Under the Radar contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby

The bulk of the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) win pool is likely to center on the handful or so of leading contenders, but are there win threats percolating under the radar? Although logic would suggest it's unlikely, the proposition can not be entirely discounted.

Here are a couple of entries that offer some intrigue at a price.

Silent Tactic

From a consistency perspective, Silent Tactic is hard to knock. Although he's lost twice as often as he's won, the son of Tacitus has never finished worse than second from six attempts.

His victory in the Southwest (G3) was impressive, at least visually. Near the tail of the field behind a pace faster than the one that compromised him in the Smarty Jones S., Silent Tactic smoothly improved position while wide and won going away by more than three lengths. It was disappointing, though, that the Brisnet Speed rating came back a modest 92.

There wasn't much improvement in that department in either the Rebel (G2), when Silent Tactic appeared to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Class President, and in the Arkansas Derby (G1), where he was finished four lengths adrift of Renegade.

There is something to admire, though, about the colt's ability to travel smoothly, secure position, and pick up readily when asked. To my eyes, it's reminiscent of Sea Hero's better races in the 1992-93 era (including the Kentucky Derby).

Silent Tactic has to improve several lengths to win this Derby, and on bare form is one that's best used in the lower rungs of vertical exotics. He remains with a high ceiling.

Incredibolt

Incredibolt enters the Kentucky Derby off of a long layoff, dating back to his impressive win in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on March 14. He won by four lengths over a one-turn 1 1/8 miles, highly suggesting the extra furlong of this classic will be no problem.

The Virginia Derby was a vastly better race than the Holy Bull (G3), where Incredibolt basically retreated after a quarter mile. Draw a line through that race, and his overall form is likable.

Even more intriguing is that Incredibolt is 2-for-2 over the Churchill Downs surface, including a 1 3/4-length success in the Street Sense (G3) last October. That's a race Sovereignty won before winning the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

It would have been interesting to see if Incredibolt would have improved on his Virginia Derby effort if he had taken in one of the April preps. Be that as it may, the seven-week gap between starts is something he will have to overcome. Like Silent Tactic, we haven't yet seen the best of him.