Daily Derby Update: April 25, 2026

ALBUS/INCREDIBOLT – Trainer Riley Mott pushed workouts for his two trainees to Sunday morning.

“The track was a little heavy this morning,” Mott said before sending Albus and Incredibolt out for mile and a half gallops. Antonio Garcia was on Albus, the Wood Memorial (GII) winner and Charlotte O’Connell partnered Incredibolt, winner of the Virginia Derby.

CHIEF WALLABEE – Mike and Kay Kay Ball’s Chief Wallabee visited the paddock under Marvin Orantes and galloped a mile and a half.

Trainer Bill Mott plans to work Chief Wallabee Sunday morning.

“That’s the plan,” Mott said. “The weather is looking a little sketchy for Monday.”

CHIP HONCHO – Trainer Steve Asmussen reported that Chip Honcho would bypass Kentucky Derby 152 and target the Preakness Stakes (GI) on Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park.

COMMANDMENT/FULLEFFORT/FURTHER ADO – Trainer Brad Cox’s Kentucky Derby trio of Wathnan Racing’s Commandment, St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing’s Fulleffort and Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado all recorded their final published works Saturday morning prior to Kentucky Derby 152.

Further Ado was first to the track at 5:15 a.m., breezing five furlongs in 1:00 with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard. The Blue Grass (GI) winner worked through an opening quarter-mile in :24.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

“I was very pleased with how he went,” Velazquez said. “I started paying attention to him after riding against him at Keeneland in his maiden race. He’s a very nice horse.”

Minutes later, Florida Derby (GI) winner Commandment worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 outside stablemate Rock Music. The colt covered his opening quarter-mile in :25.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.40.

“He’s a unique horse and doesn’t do a whole lot in his training, but his move today was exactly what we wanted a week out from the Derby,” Cox said. “You could tell in his gallop-out once he got by his workmate, his ears went up like he knew he was finished with the work.”

During the 7:15 a.m. Kentucky Derby exclusive training window, Fulleffort worked five furlongs in :59. The Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) winner posted fractions of :12.80, :24.60, :36.20 and :47.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.60.

“He’s continued to impress us on the dirt, and today was no different,” Cox said. “He’s worked like a different horse over this surface than when he was here as a 2-year-old.”

DANON BOURBON – Danox Co. Ltd.’s Danon Bourbon made his first appearance over the Churchill Downs oval Saturday morning, jogging one lap accompanied by a pony. He’s scheduled to have a similar training session Sunday.

EMERGING MARKET – Klaravich Stables’ Emerging Market walked Barn 25 Saturday following his four-furlong move in :47.60 Friday at Churchill Downs.

GOLDEN TEMPO – Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Golden Tempo arrived at Churchill Downs Saturday morning at 8:30 from Keeneland.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Golden Tempo had worked a half-mile in company in :47.40 Friday morning at Keeneland.

GREAT WHITE – Three Chimneys Farm and trainer John Ennis’ Great White arrived at Churchill Downs after 8 a.m. after vanning from Lexington this morning.

INTREPIDO – Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures' Intrepido did a double tour of the big Churchill Downs oval Saturday morning during the special training sessions for Derby and Oaks horses between 7:15 and 7:30. Regular exercise rider Alejandro Galindo was in the irons.

"We jogged a little and galloped some," Galindo offered back at Barn 41. "He felt just fine."

Galindo also noted that the colt's regular rider, Hector I. Berrios, would be onsite to handle his final drill Sunday morning.

LITMUS TEST/POTENTE – Trainer Bob Baffert's duo for Derby 152 – Speedway Stables' Potente and SF Racing, Starlight Racing and partners' Litmus Test – moved forward toward the mile and a quarter classic in their own way Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Potente had exercise rider Humberto Gomez in the boot for a gallop of a mile and three-eighths during the special training period between 7:15 and 7:30.

Litmus Test, who turned in a sharp five-furlong drill in :59 Thursday under rider Martin Garcia, was only a shedrow walker Saturday.

Potente is scheduled to put in his final work for the Run for the Roses Sunday morning with regular rider Juan Hernandez in from California to do the steering.

