Kentucky Derby Update: The Derby Dispatch for Thursday, March 12, 2026

Mar 12, 2026

Read full Derby Dispatch here: Derby Dispatch

Seven weeks remain until the first Saturday in May and the field for the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) continues to take shape. On Saturday, the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby heads to the birthplace of Secretariat for the $500,000 Virginia Derby presented by New Kent County at Colonial Downs.

Last week, The Puma won the Tampa Bay Derby and Potente prevailed in the San Felipe to seemingly accrue enough points for a spot in the May 2 Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn, the Virginia Derby field is headlined by Zedan Racing Stables’ multiple graded stakes-placed colt Buetane, who will make his first start since finishing third to Silent Tactic and Soldier N Diplomat five weeks ago in the Southwest Stakes (GIII).

Along with the Virginia Derby, weekend action also includes Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, featuring a field of 39 individual wagering interests plus a 40th option for “All Other 3-Year-Olds.” The three-day pool opens Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager runs concurrently with the lone futures pool for the Longines Kentucky Oaks, which opens Friday at noon and closes Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

The Virginia Derby is one of nine remaining races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

BUETANE INVADES FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR VIRGINIA DERBY – Zedan Racing Stable’s multiple graded stakes placed colt Buetane headlines a field of 10 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby presented by New Kent County at Colonial Downs.

The Virginia Derby, which made its debut on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2025, is run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn. The field will go to post at 5:10 p.m. ET and fans can watch and wager on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Buetane finished third in the Feb. 5 Southwest (GIII), beaten 3 ¼ lengths to Silent Tactic and Soldier N Diplomat. Prior to that start, the son of Tiz the Law finished runner-up to champion Ted Noffey in the Hopeful (GI) and to So Happy in the San Vicente (GII). Jockey Flavien Prat has the mount on the 5-2 morning line favorite and will break from the rail.

The Virginia Derby field also includes Pin Oak Stud’s Street Sense (GIII) winner Incredibolt; Let It Ride Equine Holding III’s undefeated Lockstocknpharoah; Steve Landers Racing’s impressive October maiden winner Confessional; and OXO Equine LLC’s recent Gulfstream maiden winner High Camp.

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

Buetane (Prat, Baffert, 5-2)
Grittiness (Rajiv Maragh, Todd Pletcher, 12-1)
Epic Desire (Sheldon Russell, Todd Pletcher, 15-1)
Work (Mychel Sanchez, Doug O’Neill, 20-1)
High Camp (John Velazquez, Will Walden, 9-2)
Lockstocknpharoah (Edgar Morales, Tom Drury Jr., 5-1)
Incredibolt (Jaime Torres, Riley Mott, 10-1)
Confessional (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 4-1)
Ocelli (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman, 15-1)
Clocker Special (Cristian Torres, Rodolphe Brisset, 8-1)
VIRGINIA DERBY QUOTES

Riley Mott (trainer, Incredibolt) – “We’re going to try to redeem ourselves on Saturday. We’ll sure need to after that race at Gulfstream (Holy Bull). I think it was mostly just a matter of him disliking the track surface. Whether that had to do with it being deeper on the inside, I’m not sure, but he certainly didn’t get a hold of it at any point.”
Will Walden (trainer, Highcamp) – “I thought the race was very professional (when he broke his maiden). What I’ve seen is that when you get him out in the clear and give him room, he seems to make a pretty strong run. And it’s not like they were walking home. They came home in about 12 and three or 12 and four, so they were running. … One thing I’ve noticed in both of his first two starts is he kind of stalled out a little. When Brad’s horse (Waymark) passed him in the first race, it looked like he might get distanced, but with really good riders – like Johnny (Velazquez) – when a horse gets passed like that in the lane and they still feel like they have something left, they’ll angle outside and try to make another run. That’s exactly what Johnny did.”
HOW TO WATCH THE VIRGINIA DERBY

FanDuel TV will provide live, on-site coverage
Watch and wager online with www.TwinSpires.com while enjoy live, on-site coverage from Megan Devine
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:

Thursday

Cnl R2 (1 p.m.), OC 62500n1x, 3yo, 1 M (six entries)
Friday

Cnl R2 (1 p.m.), Mdn 75k, 3yo f, 1 M (six entries)
Saturday

Cnl R4 (1:45 p.m.), Mdn 75k, 3yo, 1 M (eight entries)
GP R7 (3:52 p.m.), Mdn 84k, 3yo, 7 F (10 entries)
Cnl R8 (4:25 p.m.), $250,000 Virginia Oaks, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M (six entries)
Cnl R9 (5:10 p.m.), $500,000 Virginia Derby presented by New Kent County, 3yo, 1 1/8 M (10 entries)
FG R7 (7:20 p.m.), Mdn 54k, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M (seven entries)
PALADIN 5-1 FAVORITE IN DERBY FUTURE WAGER; ZANY 3-1 CHOICE IN OAKS FUTURE WAGER – As the countdown to the 152nd runnings of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) continues, fans will have another opportunity to wager on their favorites in the fifth pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which begins Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and closes Sunday evening.

