How to bet the 2026 Del Mar Derby

A cast of nine sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the green in Sunday’s $300,000 Del Mar Derby (G2). The race will go through the Jeff Mullins-trained #1 Proletariat from the rail. By Raging Bull, the $200,000 juvenile purchase has won or placed in each of his six career runs to date, with the last five coming on the lawn. The Kentucky-bred gelding bagged an allowance race on the grounds two back in his local bow, and the bay was last seen crushing his foes by 5 3/4 lengths in the Oceanside S. at one mile on the local lawn.

Del Mar Derby Wagers

• $20 exacta 1 with 8 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 1 with 7,8 with all ($14)
• 50-cent superfecta 1 with 7,8 with 7,8 with all ($6)

Proletariat has good speed from the gate and looks to be the one to catch after being assigned the rail for his first try in the graded ranks. He is the speed of the speed and figures to be on the front end once again with regular pilot Kyle Frey in the controls. 

#8 Melismatic has improved his Brisnet Speed rating in every run since arriving in the U. S. and comes off a strong allowance tally on the green here while making his debut on the oval. The chestnut son of Space Blues is two-for-two in route races in advance of his graded bow, and he gives the impression of a colt who will thrive at 1 1/8 miles, too. The Irish-bred colt will track the pace from the second flight in the early going, with Kimura retaining the mount for Phil D’Amato. 

#7 Jordi Bear, the second in the cast for D’Amato, didn’t have a smooth voyage in the Oceanside last time, but he ran well in his stateside debut and will improve on this occasion. The gelded son of St. Mark’s Basilica will make his second route run and is bred to go long, and the bay will race with blinkers on for the first time on this occasion. Antonio Fresu will be in the silks once again and will have the bay rallying from off the pace at a nice price.