Kentucky Derby Update: The Derby Dispatch for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

Feb 12, 2026

The road to the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) shifts into high gear Saturday as the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds.

The Risen Star is the first of 15 races in the Championship Series that will determine the field for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2. Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile test in New Orleans features a competitive cast of eight, including highly regarded Remsen Stakes (GII) winner Paladin, who has risen to one of the early Kentucky Derby favorites following the defection of Eclipse Award champion Ted Noffey due to bone bruising.

Action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is also well underway internationally with five races remaining on the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby. Saturday’s $1.5 million Saudi Derby (GIII) marks a new addition to the series and will award 30 qualifying points to the winner. The field features a well-rounded mix of local contenders along with runners from North America and Japan. Two invitations to the Kentucky Derby are available through the series with preference given to the top two point earners.

Interest remains strong on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with 37 Japanese-based contenders among the 367 overall Triple Crown nominees. The group is led by Godolphin’s Pyromancer (JPN) whose connections have indicated a trip to the UAE Derby (GII) following his victory in the Dec. 17 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. The next stop on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is the Feb. 22 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse which awards 30 qualifying points to the winner. One invitation to the Kentucky Derby is available through the Japan Road.

With 11 weeks remaining until the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, the Championship Series will play a decisive role in shaping the field for the Run for the Roses, set for Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.

For a preview, the “Inside the Kentucky Derby” podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/news/inside-the-kentucky-derby-risen-star-preview/.

PALADIN SLATED AS SOLID 8-5 FAVORITE IN SATURDAY’S $500,000 FASIG-TIPTON RISEN STAR – Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and Summer Wind Equine’s Remsen Stakes (Grade II) winner Paladin is set to make his first start as a 3-year-old when he faces seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls in Saturday’s $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the kickoff race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

The Risen Star, contested at 1 1/8 miles, is the featured 12th race on the Fair Grounds card with a post time of 6:30 p.m. ET. The program begins at 1 p.m. and includes the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes in Race 11 at 6 p.m., the opening race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series.

Paladin is undefeated from two starts after being placed first via disqualification in his debut at Aqueduct. A son of 2018 Risen Star winner Gun Runner, Paladin followed with a two-length victory in the Dec. 6 Remsen Stakes, defeating eventual Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Renegade. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will ride the Chad Brown trainee for the first time and break from post No. 4.

Gaffalione, Brown and several of Paladin’s co-owners teamed to win the 2024 Risen Star with Sierra Leone.

The Risen Star field also includes Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Lecomte Stakes (GIII) winner Golden Tempo. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Golden Tempo is undefeated from two starts, both at Fair Grounds. The son of Curlin won a six-furlong maiden special weight in his debut before returning four weeks later to capture the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte. Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 2.

Also entered are Lecomte third- and fourth-place finishers Carson Street and Chip Honcho, along with the highly sought-after colt Courting, a lofty $5 million purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The Risen Star field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Universe (Christopher Elliott, Kenny McPeek, 8-1)
Golden Tempo (Ortiz, DeVaux, 3-1)
Carson Street (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh, 8-1)
Paladin (Gaffalione, Brown, 8-5)
Chip Honcho (Luis Saez, Steve Asmussen, 6-1)
Colt Foty Seven (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 20-1)
Courting (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 6-1)
Quality Mischief (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 10-1)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Fair Grounds on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

The final major local prep for the Louisiana contingent on the Road to the Kentucky Derby comes March 21 with the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) at 1 3/16 miles.

MY WORLD LEADS FOUR NORTH AMERICAN CONTENDERS IN SAUDI DERBY – Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ multiple stakes winner My World leads four North American contenders entered in Saturday’s $1.5 million Saudi Derby (GIII), a new edition to the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Run at one mile, the Saudi Derby will be the fourth race on the Saudi Cup program with a post time of 9 a.m. ET.

Trained by Brad Cox, My World is a three-time winner from four-career starts with stakes victories in the Nashua (Listed) and Jerome. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount in the Saudi Derby and will exit out of gate No. 6.

Other North American hopes entered in the race are Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis’ Acknowledgemeplz; Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia’s Obliteration and Dream Big Racing and Magdalena Racing’s Very Connected.

