Kentucky Derby Roundup: Further Ado crushes the Blue Grass

The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 25 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Further Ado crushes Blue Grass by 11 lengths

Further Ado, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall, bounced back from a season-opening defeat in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) to dominate the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.

Starting as an odds-on favorite for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Brad Cox, Further Ado left no doubt about his superiority. He settled about 1 1/2 lengths behind splits of :23.60 and :47.71, advanced to challenge through six furlongs in 1:11.80, and then powered away down the homestretch to triumph by 11 lengths in 1:49.58.

Withers S. third-place finisher Ottinho rallied to finish second over Champagne (G1) runner-up Talkin, while Creole Chrome and John Battaglia Memorial S. winner Great White rounded out the top five.

The Blue Grass awarded Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers. With 135 points to his credit, Further Ado ranks second on the latest leaderboard. Ottinho (56 points) has advanced to 15th place, while the rest of the Blue Grass starters rank outside the Top 20 cutoff.

So Happy rebounds in Santa Anita Derby

San Vicente (G2) winner So Happy struggled in his first start around two turns, tiring to finish third in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe (G2). But he bounced back in his second try running long, scoring a decisive win in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Under two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mike Smith, So Happy rated in third place behind splits of :23.03, :46.79, and 1:11.11 before wearing down early leader and San Felipe winner Potente to score by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:49.01.

Potente pulled 6 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Vitruvian Man, while American Pharoah (G1) winner Intrepido and Start the Ride completed the top five.

So Happy claimed the lion’s share of the 100-50-25-15-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points up for grabs. He’s accumulated 115 points, placing him fourth on the leaderboard. Potente (100 points, 10th place) also ranks in the Top 20.

Albus handles class jump in Wood Memorial

Stepping up in class off a maiden win at Tampa Bay Downs, Albus sprang an 11-1 upset in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 100-50-25-15-10 points.

The son of talented sprinter Yaupon rated in eighth place behind fractions of :22.92, :47.30, and 1:12.04, then unleashed a sweeping rally to surge past the leaders and win by 1 1/4 lengths over fellow late runner Right to Party.

Ocelli, Bravaro, and Champagne (G1) winner Napoleon Solo rounded out the top five. The winning time was 1:51.71.

Having picked up 100 points, Albus ranks ninth on the Kentucky Derby qualification leaderboard. Right to Party, who previously ran third in the Gotham (G3), has accumulated 65 points, good for 12th place.

Road to the Kentucky Derby wraps up in Lexington Stakes

The last leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby is Saturday’s Lexington (G3) at Keeneland, a 1 1/16-mile qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points.

None of the 11 horses entered in the Lexington currently have sufficient points to enter the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top 20 with a win. The highest-ranked is Virginia Derby third-place finisher Confessional with 15 points; a triumph in the Lexington will give him 35 points, well outside the current 50-point cutoff.

Other Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni entered in the Lexington include Street Sense (G3) fourth-place finisher I Did I Did, Jerome S. third-place runner Enforced Agenda, and Gotham (G3) fourth-place finisher Exhibition Only.

Corona de Oro, Decisive Win, Mister T, Ramblin, The Hell We Did, Trendsetter, and Ezum complete the field.

Renegade favored in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closed on Saturday—prior to the running of the Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, and Wood Memorial—with Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Renegade the clear-cut 4-1 favorite.

Florida Derby (G1) 1-2-3 finishers Commandment (7-1), The Puma (12-1), and Chief Wallabee (13-1) ranked as the second through fourth choices, followed by Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market (15-1).

Bettors who supported Further Ado (17-1), So Happy (93-1), and Albus (173-1) prior to their big wins last week have to be feeling good about the betting value they captured.

Check out the full list of Pool 6 betting interests and final odds here.

Memory scores quick maiden win for Baffert

Although Memory has missed the window to earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points, the Bob Baffert trainee could possibly develop into a Preakness (G1) or Belmont (G1) contender following a fast maiden win at Santa Anita last Thursday.

Memory battled to victory by three-quarters of a length in a one-mile maiden special weight, reaching the wire in the snappy time of 1:35.98.

Memory is one of four Triple Crown nominees who posted eye-catching maiden wins last week. Read about them all in this week’s edition of Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Further Ado climbs to fourth place in Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

Thanks to his runaway win in the Blue Grass, Further Ado has advanced from eighth place to fourth place in the latest Kentucky Derby Power Rankings on KentuckyDerby.com.

The top three—Renegade, Commandment, and The Puma—remain unchanged from last week. New or returning names to the rankings include So Happy (eighth place), Albus (17th place), and Right to Party (19th place).

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)