Both pools feature $2 Win and Exacta wagering, as well as a separate Oaks/Derby Future Double linking selections in both races. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager closes Sunday at 6 p.m. (all times Eastern) while the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager remains open until 6:30 p.m.

Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is headlined by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and Summer Wind Equine’s Fasig-Tipton Risen Star (GII) winner Paladin. The talented son of Gun Runner is expected to make his next start in the April 4 Blue Grass (GI) as his final prep for the Kentucky Derby.

Also included in the 39 individual interests are Wathnan Racing’s Fountain of Youth (GII) winner Commandment (6-1) and Centennial Farm’s Holy Bull (GIII) winner Nearly (8-1). The pool also includes a 40th interest for “All Other 3-Year-Olds” not listed among the other 39.

In the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, Repole Stable’s Zany was made the morning line favorite in the field of 39 3-year-old fillies and a 40th interest for “All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies” not listed. A daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Zany’s resumé includes victories in the Demoiselle (GII) and Suncoast Stakes (Listed).

Other top interests include Godolphin’s Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (GII) winner Bella Ballerina (6-1); Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s multiple graded stakes winner Explora (10-1); and Calumet Farm’s Davona Dale (GII) winner She Be Smooth (10-1).

The field for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager:

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

#2 Brant (Bob Baffert, Gun Runner, 40-1)

#3 Buetane (Bob Baffert, Tiz the Law, 50-1)

#4 Canaletto (Chad Brown, Into Mischief, 30-1)

#5 Cherokee Nation (Bob Baffert, Not This Time, 20-1)

#6 Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, Constitution, 10-1)

#7 Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen, Connect, 50-1)

#8 Class President (Todd Pletcher, Uncle Mo, 20-1)

#9 Commandment (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, 6-1)

#10 Confessional (Brad Cox, Essential Quality, 90-1)

#11 Danon Bourbon (Manabu Ikezoe, Maxfield, 75-1)

#12 Emerging Market (Chad Brown, Candy Ride, 40-1)

#13 Express Kid (Justin Evans, Bodexpress, 75-1)

#14 Fulleffort (Brad Cox, Liam's Map, 90-1)

#15 Further Ado (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, 20-1)

#16 Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Curlin, 30-1)

#17 Great White (John Ennis, Volatile, 50-1)

#18 Incredibolt (Riley Mott, Bolt d'Oro, 90-1)

#19 Intrepido (Jeff Mullins, Maximus Mischief, 50-1)

#20 Iron Honor (Chad Brown, Nyquist, 25-1)

#21 Litmus Test (Bob Baffert, Nyquist, 50-1)

#22 Lucky Kid (JPN) (Yukihiro Kato, Discreet Cat, 90-1)

#23 Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, Liam’s Map, 60-1)

#24 Nearly (Todd Pletcher, Not This Time, 8-1)

#25 Paladin (Chad Brown, Gun Runner, 5-1)

#26 Pavlovian (Doug O'Neill, Pavel, 90-1)

#27 Potente (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 15-1)

#28 Pyromancer (JPN) (Keiji Yoshimura, Pyro, 90-1)

#29 Reagan’s Honor (Cherie DeVaux, Honor A.P., 25-1)

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

#31 Robusta (Doug O'Neill, Accelerate, 40-1)

#32 Salloom (Bhupat Seemar, Authentic, 90-1)

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

#34 Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Tacitus, 20-1)

#35 Six Speed (Bhupat Seemar, Not This Time, 90-1)

#36 So Happy (Mark Glatt, Runhappy, 90-1)

#37 Stark Contrast (Michael McCarthy, Caravaggio, 90-1)

#38 Talk to Me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez, Modernist, 90-1)

#39 The Puma (Gustavo Delgado, Essential Quality, 25-1)

#40 All Other 3-Year-Olds (12-1)

The field for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager:

#1 A. P.’s Girl (Peter Eurton, Honor A.P., 90-1)

#2 Bank Shot (Ryan Hanson, Game Winner, 30-1)

#3 Bella Ballerina (Brendan Walsh, Street Sense, 6-1)

#4 Bottle of Rouge (Bob Baffert, Vino Rosso, 20-1)