The deep field for the Saudi Derby also includes several international contenders such as Triple Crown nominees Best Green (JPN), Kei Agito (JPN), Tokai Ma Cherie (JPN) and Wonder Dean (JPN).

The field for the Saudi Derby in gate order (with jockey and trainer):

+Tuwajeri (IRE) (Muhammad Aldaham, Abdullah Alsidrani)
+Al Haram (IRE) (Ricardo Ferreira, Abdullah Alsidrani)
Tokai Ma Cherie (JPN) (Katsuma Sameshima, Daisuke Takayanagi)
Acknowledgemeplz (Flavien Prat, Doug O’Neill)
+Shayem (IRE) (James Doyle, Karl Burke)
My World (Ortiz, Cox)
Wonder Dean (JPN) (Oisin Murphy, Daisuke Takayanagi)
Obliteration (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen)
+Cielo Di Roma (FR) (Mickael Barzalona, Gianluca Bietolini)
+Union Security (Connor Beasley, Ahmad Bin Harmash)
+Satono Voyage (JPN) (Keita Tosaki, Hiroyasu Tanaka)
Very Connected (Adel Alfouraidi, Kenny McPeek)
Best Green (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Junji Tanaka)
Keai Agito (JPN) (Joao Moriera, Yukihiro Kato)
+ = Al Haram, Satono Voyage, Shayem, Tuwajeri and Union Security are not currently nominated to the Triple Crown but can become eligible with a late $6,000 payment due by Monday, April 6 at www.thetriplecrown.com.

The Saudi Derby will award qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 30-15-9-6-3 scale for a possible invitation to compete in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

SPRINGBOARD MILE WINNER EXPRESS KID HEADLINES SUNDAY’S SUNLAND DERBY – Paradise Equine Farm, Bradley Kleven and Sharon Kleven’s Express Kid makes his next stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby as the 3-1 morning line favorite in Sunday’s $500,000 Sunland Derby (Listed).

The Sunland Derby, part of the Prep Season on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awards the top five finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) on Saturday, May 2.

Contested at 1 1/16 miles, the Sunland Derby goes as Race 9 with a post time of 6:17 p.m. ET.

Now in the care of Justin Evans, Express Kid was a recent $800,000 purchase at a Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale in January. Previously owned by Steve Haahr and trained by Wade Rarick, Express Kid was a dominant 6 ¼-length winner of the Springboard Mile (Listed) at odds of 34-1. A California-bred son of Bodexpress, Express Kid will break from the rail in the Sunland Derby under Juan Hernandez, who was victorious in last year’s race aboard Getaway Car.

Among Express Kid’s rivals in the race includes Imagine Racing’s Bricklin, who scratched from last week’s Southwest Stakes (GIII) in favor of this spot. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Bricklin was a 3 ¼-length allowance winner on Jan. 3 at Oaklawn. He’ll be ridden by Cristian Torres from post 6.

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

Express Kid (Hernandez, Evans, 3-1)
Sharons Beach (John Velazquez, Jonathan Thomas, 10-1)
Pavlovian (Edwin Maldonado, Doug O’Neill, 8-1)
Forty Twenty (Orlando Mojica, Robertino Diodoro, 6-1)
+Way Beyond (Keith Asmussen, Steve Asmussen, 4-1)
Bricklin (Torres, Brisset, 7-2)
+Daneyko (Alfredo Juarez Jr., Edward Kereluk, 9-2)
Buntus Foclura (Rey Gutierrez, Amelia Green, 12-1)
+ = Daneyko and Way Beyond are not currently nominated to the Triple Crown but can do so with a late $6,000 payment due by Monday, April 6 at www.thetriplecrown.com.

