Kentucky Derby Context: The Puma

After breaking his maiden in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), The Puma stepped up in the Florida Derby (G1), taking the lead off the far turn and missing by a nose in a head-bobbing photo finish. He recorded his first triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating for the excellent runner-up effort, and the Florida Derby has produced seven of the last 20 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners, with the two most recent, Sovereignty (2025) and Mage (2023), finishing second in the prep race. Since making his career debut in mid-January, The Puma has improved in every start, and the stalker will look to offer a serious challenge in the final furlongs of the Kentucky Derby.

OWNER: OGMA Investments (Gustavo Delgado), JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo et al), and High Step Racing (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, and Todd Perry) campaign The Puma. Restrepo, part of the ownership group that raced 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, will have his second Kentucky Derby starter. It’s the third for Delgado, who co-owned Mage and Bodexpress (14th in 2019). The remaining partners will be in the Kentucky Derby for the first time.

TRAINER: A native of Venezuela, Gustavo Delgado Sr. needed three attempts before winning his first Kentucky Derby, sending Mage to a 15-1 upset in 2023, and The Puma will be his fourth starter. Before moving to the U.S. at age 60 in 2014, Delgado established himself as one of the most prominent trainers in his homeland, winning the Venezuelan Triple Crown four times and being inducted into the Caribbean Racing Hall of Fame. He didn’t need long to build up his South Florida stable, sending out his first Grade 1 winner in 2016.

JOCKEY: After making his debut in 2007, Javier Castellano earned his first Kentucky Derby win in his 16th attempt, rallying Mage from far off the pace to a one-length decision in 2023. He also owns a third, Audible in 2018, from 17 previous starts. Castellano has a total of four Triple Crown race wins, capturing the Preakness (G1) with Bernardini (2006) and Cloud Computing (2017) and the 2013 Belmont (G1) on Arcangelo.

BREEDER: Bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm (Sergio de Sousa, Jack Brothers, Dan Hall, and Mark Roberts) and Brian Kahn, The Puma was purchased for $150,000 as a two-year-old at the 2025 OBS April sale. He will be the first Kentucky Derby runner bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Kahn.

SIRE: The Puma is from the first crop of Essential Quality, who was named champion two-year-old male and champion three-year-old male in 2020-21. After sustaining his first career defeat in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, being elevated one spot to third by disqualification, Essential Quality rebounded in the Belmont five weeks later, providing sire Tapit his fourth Belmont winner.

DAM: The Puma is the fourth foal to race out of Grade 3-placed Eve of War, a daughter of multiple Group 1 turf winner Declaration of War, who finished a commendable neck third behind Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge when trying dirt in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). From a small sample size as a broodmare sire, The Puma is the lone graded stakes winner on dirt for Declaration of War.