Kentucky Derby Roundup: Litmus Test makes the grade

The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 137 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Litmus Test nabs first graded win in Los Alamitos Futurity

After running well without winning in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Litmus Test appreciated dropping in class for the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.

Favored at 3-5 to defeat five rivals, Litmus Test delivered on expectations, tracking splits of :23.26, :46.67, and 1:10.43 in second place before kicking on to defeat his rallying stablemate Blacksmith by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:42.38. Provenance, Acknowledgemeplz, American King, and Captivator rounded out the order of finish.

This was a career-best performance from Litmus Test, who has handled a busy campaign with aplomb for six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert. He heads into winter as an improving Kentucky Derby candidate with 19 qualification points to his credit, ranking second only to probable champion two-year-old male Ted Noffey (40 points) on the latest leaderboard.

Blacksmith joins Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

Litmus Test entered this week, occupying the #6 slot in the Kentucky Derby Power Rankings on KentuckyDerby.com, a position he maintains following his triumph at Los Alamitos.

Meanwhile, Los Alamitos Futurity runner-up Blacksmith is a new addition to the Kentucky Derby Power Rankings. Although still a maiden, Blacksmith’s promising showing against Litmus Test was enough to secure the #17 spot, knocking out Champagne (G1) runner-up Talkin, who disappointed when ninth in the Dec. 6 Remsen (G2).

Iron Honor debuts victorious at Aqueduct

The latest eye-catching maiden winner from the deep barn of Chad Brown is Iron Honor.

The son of Nyquist debuted on Saturday in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct and employed pace-tracking tactics to score by 1 1/2 lengths. His winning time of 1:11.23 appears modest at first glance, but he was racing over a slow track, and his clocking compared favorably against other races on the card.

Iron Honor is the top-ranked horse in this week’s edition of Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch. Read more about Iron Honor and other notable maiden winners here.

Very Connected leads Gun Runner field

Very Connected is ranked 18th on the latest Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification leaderboard after finishing third in the Street Sense (G3) and fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). He’ll vault up the rankings in a big way if he can win Saturday’s $100,000 Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds, a 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby prep awarding qualification points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers.

Very Connected is the only entrant with previous experience on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He’s joined in the Gun Runner field by Ohio-bred multiple stakes winner Crown the Buckeye, plus maiden winners Mesquite, Chip Honcho, Liberty National, Quality Mischief, Arabia Wild, and Mister Punch.

Dozen horses enter Remington Springboard Mile

Spice Runner won the first leg of the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby, rallying to take the Iroquois (G3) by a head. Subsequently beaten by double-digit margins in the Breeders’ Futurity and Kentucky Jockey Club, Spice Runner will seek a rebound in Saturday’s $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park.

The one-mile Kentucky Derby qualifier is worth 10-5-3-2-1 points. In addition to Spice Runner, 11 others have entered: Arctic Beast, Time for Music, Essential Time, Royalamerican, My Dream Zapper, Supreme Good, Way Beyond, Western Man, Big Apple Patrick, Jets Rio, and Express Kid.

Japan Road continues in Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Nine horses are set to face off in Wednesday’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun over a metric mile at Kawasaki Racecourse in Japan, the second leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The top five finishers will earn points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.

Best Green is shaping up as the clear favorite. He’s unbeaten in four starts and enters off a decisive victory over the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun track and distance.

Pyromancer is likewise unbeaten and looms as a primary challenger to Best Green. Tamamo Freesia, Fleur d’Or, Ayasan Jotaro, Life of Raccoon, Balcanicus, Idaten Shacho, and Cosmo Gigantea complete the lineup.

Latest Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are some of the latest workouts recorded by Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners:

Desert Gate: Returned to the work tab with three furlongs in :37.60 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Intrepido: Worked five furlongs in 1:01.00 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Maximus Prime: Breezed an easy half-mile in :50.00 on Wednesday at The Thoroughbred Center.

Plutarch: Traversed four furlongs in :50.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Spice Runner: Clocked half a mile in :50.80 on Wednesday at Oaklawn Park.

Very Connected: Breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Vost: Sped four furlongs in :48.45 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Ted Noffey (40 points)
2. Litmus Test (19 points)
3. Mr. A. P. (15 points)
4. Intrepido (13 points)
5. Universe (13 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Hawk Mountain (20 points)
2. Puerto Rico (10 points)
3. Bow Echo (10 points)
4. Action (8 points)
5. Nighttime (5 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Satono Voyage (10 points)
2. Don Erectus (5 points)
3. Arcadia Cafe (3 points)
4. Every Possible (2 points)
5. Ho O Luxor (1 point)