#5 Brooklyn Blonde (Michael McCarthy, Gun Runner, 90-1)

#6 Counting Stars (Mark Casse, Honor A.P., 20-1)

#7 Dazzling Dame (Brittany Russell, Girvin, 30-1)

#8 Explora (Bob Baffert, Blame, 10-1)

#9 Forced Entry (Bob Baffert, Charlatan, 15-1)

#10 French Blue (Bob Baffert, Gun Runner, 50-1)

#11 French Friction (Mark Casse, City of Light, 60-1)

#12 Hit Parade (Brad Cox, Street Sense, 50-1)

#13 Just Singing (Kent Sweezey, Justify, 50-1)

#14 Kadabra (Todd Pletcher, Good Magic, 90-1)

#15 Knickleandime (Randy Morse, Knicks Go, 90-1)

#16 Labwah (Salem bin Ghadayer, Charlatan, 80-1)

#17 Life of Joy (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, 20-1)

#18 Love and Trust (Cherie DeVaux, Constitution, 90-1)

#19 Luv Your Neighbor (Mike Stidham, Constitution, 30-1)

#20 Market Chill (Chad Brown, Not This Time, 90-1)

#21 Maximum Offer (Kenny McPeek, Maxfield, 60-1)

#22 Meaning (Michael McCarthy, Gun Runner, 15-1)

#23 My Miss Mo (Saffie Joseph Jr., Uncle Mo, 50-1)

#24 Newtown Pike (Lindsay Schultz, McKinzie, 60-1)

#25 Nycon (Whit Beckman, Nyquist, 80-1)

#26 On Time Girl (Brad Cox, Not This Time, 50-1)

#27 Paradise (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, 30-1)

#28 Pashmina (Rob Atras, Constitution, 90-1)

#29 Percy’s Bar (Ben Colebrook, Upstart, 30-1)

#30 Powered by Family (Cherie DeVaux, Quality Road, 30-1)

#31 Prom Queen (Brad Cox, Quality Road, 20-1)

#32 Resplendence (Paulo Lobo, Justify, 30-1)

#33 Search Party (Mark Casse, Gun Runner, 50-1)

#34 She Be Smooth (Todd Pletcher, Lexitonian, 10-1)

#35 Sneaky Good (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, 50-1)

#36 Sticker Shock (Brad Cox, Uncle Mo, 30-1)

#37 Swing Vote (Bill Mott, Constitution, 80-1)

#38 Taken by the Wind (Kenny McPeek, Rock Your World, 80-1)

#39 Zany (Todd Pletcher, American Pharoah, 3-1)

#40 All Other 3-Year-Old Fillies (20-1)

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.

The final Future Wager date is set for April 2-4 (Pool 6).

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 continues Saturday at Colonial Downs for the $250,000 Virginia Oaks. The top five finishers will be awarded qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale toward the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs. … The barn area at Churchill Downs is scheduled to open Tuesday, with the first day of training on Wednesday.

UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY RACES

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Autobahn (Brad Cox); Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen); Easterly (Brad Cox); Emerging Market (Chad Brown); Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux); Universe (Kenny McPeek)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Argos (Brad Cox); Baytown Dreamer (Paul McEntee); Brave Force (Jack Sisterson); Chaos Agent (Josie Carroll); Fulleffort (Brad Cox); Great White (John Ennis); Maximus Prime (Anthony Mitchell); Stark Contrast (Michael McCarthy); Steel Imperium (Caio Caramori); Turf Star (Graham Motion); Two Out Hero (Kevin Attard)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Blackout Time (Kenny McPeek); Bricklin (Rodolphe Brisset); Litmus Test (Bob Baffert); Renegade (Todd Pletcher); Silent Tactic (Mark Casse)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott); Commandment (Brad Cox); Nearly (Todd Pletcher); The Puma (Gustavo Delgoado); Wayne’s Law (Amador Sanchez)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Brant (Bob Baffert); Commandment (Brad Cox); Further Ado (Brad Cox); Paladin (Chad Brown); Reagan’s Honor (Cherie DeVaux); The Puma (Gustavo Delgado)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Blacksmith (Bob Baffert); Cherokee Nation (Bob Baffert); Intrepido (Jeff Mullins); Pavlovian (Doug O’Neill); Potente (Bob Baffert); Robusta (Doug O’Neill); Secured Freedom (Tim Yakteen); So Happy (Mark Glatt)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Bravaro (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Express Kid (Justin Evans); Iron Honor (Chad Brown); Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers); Ottinho (Chad Brown); Red Zone Runner (Hugo Padilla); Talk to Me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez)

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

Known possible starters (with trainer): Canaletto (Chad Brown)

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.