Kentucky Derby Roundup: U. S. S. Valor aims for Florida

The 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 172 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

U. S. S. Valor, American History could meet in Florida

Two of the most accomplished two-year-olds of 2026 could face off in the Jan. 23 Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile American Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier at Gulfstream Park in Florida worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.

The Daily Racing Form reports that Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up American History is targeting the Holy Bull, while runaway Champagne (G1) winner and early Kentucky Derby favorite U. S. S. Valor is under consideration for the Holy Bull or the Swale S. on the same day at Gulfstream.

Bletchley, Barrel Roll post eye-catching maiden wins

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown has saddled a couple of runners-up in the Kentucky Derby, but he’s still seeking his first victory. His roster of contenders for the 2027 Run for the Roses grew deeper last week when Bletchley and Barrel Roll delivered flashy maiden victories.

Bletchley, a $1.55 million yearling purchase, debuted on Friday in a one-mile maiden special weight at Belmont Park. He rallied from fifth place behind a quick pace to trounce his rivals by 7 3/4 lengths in the promising time of 1:35.12.

Barrel Roll, who sold for $1.2 million as a yearling, was every bit as dominant as Bletchley when making his third start in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Wednesday at Churchill Downs. He rated four lengths off the pace over a sloppy track, then took over and powered away to win by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:44.52.

Read more about Bletchley, Barrel Roll, and other recent maiden winners in this week’s edition of Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Salahudin takes aim at Kentucky Jockey Club

The next American Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier on the agenda is the Nov. 28 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, a 1 1/16-mile race worth 10-5-3-2-1 points. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert recently stated on “At the Races with Steve Byk” that Salahudin is a potential starter.

Winner of the Iroquois (G3) and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Salahudin has accumulated 19 qualifying points, ranking third on the latest Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Salahudin has raced with blinkers in all four of his starts, but Baffert revealed the colt will compete without them in his next start.

Hullabaloo Ray Ray crushes allowance, aims for Remsen

The up-and-coming Hullabaloo Ray Ray made his route debut a winning one in a one-mile $110,000 allowance optional claimer on Sunday at Belmont Park.

Coming off a 4 1/4-length maiden win sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont, Hullabaloo Ray Ray proved an even more decisive winner while stretching out in distance. Starting as the overwhelming favorite against three rivals, Hullabaloo Ray Ray raced in second through splits of :23.70 and :46.81, took command through six furlongs in 1:10.94, and drew off to win by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:35.45.

Hullabaloo Ray Ray clocked his final quarter-mile in a sharp :24.51, which suggests even longer distances are within reach. Per the Daily Racing Form, he may get a chance to try 1 1/8 miles in the Dec. 5 Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, an American Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier valued at 10-5-3-2-1 points.

Latest Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are the latest timed workouts posted by horses who have earned qualifying points on the American Road to the Kentucky Derby:

Domus: The fourth-place finisher from the American Pharoah (G1) worked four furlongs in :47.60 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Emancipate: The American Pharoah fifth-place finisher clocked half a mile in:47.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Mystik Bayou: Coming off a third-place finish in the Street Sense (G3), Mystik Bayou traveled four furlongs in :48.60 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Q B Rocket: Returning to the work tab following a brief hiatus, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) third-place finisher Q B Rocket worked four furlongs in :48.60 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Real Gone: Unraced since finishing fifth in the Iroquois, Real Gone traversed half a mile in :49.00 on Sunday at Palm Meadows.

Staunch: The Street Sense runner-up went four furlongs in :48.40 on Friday at Churchill Downs.

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Hughes (40 points)
2. American History (25 points)
3. Salahudin (19 points)
4. Coach Pope (11 points)
5. Jas (10 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Noble Exhibit (13 points)
2. Haffner (10 points)
3. Amusingly (10 points)
4. Giant Sequoia (10 points)
5. Burning Up (7 points)