Kentucky Derby Roundup: Trendsetter wins the Lexington

The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 17 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Trendsetter scores 32-1 upset in Lexington Stakes

The Road to the Kentucky Derby wrapped up with the 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) at Keeneland last Saturday, though the outcome is unlikely to impact the Run for the Roses.

The Lexington ended in a major upset as Trendsetter, disregarded at 32-1 off a third-place finish in the Rushaway S., charged from fifth place to triumph by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:44.51. The Hell We Did, Corona de Oro, I Did I Did, and Confessional rounded out the top five.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Trendsetter

The Lexington awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. However, Trendsetter isn’t nominated to the Triple Crown, and none of the top five finishers from the Lexington have sufficient points to make the Kentucky Derby field.

Class President drops out of Kentucky Derby

Rebel (G2) winner Class President will skip the Kentucky Derby after being diagnosed with bone bruising.

The up-and-coming colt scratched from the April 4 Blue Grass (G1) after a subpar training session leading up to the race, prompting a thorough examination.

Class President will take 60 days off from training. His defections from the Kentucky Derby allow Gotham (G3) winner Iron Honor into the prospective field, though Iron Honor’s participation is uncertain following a troubled seventh-place finish in the Wood Memorial (G2).

Chief Wallabee will add blinkers in Kentucky Derby

The Daily Racing Form reports Chief Wallabee will race with blinkers for the first time in the Kentucky Derby.

The lightly raced colt was narrowly beaten when second in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and third in the Florida Derby (G1). Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott hopes the addition of blinkers will sharpen Chief Wallabee’s focus.

Kentucky Derby jockey assignments firming up

David Grening of the Daily Racing Form has reported that five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Renegade in the Kentucky Derby.

Ortiz also had the option to guide Blue Grass (G1) winner Further Ado, but opted for Renegade, the 4-1 favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6.

Grening reports Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has picked up the mount on Further Ado, while Luis Saez has been named to ride Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment.

Meanwhile, NetKeiba reports Japan’s UAE Derby (G2) winner Wonder Dean is slated to be ridden for the first time by Ryusei Sakai. Sakai previously guided Japan’s globetrotting superstar Forever Young to a close third-place finish in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.

Civil Liberty breaks his maiden at Keeneland

Civil Liberty, who earned 2 Kentucky Derby qualification points when fourth in the American Pharoah (G1) last year, finally secured his first victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight on Sunday at Keeneland.

Making his second start of the season, Civil Liberty pressed the pace before taking command to triumph by three lengths in 1:22.41. Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill conditions the son of Independence Hall.

Read more about Civil Liberty and other notable maiden winners in the final Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch of the 2025-26 season.

Minor shifts in Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

With less than three weeks remaining until the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby Power Rankings on KentuckyDerby.com have changed little from last week.

The biggest shift is the removal of Class President, who previously ranked 13th. He’s been replaced on the list by Blue Grass (G1) runner-up Ottinho, who occupies the 20th and final spot.

Meanwhile, Blue Grass winner Further Ado (third place), Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market (sixth place), Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt (ninth place), and UAE Derby (G2) conqueror Wonder Dean (13th place) have all advanced by one to two slots.

Latest Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Chief Wallabee: Four furlongs in :49.60 on Saturday at Payson Park.

Chip Honcho: Five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Commandment: Four furlongs in :48.40 on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Emerging Market: Four furlongs in :49.40 on Sunday at Payson Park.

Fulleffort: Four furlongs in :48.40 on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Golden Tempo: Five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Friday at Keeneland.

Incredibolt: Four furlongs in :47.90 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Litmus Test: Four furlongs in :49.40 on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Nearly: Four furlongs in :50.29 on Thursday at Palm Beach Downs.

Potente: Four furlongs in :48.60 on Tuesday at Santa Anita.

Silent Tactic: Four furlongs in :49.40 on Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

Stark Contrast: Four furlongs in :50.80 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The Puma: Four furlongs in :52.32 on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Commandment (150 points)
2. Further Ado (135 points)
3. Renegade (125 points)
4. So Happy (115 points)
5. Fulleffort (110 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby top three

1. Wonder Dean (106 points)
2. Six Speed (80 points)
3. Pyromancer (30 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby top two

1. Danon Bourbon (40 points)
2. Pyromancer (20 points)