Kentucky Derby Context: Chief Wallabee

After commendable showings in the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2), Chief Wallabee will look to break through in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The bay colt impressively captured his career debut at Gulfstream Park in mid-January and followed with a strong showing in the Fountain of Youth, missing by a neck to Commandment after a wide trip. Chief Wallabee didn’t have a clean trip off the far turn but still performed well to finish a close third behind Commandment and The Puma, and the last two experiences may have him primed for a career best in the Kentucky Derby. The Florida Derby has produced seven 20 Kentucky Derby winners in the last 20 years.

OWNER: A homebred for Mike and Katherine (K.K.) Ball, Chief Wallabee will be the first Kentucky Derby starter to race under their colors.

TRAINER: A South Dakota native, two-time Kentucky Derby winner Bill Mott became more involved in the Kentucky Derby during the last decade, winning with Sovereignty in 2025 and Country House by disqualification in 2019. After saddling his first Kentucky Derby starter in 1984, the five-time Eclipse Award winner sent out only six runners over the next 34 years, but Mott is responsible for seven starters since 2018, including third-placer Tacitus in 2019. His Kentucky Derby ledger reads 14-2-0-1, and Mott won the Belmont S. with Drosselmeyer (2010) and Sovereignty.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado won his first Kentucky Derby aboard the Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty in 2025, and his last three starts have been on Mott trainees, with Resilience finishing fifth in 2024 and Rocket Can ninth in 2023. His first appearance came in 2016, a fourth aboard Mohaymen, and Chief Wallabee will be his seventh starter.

BREEDER: Kentucky-bred Chief Wallabee will be the first Kentucky Derby starter as breeder for Mike and Katherine (K.K.) Ball.

SIRE: Chief Wallabee is from the seventh crop of Constitution. After winning the Florida Derby (G1), Constitution was forced to miss the 2014 Kentucky Derby due to injury. His most notable Triple Crown offspring, 2020 Belmont (G1) winner Tiz the Law, finished second in the Kentucky Derby, and Constitution is by leading Tapit, who is best known for siring four winners of the Belmont. Constitution will also be represented by Chief Wallabee in the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

DAM: Chief Wallabee is the first foal to race out of the unraced A La Lucie, a daughter of Medgalia d’Oro, a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire who competed in all three legs of the 2002 Triple Crown, finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby, eighth in the Preakness, and second in the Belmont. By El Prado, Medaglia d’Oro proved to be an outstanding stallion, producing more than 100 graded/group stakes winners, including Kentucky Oaks (G1) winners Rachel Alexandra (2009), Plum Pretty (2011), and Good Cheer (2025). Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness (G1) during her Horse of the Year campaign. As a broodmare sire, Medaglia d’Oro has been responsible for 2020 Belmont winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law, 2024 Belmont runner-up Mindframe, and 2024 Preakness third Catching Freedom.