Kentucky Derby Roundup: Prep races in four countries

The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 66 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Great White upsets the John Battaglia Memorial

Great White vaulted into the Kentucky Derby picture with a hard-fought triumph in the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.

The John Ennis trainee tracked fractions of :23.88, :48.84, and 1:14.65 in third place before taking over and holding off a late charge from Fulleffort to prevail by a neck in 1:46.83. Maximus Prime, Baytown Dreamer, and Steel Imperium rounded out the top five, while favored Street Beast gave way after setting the pace to finish last of 11.

Great White joins the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard in 13th place, having secured the winner’s share of the 20-10-6-4-2 qualification points up for grabs in the John Battaglia Memorial.

Brotherly Love rebounds in Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby

Brotherly Love, a half-brother to 2025 Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1) participant Heart of Honor, rallied late to win the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby, racing 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) at Meydan in Dubai.

Rebounding sharply from an eighth-place finish in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3), Brotherly Love rated off the early pace, but gradually advanced and surged clear late to score by two lengths in 2:01.40. Duke of Immatin, Lino Padrino, Sary Shayan, and Raajahh were his closest pursuers across the finish line.

As part of the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby awarded 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers. Brotherly Love now has 20 points to his credit, but since he’s not currently nominated to the Triple Crown, he isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.

Lucky Kid hangs on in Hyacinth Stakes

Lucky Kid, a Triple Crown nominee based in Japan, joined the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with an upset triumph in the Hyacinth S., racing 1,600 meters (about one mile) at Tokyo Racecourse.

The son of Discreet Kid rated in the middle of a 10-horse field before sprinting his final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in a sharp :36 to hold off Don Erectus and prevail by a neck in 1:36.7.

Itterasshai, Boku Mada Nemuiyo, and Your Felicity secured the last of the 30-15-9-6-3 qualification points up for grabs. Claiming first prize propelled Lucky Kid to the top of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Napoleon Solo returns in Fountain of Youth

Napoleon Solo, who led all the way to win the Champagne (G1) by 6 1/2 lengths last fall, is slated to make his sophomore debut in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Held over 1 1/16 miles, the Fountain of Youth is worth 50-25-15-10-5 points, virtually guaranteeing the winner a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Napoleon Solo is joined in the entries by Champagne runner-up Talkin, Mucho Macho Man S. winner Commandment, Holy Bull (G3) runner-up Bravaro, and fifth-place finisher Global Aviator, allowance winners Jackson Hole and Rockies Balboa, flashy maiden winners Chief Wallabee and Bull by the Horns, unbeaten Swale S. winner Solitude Dude, and the maiden Lost Money.

Litmus Test meets Silent Tactic, Strategic Risk in Rebel

A deep field has turned out for Sunday’s Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park, which awards a $1 million purse and 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualification points.

Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Litmus Test, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) runner-up Blackout Time, Southwest (G3) 1-2 finishers Silent Tactic and Soldier N Diplomat, and Smarty Jones S. winner Strategic Risk have all shown strong form on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Swale S. runner-up Class President, allowance winner Honey’s to Blame, Southwest fourth-place finisher Rancho Santa Fe, and Keeneland maiden winner Time for Music add further depth to the field. Bravaro is expected to scratch and compete in the Fountain of Youth instead.

Balboa tries again in Gotham

Eight horses will vie for 50-25-15-10-5 qualification points in Saturday’s one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.

After finishing third in the Remsen (G2) and second in the Jerome S. at Aqueduct, Balboa hopes to go one better and snag first prize in the Gotham. To pull it off, he’ll have to defeat Advent S. winner Dirty Rich, maiden winners Iron Honor, Right to Party, and Exhibition Only, Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni Crown the Buckeye and Fourth and One, and Juvenile Sprint S. winner Hammond.

A ninth entrant, Creole Chrome, is expected to scratch.

Four horses enter the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes

Only four horses are slated to contest Wednesday’s one-mile European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes over the synthetic track at Kempton in England.

Debut winner Hidden Force, a Godolphin homebred trained by Charlie Appleby, is shaping up as the heavy favorite to win the lion’s share of the 20-10-6-4 points on the table.

Prix de Cabourg (G3) winner Tadej, three-time winner Utmost Good Faith, and maiden winner Venetian Prince complete the lineup.

Blacksmith breaks his maiden at Santa Anita

Blacksmith, who finished second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) as a maiden, finally secured his first win in a one-mile maiden special weight on Friday at Santa Anita.

The Bob Baffert trainee showed more early speed than usual, tracking the pace in second place before taking over to triumph by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:37.54. Learn more about Blacksmith and other recent maiden winners in this week’s Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Reagan’s Honor debuts in Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

The latest name to join the Kentucky Derby Power Rankings on KentuckyDerby.com is Reagan’s Honor, who debuts in 17th place.

The stoutly bred son of Honor A. P. crushed a 1 1/16-mile allowance on Thursday at Fair Grounds. Facing older rivals, Reagan’s Honor dashed to the lead, set quick fractions of :22.94, :46.83, and 1:11.55, and then clocked his final five-sixteenths of a mile in a strong :30.47 to pull clear and dominate by 6 3/4 lengths in 1:42.02.

A start on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is likely ahead for Reagan’s Honor.

Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Paladin (60 points)
2. Chip Honcho (39 points)
3. Golden Tempo (35 points)
4. Silent Tactic (25 points)
5. Renegade (25 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Six Speed (20 points)
2. Obliteration (15 points)
3. Puerto Rico (10 points)
4. Lino Padrino (10 points)
5. Wonder Dean (6 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Lucky Kid (30 points)
2. Pyromancer (20 points)
3. Itterasshai (9 points)
4. Best Green (6 points)
5. Arcadia Cafe (3 points)