Kentucky Derby Update: The Derby Dispatch for Thursday, April 2, 2026

Apr 02, 2026

Four weeks remain until the first Saturday in May and Saturday’s trio of Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is set to finalize much of the field for Kentucky Derby 152 on May 2.

Saturday’s $1.25 million Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland, $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct and $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) will each award qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the top five finishers, offering a last major opportunity for contenders to secure their spot in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby starting gate.

As of Thursday, Grittiness sits 17th on the leaderboard with 36 points, establishing the cutoff for the traditional Road to the Kentucky Derby with three invitational spots awarded across the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby and Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Excluding next Saturday’s Lexington Stakes (GIII), which only awards 20 qualifying points to the winner, there is an 89 percent mathematical chance the cutoff for the top 17 will be 50 points.

If history is any guide, the next four weeks will bring plenty of movement as the Kentucky Derby 152 field comes into focus.

KY JOCKEY CLUB WINNER FURTHER ADO MADE 8-5 MORNING LINE FAVE IN BLUE GRASS – Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado has been tabbed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered for Saturday’s 102nd running of the $1.25 million Blue Grass (Grade I) at Keeneland.

Contested at 1 1/8 miles, the Blue Grass offers 200 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. The winner of the Blue Grass receives 100 points with a sliding scale of 50-25-15-10 points to the second- through fifth-place finishers.

Further Ado will attempt to give trainer Brad Cox a second Blue Grass victory to go with Essential Quality in 2021. A son of Gun Runner, Further Ado scored an eye-catching 20-length maiden special weight victory on Oct. 10 at Keeneland and a 1 ¾-length win in the Nov. 29 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs. The Blue Grass will be Further Ado’s second start in his 3-year-old campaign having finished second to The Puma in the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII). Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post No. 6.

Second choice on the morning line at 5-2 is West Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo and Gabriel Duignan’s Reagan’s Honor for trainer Cherie DeVaux. A son of Honor A. P., Reagan’s Honor dominated an allowance event on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds by 6 ¾ lengths. Recent Dubai World Cup-winning rider Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 4.

The field for the Blue Grass Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Talkin (Joel Rosario, Danny Gargan, 12-1)
Class President (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 3-1)
Great White (Alex Achard, John Ennis, 15-1)
Reagan’s Honor (Jose Ortiz, DeVaux, 5-2)
Creole Chrome (Tyler Gaffalione, Joe Sharp, 8-1)
Further Ado (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cox, 8-5)
Ocelli (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman, 30-1)
Moonstrocity (Jose Morelos, Jena Antonucci, 30-1)
Ottinho (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown, 20-1)
Rebel (GII) winner Class President will be scratched, according to trainer Todd Pletcher in a Thursday report by Daily Racing Form’s David Grening. “Just didn’t like the way he went today,” Pletcher told Grening. “Not saying he’s off the [Kentucky] Derby trail. We’ll check him out.”

Trainer Whit Beckman reported Ocelli will run in Saturday’s Wood Memorial (GII) at Aqueduct instead of the Blue Grass.

Trainer Chad Brown reported Ottinho will remain in the Blue Grass instead of the Wood Memorial and will race with blinkers on.

Fans can watch and wager on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. The race will be shown on NBCSN, Peacock and FanDuel TV.

UNDEFEATED IRON HONOR LEADS WOOD MEMORIAL FIELD – St. Elias Stable, William Lawrence and Glassman Racing’s undefeated Iron Honor leads a field of 13 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (Grade II) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Wood Memorial goes as the 12th and final race on Saturday’s card with a post time of 6:34 p.m. (all times Eastern). Fans can watch and wager on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and catch the race live on “America’s Day at the Races” on FS2.

Trained by Chad Brown, Iron Honor scored a one-length victory in the Feb. 28 Gotham (GIII) to kickstart his Road to the Kentucky Derby. A son of Nyquist, Iron Honor broke his maiden on debut by 1 ½ lengths under jockey Manny Franco, who will be in the saddle Saturday from post No. 13.

