How to bet the 2026 Bourbon Stakes

A total of 11 juveniles will go 1 1/16 miles on the grass at Keeneland in Sunday’s $400,000 Bourbon (G2). The super competitive tilt on the green lacks a standout and could go to a number of contenders, and I’ll take a swing with a longshot in the contest. 

Bourbon Stakes Wagers

• $10 win and place #5 Real Goodbar ($20)
• $6 exacta box 3-5 ($12)
• 50-cent trifecta 3,5 with 3,5,6,8,11 with 3,5,6,8,11 ($12)

#5 Real Goodbar (10-1) was a clear winner in his debut run at Colonial Downs on the sod prior to running a solid race on the main oval at Churchill Downs in the Iroquois (G3), and a return to the sod seems like a good thing for the Kenny McPeek pupil. The bay son of Authentic proved that he had some class to him last time when facing a fine group, and I expect the bay to take another step forward in his local debut. Jose Ortiz picks up the mount and will have the February foal in range throughout the event. 

#3 Bold Leadership (7-2) is still a maiden but has been close in both lifetime runs, led by a fine second in the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga in his latest endeavor.  The $875,000 son of fine turf influence Not This Time closed well into a moderate early tempo in his stakes debut and seems poised to give a good account of himself in his initial run over the Keeneland green with Irad inheriting the ride. 

Jimmy DiVito’s #11 Mid American (10-1) is unblemished from a pair of runs on the lawn and with the blinkers off, and the Epicenter colt will run two turns for the first time on this occasion. The April foal has finished his races off with good energy going shorter, and is bred to handle the added ground in his first local experience. I expect the chestnut to track the action from the second flight in the early portion of the tilt with Jaime Torres in the controls. 

Kitten’s Joy S. victor #6 Popcorn (6-1) has done nothing wrong in advance of the race for conditioner Jonathan Thomas and looks like a nice prospect going forward. The Brad Cox-trained #8 Hemingway (5-2) most recently aired in his turf debut at Kentucky Downs and could be almost any kind for a potent barn.