the layoff to dominate her first real class test.

When Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Drexel Hill commenced her move widest of all on the far turn, that prompted Davis to ask Fully Subscribed to go in tandem. She responded with an effective change of gear, not only outkicking Drexel Hill but overpowering the leaders by the time they straightened into the lane.

Fully Subscribed, who was wide on both turns, continued to pack a punch through the final furlong. The lukewarm 7-2 favorite crossed the wire 4 1/2 lengths in front, recording another triple-digit Late Pace figure (101). 

“She is really maturing,” Davis said. “I really like her at two turns. Just broke well and sat a great trip three-wide, a little pressure into the second turn, thought it was a little early, but the (other) filly wasn’t really getting to me that quick…I think she was much the best here. 

“I thought the nine (Drexel Hill) was making a quick move there into the half. I thought she was going to go by me, but she kind of just lingered there. So I had a lot of horse and was just debating to go out now or let that horse clear. That horse wasn’t getting around me quick enough, so I was able to get in that spot before I got boxed in, and I had so much horse, so I don’t know it really mattered.”

Although Drexel Hill hadn’t raced since the Kentucky Oaks, she paired up the same career-best Speed rating (93) when second in the Mother Goose. Other rivals sported more recent stakes form. 

The respective third and fourth in the Mother Goose, Lemon Zest, and So There She Was, had just served up the exacta in the Sept. 28 Remington Park Oaks (in the reverse order). Mother Goose fifth Ourdaydreaminggirl was coming off a near-miss third in the Cotillion (G1). Mother Goose sixth Queen Azteca, the UAE Oaks (G3) winner and Alabama (G1) fifth, went on to finish second versus elders in the Dec. 26 Pippin S. at Oaklawn Park. 

Fully Subscribed was odds-on to follow up in the Dec. 7 Comely (G3) over the same track and trip. Brown told NYRA publicity that the Comely decision was something of an audible. 

“I almost shut her down for the year and was pointing to bigger and better things next year,” Brown said, “but she bounced out of her last race so well. I really got looking at how lightly raced she is this year. We had to wait so long for her to get healthy. I figured we’d run her one more time over a track she likes. I’m very pleased with her.” 

Fully Subscribed was just as convincing in the Comely, with the bonus of flashing tactical speed. Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Fully Subscribed was fully engaged from the start. Prat later credited the filly with orchestrating her own change in tactics. She prompted the front-running Kappa Kappa, the Raven Run (G2) winner, who was stepping markedly up in trip, through slow fractions before pulling away.

Quietside rallied to nip Ourdaydreaminggirl for second. Considering that Quietside was a divisional mainstay until her sixth in the Kentucky Oaks, she offers another solid yardstick for comparison. Quietside had placed in the Spinaway (G1), Alcibiades (G1), and Golden Rod (G2) at two, and she turned the Honeybee (G3)/Fantasy (G2) double on the Oaks trail this spring. The Comely represented her second start off a midseason layoff, but she still scored a career-best 95 Brisnet Speed rating. 

Fully Subscribed herself reached a new high according to Brisnet metrics, with 100 Speed and 105 Late Pace figures. Moreover, there was the intangible quality of a very talented performer, not only figuring out the game but also enjoying it. 

“She gave herself a good trip,” Prat recapped. “She broke very well, and I was able to get myself in the race and kind of stick with the filly of Johnny Velazquez (Kappa Kappa). I felt like I was in control the whole way…

“It was a bit of a messy start, and my filly jumped so well, I didn't want to take anything away from her. It felt like the pace wasn't crazy, and I wanted to keep her in a good position, but he (Brown) told me she was a good filly and she had a good run – and she showed it.”

Fully Subscribed has a license to return better than ever in 2026. Lest I sound hyperbolic about her prospects, the last word goes to Quietside’s rider, Ricardo Santana Jr.:

“The one thing I can tell you is that winner is a monster.”