Breaking from the rail in the Wood Memorial is Gold Square’s Grade I winner Napoleon Solo. Campaigned by Chad Summers, Napoleon Solo dominated the Oct. 4 Champagne (GI) by 6 ½ lengths before disappointing in the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth (GII). Paco Lopez has the mount in the Wood Memorial.

Other accomplished 3-year-olds entered in the race include Withers (Listed) winner Talk to Me Jimmy; Holy Bull (GIII) runner-up Bravaro; and multiple graded stakes placed Buetane.

The field for the Wood Memorial from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Napoleon Solo (Lopez, Summers, 7-2)
Talk to Me Jimmy (Ruben Silvera, Rudy Rodriguez, 6-1)
Right to Party (Chris Elliott, Kenny McPeek, 20-1)
Steel (Sahin Civaci, Bill Mott, 12-1)
Ocelli (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman 20-1)
Minorinconvenience (Jaime Rodriguez, Amelia Green, 30-1)
Albus (Jaime Torres, Riley Mott, 12-1)
Courting (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher, 8-1)
Bravaro (Edwin Gonzalez, Saffie Joseph Jr., 8-1)
Red Zone Runner (Mychel Sanchez, Hugo Padilla, 30-1)
Ottinho (Dylan Davis, Chad Brown, 10-1)
Buetane (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 8-1)
Iron Honor (Franco, Brown, 5-2)
Trainer Chad Brown reported Ottino would be scratched to run in Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland while trainer Whit Beckman will send Ocelli to the Wood instead of the Blue Grass.

The Wood Memorial awards the top five finishers qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.

BAFFERT’S POTENTE, CHEROKEE NATION LEAD SANTA ANITA DERBY FIELD – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will attempt to win his record-extending 10th Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) when he starts the duo of Potente and Cherokee Nation in Saturday’s 89th running of the historic race.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby goes as Race 10 with a post time of 7:46 p.m. (all times Eastern). Fans can watch and wager on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated, or FanDuel TV.

Owned by Speedway Stables, Potente is undefeated from two starts with victories in a Jan. 31 maiden special weight and the March 7 San Felipe (GII). A son of Into Mischief, Potente will break from post No. 2 with jockey Juan Hernandez in the saddle at odds of 2-1.

To his inside is recent 10-length maiden winner Cherokee Nation. A son of Not This Time, Cherokee Nation will be ridden by Florent Geroux as the 5-2 second choice.

Baffert last won this race in 2019 with Roadster. Previous victories came from Justify (2018); Dortmund (2015); Midnight Interlude (2011); Pioneerof the Nile (2009); Point Given (2001); General Challenge (1998); Indian Charlie (1998); and Cavonnier (1996).

The field for the Santa Anita Derby from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Cherokee Nation (Geroux, Baffert, 5-2)
Potente (Hernandez, Baffert, 2-1)
Vitruvian Man (Antonio Fresu, Doug O’Neill, 15-1)
Robusta (Emisael Jaramillo, Doug O’Neill, 8-1)
So Happy (Mike Smith, Mark Glatt, 7-2)
Start the Ride (Armondo Ayuso, Dan Blacker, 30-1)
Intrepido (Hector Berrios, Jeff Mullins, 7-2)
The Santa Anita Derby awards the top five finishers qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.

WHERE TO WATCH BLUE GRASS STAKES

Watch live, on-site coverage of the Blue Grass Stakes on NBCSN, Peacock and FanDuel TV
Watch and wager on the Blue Grass Stakes on www.twinspires.com.
WHERE TO WATCH SANTA ANITA DERBY

Watch live, on-site coverage of the Santa Anita Derby on FanDuel TV
Watch and wager on the Santa Anita Derby on www.twinspires.com.
WHERE TO WATCH WOOD MEMORIAL

Watch live coverage of the Wood Memorial on FS2
Watch and wager on the Wood Memorial on www.twinspires.com.
KEY RACES TO WATCH TO WATCH – This weekend there are several races around the world that could have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are some of the key races:

Friday

KEE 9 (5:16 p.m.), $750,000 Ashland (GI), 3yo f, 1 1/16 M (seven entries)
Saturday