HOW TO WATCH THE RISEN STAR

FanDuel TV featuring live, on-site coverage from an array of analysts and reporters.
Churchill Downs LIVE app/TwinSpires.com will feature the simulcast show at Fair Grounds with chief analyst Joe Kristufek leading the coverage.
RISEN STAR BY THE NUMBERS

Risen Star has produced 76 Kentucky Derby starters since 1985 including 33 in the past 10 years.
Three horses have won the Kentucky Derby after exiting the Risen Star: War Emblem (2002), Country House (2019) and Mandaloun (2021).
Most wins by a jockey (3): Shane Romero (1988-89 and ’92); Robby Albarado (2003-04 and ’07); and Florent Geroux (2016 and ’20-21).
Most wins by a trainer (3): Steve Asmussen (2008, ’16, ’22 and ’25)
Number of favorites that won in the last 10 runnings (3): War of Will (2019, 1-1); Mandaloun (2021, 2-1); and Sierra Leone (2024, 5-2).
Average winning odds in last 10 runnings: 10.97-1
Stakes Record: 1:48.85, Magnitude (2025)
Track Record: 1:47.64, Nate’s Mineshaft (2012)
HOW TO WATCH THE SUNLAND DERBY

FanDuel TV
TwinSpires.com
SUNLAND DERBY BY THE NUMBERS

The Sunland Park Derby has produced 12 Kentucky Derby starters since 2003 including 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Overall, the Derby starters who exited the race have a record of 12-1-1-0 on the first Saturday in May.
Most wins by a trainer (3): Bob Baffert (2006, 2013, 2014) and Doug O’Neill (2003, 2005, 2022).
Most wins by a jockey (2): Victor Espinoza (2006, 2007) and Martin Garcia (2013, 2014).
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:

Saturday

FG, R2 (1:30 p.m.), Mdn 65k, 3yo, 6 F (nine entries)
FG, R4 (2:30 p.m.), Mdn 65k, 3yo f, 6 F (10 entries)
FG, R7 (4 p.m.), Mdn 65k, 3yo, 1 1/16 M (12 entries)
OP, R9 (5:38 p.m.), $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes, 3yo f, 6 F (10 entries)
FG, R11 (6 p.m.), $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (GII), 3yo f, 1 1/16 M (eight entries)
FG, R12 (6:30 p.m.), $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star (GII), 3yo, 1 1/8 M, (eight entries)
TP, R5 (7:55 p.m.), Mdn 100k, 3yo, 1 M (14 entries, 12 eligible to run)
Sunday

SUN, R7 (5:15 p.m.), $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, 3yo F, 1 M (eight entries)
SUN, R9 (6:17 p.m.), $500,000 Sunland Park Derby, 3yo, 1 1/16 M (eight entries)
PALADIN TABBED AS 8-1 INDIVIDUAL FAVORITE IN POOL 4 OF KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER – Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens Friday through Sunday alongside the start of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series with Remsen Stakes (Grade II) winner Paladin tabbed as the 8-1 individual morning line favorite and “All Other 3-Year-Olds” not named within the 39 individual interests as the overall 4-1 choice.

The three-day pool, featuring $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will open Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and close Sunday at 6 p.m.

Pool 4 reflects a shift in the wagering landscape following the removal of Eclipse Award champion Ted Noffey from the Derby trail due to bone bruising. The colt closed as the individual favorite in each of the first three pools at 10-1, 7-1 and 6-1.

Paladin, owned in partnership by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and Summer Wind Equine, is entered in Saturday’s $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds. He closed as the 14-1 third choice in Pool 3 behind All Other 3-Year-Olds (7-2) and Ted Noffey (6-1).

The complete field for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (with trainer, sire and morning line odds):

#1 Blackout Time (Kenny McPeek, Not This Time, 40-1)

#2 Boyd (Bob Baffert, Violence, 40-1)

#3 Brant (Bob Baffert, Gun Runner, 20-1)

#4 Bravaro (Saffie Joseph Jr., Upstart, 80-1)

#5 Canaletto (Chad Brown, Into Mischief, 40-1)

#6 Carson Street (Brendan Walsh, Street Sense, 75-1)

#7 Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, Constitution, 20-1)

#8 Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen, Connect, 90-1)

#9 Class President (Todd Pletcher, Uncle Mo, 90-1)

#10 Commandment (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, 25-1)

#11 Courting (Todd Pletcher, Curlin, 90-1)

#12 Emerging Market (Chad Brown, Candy Ride (ARG), 30-1)

#13 Englishman (Cherie DeVaux, Maxfield, 40-1)

#14 Ewing (Mark Casse, Knicks Go, 50-1)

#15 Further Ado (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, 25-1)

#16 Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Curlin, 20-1)

#17 Intrepido (Jeff Mullins, Maximus Mischief, 30-1)

