Kentucky Derby Roundup: Paladin, Renegade run 1-2 in Remsen

The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 144 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Paladin steps forward to win Remsen

The Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct has been a productive Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in recent years. While it’s been some time since the 1 1/8-mile race last produced a Kentucky Derby winner, it’s churned out a bevy of high-profile Derby starters in recent years, including top-three finishers Sierra Leone and Zandon, plus subsequent Belmont (G1) winners Mo Donegal and Dornoch.

The 2025 Remsen took place on Saturday, and the 9-5 favorite Paladin rewarded his backers with a determined victory.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Paladin

Trained by Chad Brown (who also conditioned Sierra Leone and Zandon), Paladin debuted in a one-mile maiden special weight on Oct. 17 at Aqueduct. He finished second by a head against Renegade, but was awarded the win via disqualification.

Paladin and Renegade met again in the Remsen, and this time there was no doubt about the official outcome. Paladin rated 2 1/2 lengths behind splits of :23.32 and :47.47 in third place, briefly dropped back to fourth position around the far turn, and then launched a sustained outside rally to wear down the leaders and turn back a bid from Renegade to win by two lengths. The final time was 1:50.97.

The Remsen awarded Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers. Paladin debuts in eighth place on the latest qualification leaderboard, while Renegade ranks 16th.

Balboa pressed the Remsen pace before staying on to finish third. Having previously finished fifth in the American Pharoah (G1) on the Kentucky Derby trail, Balboa has accumulated 4 points, good for 18th place on the leaderboard.

Courting and Grittiness rounded out the Remsen top five.

Remsen top two join Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

Unsurprisingly, given their sharp showings in the Remsen, Paladin and Renegade have joined the latest Kentucky Derby Power Rankings on KentuckyDerby.com.

Paladin vaulted from unranked on the 20-horse list all the way up to 10th place. Renegade debuts in 16th place.

Meanwhile, Champagne (G1) runner-up Talkin has fallen from 11th place down to 20th after finishing a distant ninth in the Remsen.

Schoolyardsuperman impresses with maiden win

On the same day Chad Brown won the Remsen with Paladin, he sent out Schoolyardsuperman to post an eye-catching win in a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct.

Schoolyardsuperman prevailed in the manner of a serious racehorse. He was always part of the pace and clocked his final two furlongs in :11.99 and :12.63 to pull away and crush his rivals by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:36.68.

Schoolyardsuperman is one of half a dozen promising maiden winners with possible Kentucky Derby aspirations highlighted in this week’s edition of Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Los Alamitos Futurity entries due Wednesday

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues this Saturday with the running of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). While entries won’t be finalized until Wednesday, we can speculate on which horses might participate.

Since the race shifted to Los Alamitos and adopted its current name in 2014, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won eight out of 11 editions. He’s nominated a bevy of horses to the 2025 edition, including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) fourth-place finisher Litmus Test, who is training as though he’s an intended Los Alamitos Futurity starter.

Buetane, unraced since finishing second to probable champion juvenile Ted Noffey in the Sept. 1 Hopeful (G1), is another Baffert trainee with a strong series of recent workouts under his belt. He’s nominated to the Los Alamitos Futurity and could potentially make his return in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Outside the Baffert barn, fast Santa Anita maiden winner Acknowledgemeplz is an expected starter for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill.

Latest Kentucky Derby contender workouts

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

Ganaas: The fifth-place finisher from the Street Sense (G3) worked half a mile in :48.60 over Keeneland’s all-weather training track on Saturday.

Intrepido: The American Pharoah winner traveled an easy five furlongs in 1:02.00 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Litmus Test: In advance of a potential start in the Los Alamitos Futurity, Litmus Test clocked a fast five furlongs in :59.80 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Vost: In his first timed workout since shipping from Kentucky to Florida, Iroquois (G3) third-place finisher Vost breezed a bullet half-mile in :47.75 at Palm Meadows last Tuesday.

Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five:

1. Ted Noffey (40 points)
2. Mr. A. P. (15 points)
3. Intrepido (13 points)
4. Universe (13 points)
5. Spice Runner (11 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)