SA 6 (5:42 p.m.), $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GII), 3yo f, 1 1/16 M (seven entries)
Aqu 11 (5:56 p.m.), $200,000 Gazelle (GIII), 3yo f, 1 1/8 M (nine entries)
Kee 11 (6:22 p.m.), $1.25 million Blue Grass (GI), 3yo, 1 1/8 M (nine entries, seven likely runners)
Aqu 12 (6:34 p.m.), $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 3yo, 1 1/8 M (13 entries, 12 likely runners)
SA 10 (7:46 p.m.), $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 3yo, 1 1/8 M (seven entries)
OP 13 (7:48 p.m.), $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 3yo, 1 1/8 M (nine entries)
DERBY FUTURE WAGER POOL 6 OPENS WITH ARKANSAS DERBY WINNER RENEGADE TABBED AS 4-1 FAVORITE – Four weeks remain until Kentucky Derby 152, and fans will have their final opportunity to wager on the race prior to the first Saturday in May when Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager runs Thursday through Saturday with Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Renegade tabbed as the 4-1 favorite.

Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens Thursday at noon (all times Eastern) and closes Saturday at approximately 6 p.m., prior to the $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (GI), $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) and $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII). The wager features $2 win and exacta betting.

Owned by Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low, Renegade stamped himself as the early Derby favorite with a commanding four-length victory in the Arkansas Derby for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Other top interests in Pool 6 include Florida Derby (GI) winner Commandment (6-1); Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) winner and Florida Derby runner-up The Puma (8-1); and Fountain of Youth (GII) runner-up Chief Wallabee (10-1).

The field for Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (with trainer, sire, next race, Road to the Kentucky Derby points and morning line odds):

#1 Albus (Riley Mott, Yaupon, Wood Memorial, 0, 90-1)

#2 Bravaro (Saffie Joseph Jr., Upstart, Wood Memorial, 20, 80-1)

#3 Buetane (Bob Baffert, Tiz the Law, Wood Memorial, 16, 80-1)

#4 Cherokee Nation (Bob Baffert, Not This Time, Santa Anita Derby, 3, 30-1)

#5 Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, Constitution, Kentucky Derby, 50, 10-1)

#6 Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen, Connect, Kentucky Derby, 49, 50-1)

#7 Class President (Todd Pletcher, Uncle Mo, Blue Grass, 50, 15-1)

#8 Commandment (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, Kentucky Derby, 150, 6-1)

#9 Courting (Todd Pletcher, Curlin, Wood Memorial, 2, 90-1)

#10 Creole Chrome (Joe Sharp, Volatile, Blue Grass, 0, 90-1)

#11 Danon Bourbon (Manabu Ikezoe, Maxfield, Kentucky Derby, Japan RTKD invite, 20-1)

#12 Emerging Market (Chad Brown, Candy Ride-ARG, Kentucky Derby, 100, 15-1)

#13 Fulleffort (Brad Cox, Liam’s Map, Kentucky Derby, 110, 30-1)

#14 Further Ado (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, Blue Grass, 35, 15-1)

#15 Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Curlin, Kentucky Derby, 60, 30-1)

#16 Great White (John Ennis, Volatile, Blue Grass, 20, 90-1)

#17 Incredibolt (Riley Mott, Bolt d’Oro, Kentucky Derby, 50, 25-1)

#18 Intrepido (Jeff Mullins, Maximus Mischief, Santa Anita Derby, 23, 50-1)

#19 Iron Honor (Chad Brown, Nyquist, Wood Memorial, 50, 25-1)

#20 Minorinconvenience (Amelia Green, Mendelssohn, Wood Memorial, 0, 90-1)

#21 Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, Liam’s Map, Wood Memorial, 15, 60-1)

#22 Ocelli (Whit Beckman, Connect, Blue Grass or Wood Memorial, 0, 90-1)

#23 Ottinho (Chad Brown, Quality Road, Blue Grass, 0, 90-1)

#24 Pavlovian (Doug O'Neill, Pavel, Kentucky Derby, 70, 25-1)

#25 Potente (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, Santa Anita Derby, 50, 30-1)