#18 Iron Honor (Chad Brown, Nyquist, 60-1)

#19 Jackson Hole (Todd Pletcher, Nyquist, 50-1)

#20 Litmus Test (Bob Baffert, Nyquist, 40-1)

#21 Mesquite (Cherie DeVaux, Union Rags, 75-1)

#22 My World (Brad Cox, Essential Quality, 80-1)

#23 Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, Liam’s Map, 25-1)

#24 Nearly (Todd Pletcher, Not This Time, 10-1)

#25 Paladin (Chad Brown, Gun Runner, 8-1)

#26 Plutarch (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 20-1)

#27 Potente (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 50-1)

#28 Powershift (Todd Pletcher, Constitution, 80-1)

#29 Pyromancer (JPN) (Kenji Yoshimura, Pyro, 80-1)

#30 Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Into Mischief, 20-1)

#31 Secured Freedom (Tim Yakteen, Practical Joke, 90-1)

#32 Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Tacitus, 30-1)

#33 Six Speed (Bhupat Seemar, Not This Time, 50-1)

#34 So Happy (Mark Glatt, Runhappy, 40-1)

#35 Soldier N Diplomat (Steve Asmussen, Army Mule, 75-1)

#36 Solitude Dude (Saffie Joseph Jr., Yaupon, 50-1)

#37 Talk to Me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez, Modernist, 80-1)

#38 The Puma (Gustavo Delgado, Essential Quality, 90-1)

#39 Thunderously (Bill Mott, Gun Runner, 25-1)

#40 All Other 3-Year-Olds (4-1)

Along with Paladin, Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager also includes Risen Star entrants Carson Street, Chip Honcho, Courting and Golden Tempo.

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.

Other Future Wager dates are set for March 13-15 (Pool 5) and April 2-4 (Pool 6). Pool 5 also will include the Longines Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.

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.

TWINSPIRES BOOSTS KENTUCKY DERBY BETTING CHALLENGE PRIZE POOL TO $300,000; ADDS NEW $25,000 KENTUCKY OAKS BETTING CHALLENGE – TwinSpires.com will offer horseplayers expanded opportunities on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks with a guaranteed $300,000 prize pool for the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC) on Saturday, May 2, along with the debut of the $25,000 Kentucky Oaks Betting Challenge (KOBC) on Friday, May 1.

The KDBC, one of the premier live-money handicapping tournaments in horse racing, returns with the same $5,000 buy-in structure, while increasing its overall prize pool to $300,000. The newly added KOBC will have a seeded cash prize pool of $25,000 and will award one KDBC seat for every 10 entries.

Beginning Saturday, “Championship Series” races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks will anchor weekly TwinSpires tournaments, which offer qualifying opportunities for the KDBC.

KDBC Tournament Highlights:

$5,000 Total Buy-In
$3,500 Live Bankroll
$1,500 Prize Pool
Wager Types: Win, Place, Show, Daily Double, Exacta, Trifecta
Contest includes cash prizes, seats to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, 2027 National Horseplayers Championship and 2027 KDBC
KDBC Qualifying Schedule:

Date
Track
Buy-In
Saturday, Feb. 14
Fair Grounds
$800
Saturday, Feb. 21
Fair Grounds
$1,000
Saturday, Feb. 28
Oaklawn
$800
Saturday, March 7
Tampa Bay Downs/Oaklawn
$800
Saturday, March 14
Colonial Downs/Oaklawn
$800
Saturday, March 21
Turfway/Fair Grounds
$1,000
Saturday, March 28
Oaklawn
$1,000
Saturday, April 4
Keeneland
$1,000
Sunday, April 12
Keeneland
$1,000
Saturday, April 18
Keeneland
$1,000
Saturday, April 25
Churchill Downs
$1,000
Thursday, April 30
Churchill Downs
$1,000
Friday, May 1 (KOBC)
Churchill Downs
$1,000
ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD –

Here are the Top 20 horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard including a possible three invitational spots, two from the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby and one from Japan:

Position
Horse
Trainer
Resume
Possible Next Start
Points
1
Silent Tactic
Mark Casse
1st – Southwest

2nd – Smarty Jones
March 1 Rebel
25
2
Renegade
Todd Pletcher
1st – Tampa Bay Derby

2nd -- Remsen
March 28 Arkansas Derby
25
3
Intrepido
Jeff Mullins
1st – American Pharoah

2nd – Robert B. Lewis

5th – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
March 7 San Felipe
23
4
Plutarch
Bob Baffert
1st – Robert B. Lewis

3rd – American Pharoah
March 7 San Felipe
23
5
Nearly
Todd Pletcher
1st – Holy Bull
March 28 Florida Derby
20
6
Golden Tempo
Cherie DeVaux
1st – Lecomte
Feb. 14 Risen Star
20
7
Talk to Me Jimmy
Rudy Rodriguez
1st – Withers
April 4 Wood Memorial
20
8
Litmus Test
Bob Baffert
1st – Los Al Futurity

3rd – Breeders’ Futurity

4th – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
March 7 San Felipe
19
9
Chip Honcho
Steve Asmussen
1st – Gun Runner

4th -- Lecomte
Feb. 14 Risen Star
14
10
Soldier N Diplomat
Steve Asmussen
2nd – Southwest

3rd – Kentucky Jockey Club
March 1 Rebel
13
11
Universe
Kenny McPeek
2nd – Street Sense

2nd – Kentucky Jockey Club

3rd -- Champagne
Feb. 14 Risen Star
13
12
Grittiness
Todd Pletcher
2nd – Withers

5th -- Remsen
TBA
11
13
Napoleon Solo
Chad Summers
1st – Champagne
Feb. 28 Gotham or Fountain of Youth
10
14
Further Ado
Brad Cox
1st – Kentucky Jockey Club
March 7 Tampa Bay Derby
10
15
Express Kid
Justin Evans
1st – Springboard Mile
Feb. 15 Sunland Derby
10
16
Strategic Risk
Mark Casse
1st – Smarty Jones
TBA
10
17
My World
Brad Cox
1st – Jerome
Feb. 14 Saudi Derby
10
18 (Euro/Mideast)
Six Speed
Bhupat Seemar
1st – UAE Guineas
March 28 UAE Derby
20
19 (Euro/Mideast)
Puerto Rico (IRE)
Aidan O’Brien
1st – Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
March 28 UAE Derby or May 2 2000 Guineas or May 10 French 2000 Guineas
10
20 (Japan)
Pyromancer (JPN)
Keiji Yoshimura
1st – Hyacinth
March 28 UAE Derby
20
UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY RACES

Feb. 21 (10 weeks out) – $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed), 1 1/16 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 20-10-6-4-2)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Aces Honor (Ethan West); Great White (John Ennis); Time for Money (John Ennis); Two Out Hero (Kevin Attard)

Feb. 28 (nine weeks out) – $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Bravaro (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Commandment (Brad Cox); Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers); Solitude Dude (Saffie Joseph Jr.)

Feb. 28 (nine weeks out) – $300,000 Gotham (GIII), one mile, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Creole Chrome (Joe Sharp); Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers); Talkin (Danny Gargan)

March 1 (nine weeks out) -- $1 million Rebel (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Blackout Time (Kenny McPeek); Brant (Bob Baffert); Honey’s To Blame (Kenny McPeek); Mesquite (Cherie DeVaux); Silent Tactic (Mark Casse); Strategic Risk (Mark Casse).

March 7 (eight weeks out) – $200,000 San Felipe presented by DK Horse (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Brant (Bob Baffert); Litmus Test (Bob Baffert); So Happy (Mark Glatt)

March 7 (eight weeks out) – $400,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Canaletto (Chad Brown); Further Ado (Brad Cox); The Puma (Gustavo Delgado)

March 14 (seven weeks out) -- $500,000 Virginia Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Colonial Downs (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Balboa (Brittany Russell)

March 21 (six weeks out) – $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

March 21 (six weeks out) – $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

March 28 (five weeks out) – $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Renegade (Todd Pletcher)

March 28 (five weeks out) – $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Nearly (Todd Pletcher); Wayne’s Law (Amador Sanchez)

April 4 (four weeks out) – $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

April 4 (four weeks out) – $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

April 4 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Talk to me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez)

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

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.

ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility. www.ChurchillDowns.com.