#26 Reagan’s Honor (Cherie DeVaux, Honor A.P. Blue Grass, 0, 20-1)

#27 Red Zone Runner (Hugo Padillo, Practical Joke, Wood Memorial, 0, 90-1)

#28 Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Into Mischief, Kentucky Derby, 125, 4-1)

#29 Right to Party (Kenny McPeek, Constitution, Wood Memorial, 15, 90-1)

#30 Robusta (Doug O'Neill, Accelerate, Santa Anita Derby, 25, 80-1)

#31 Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Tacitus, Kentucky Derby, 100, 25-1)

#32 Six Speed (Bhupat Seemar, Not This Time, Kentucky Derby, Euro/Mideast RTKD invite, 60-1)

#33 So Happy (Mark Glatt, Runhappy, Santa Anita Derby, 15, 90-1)

#34 Start the Ride (Dan Blacker, Upstart, Santa Anita Derby, 0, 90-1)

#35 Steel (Bill Mott, Tapit, Wood Memorial, 0, 90-1)

#36 Talk to Me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez, Modernist, Wood Memorial, 20, 50-1)

#37 Talkin (Danny Gargan, Good Magic, Blue Grass, 10, 90-1)

#38 The Puma (Gustavo Delgado, Essential Quality, Kentucky Derby, 106, 8-1)

#39 Wonder Dean (JPN) (Daisuke Takayanagi, Dee Majesty, Kentucky Derby, Euro/Mideast RTKD invite, 30-1)

#40 All Other 3-Year-Olds (30-1)

The horses in Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager include many contenders in Saturday’s Blue Grass (Kee 11 at 6:22 p.m.), Wood Memorial (Aqu 12 at 6:34 p.m.) and Santa Anita Derby (SA 10 at 7:30 p.m.). Some of the horses not included as individual interests but are among #40 for “All Other 3-Year-Olds” are Blackout Time (currently No. 24 on Road to Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 25 points); Confessional (No. 33, 15 points); Grittiness (No. 17, 36 points); Litmus Test (No. 23, 34 points); Nearly (No. 22, 35 points) and Stark Contrast (No. 11, 50 points).

Confessional and Grittiness are nominated to the April 11 Lexington Stakes (GIII) at Keeneland, the concluding race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series worth 20 qualifying points to the winner. Stark Contrast, runner-up in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) on Tapeta, is also under consideration for the $1 million American Turf (GI) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. If Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week’s pool that one of the wagering interests experiences an injury, illness, or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.

More information, Brisnet.com past performances and real-time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available before the pools open Thursday at KentuckyDerby.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The Road to the Kentucky Oaks concludes Friday at Keeneland with the $750,000 Ashland (GI) and Saturday with the $200,000 Gazelle (GIII) at Aqueduct and $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GII). Each race awards the top five finishers qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale toward the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on May 1. … UAE Derby (GII) winner Wonder Dean (JPN) arrived at Churchill Downs on Wednesday evening. He’ll undergo a mandatory 42-hour USDA Quarantine before he’s allowed to train. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby liaison Kate Hunter reported he’s scheduled to hand walk for about a week before resuming regular training. UAE Derby runner-up Six Speed is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Friday, April 24 while UAE Oaks (GIII) winner Labwah is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, April 22. … Training hours at Churchill Downs are 5:30-10 a.m., with renovation breaks from 6:45-7:15 a.m. and 8:30-9 a.m. Beginning Friday, April 17, exclusive Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks training will take place from 7:15-7:30 a.m., with the track opening at 5:15 a.m. Extended schooling begins Monday, April 20 through Wednesday, April 29 from 10-10:30 a.m. …Late Triple Crown nominations($6,000) are due by Monday at midnight ET at www.TheTripleCrown.com.

UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY RACE

April 11 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 20-10-6-4-2)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Confessional (Brad Cox), Decisive Win (Doug O’Neill), Enforced Agenda (George Weaver), Ezum (Brad Cox), Jackson Hole (Todd Pletcher), The Hell We Did (Todd Fincher) and Trendsetter (Ben Colebrook).

Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics are possible for multiple races.