Litmust Test was listed as No. 21 and not in the big race early Saturday morning. Baffert was asked what "Plan B" for his colt was should he not make the race.

"No Plan B," the conditioner stated emphatically, and presciently.

As it turned out there was no need for a Plan B. Litmus Test is a go and he'll have Garcia on his back for the 10-furlong classic.

PAVLOVIAN – Reddam Racing's Pavlovian, the homebred gray/roan by the California stallion Pavel, put in a one-mile jog Saturday morning during the 7:15 to 7:30 special training session for Derby and Oaks horses at Churchill Downs. Stable overseer Tony Romero was at the controls for the exercise.

The colt will be making his 11th start in Derby 152, the most of any runner in the 20-horse lineup. But first he'll have to put in a final work tomorrow morning -- with Edwin Maldonado, the California-based rider who'll handle him in the Derby, on board -- and trainer Doug O'Neill watching from the backside.

Romero, who has been with the colt since Day one, passed on a bit of information that might be of interest to fans should the weather turn wet heading into next Saturday's Run for the Roses.

"He likes the mud," Romero offered. "If it rains, we'll like it."

RENEGADE – Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable’s Renegade arrived at Churchill Downs at 2:45 Saturday morning after departing Palm Beach Downs in South Florida at 8:20 Friday morning.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Saturday afternoon.

RIGHT TO PARTY – Chester Broman Sr.’s Right to Party worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 Saturday morning in company with Very Connected for trainer Kenny McPeek. The colt worked with exercise rider/assistant trainer Robby Albarado inside his stablemate in his final major move prior to Kentucky Derby 152.

“I put him inside today,” McPeek said. “I think he is more focused inside. I wasn’t worried about time today, happy to get this last work in.”

McPeek said the colt had a couple of loose caps in his mouth earlier in the week that affected his training, but after having horse dentist Marty Hissle address the issue, he moved much better Saturday.

Chris Elliott has the mount in Kentucky Derby 152.

SILENT TACTIC – John Oxley’s Silent Tactic returned to the track a little before 6 a.m. to jog for 15 minutes in the mile chute with Dass Garcia aboard.

The Mark Casse trainee had worked a half-mile in :48 on Thursday and walked the shedrow Friday.

SIX SPEED – UAE Derby (GII) runner-up Six Speed galloped during the 7:15 a.m. training window with Declan Cannon aboard. The colt trains in a hood and shadow roll and will be ridden in Kentucky Derby 152 by Brian Hernandez Jr., who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby aboard Mystik Dan.

SO HAPPY – Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner So Happy walked the shedrow following his Friday morning breeze at Churchill Downs.

THE PUMA – Florida Derby (GI) runner-up The Puma galloped about 1 ½ miles Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr.

WONDER DEAN (JPN) – Yoshinari Yamamoto’s Wonder Dean had an easy day Saturday, walking around Barn 17 following his six-furlong work Friday as he continues preparations for Kentucky Derby 152.

SHAPING UP: THE $5 MILLION KENTUCY DERBY PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE (GI) – Here is the top 20 preference list for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) in alphabetical order (with jockey and trainer): Albus (Manny Franco, Riley Mott); Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Commandment (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Danon Bourbon (Atsuya Nishimura, Manabu Ikezoe); Emerging Market (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); Further Ado (John Velazquez, Brad Cox); Fulleffort (Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox); Golden Tempo (Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux); Incredibolt (Jaime Torres, Riley Mott); Intrepido (Hector Berrios, Jeff Mullins); Litmus Test (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert); Pavlovian (Edwin Maldonado, Doug O’Neill); Potente (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert); Renegade (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Right to Party (Chris Elliott, Kenny McPeek); Silent Tactic (Cristian Torres, Mark Casse); Six Speed (Brian Hernandez Jr., Bhupat Seemar); So Happy (Mike Smith, Mark Glatt); The Puma (Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado); Wonder Dean (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Daisuke Takayanagi). Also Eligibles: Great White (Alex Achard, John Ennis); Ocelli (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman); Robusta (Emisael Jaramillo, Doug O’Neill); Corona de Oro (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart)


LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE

ALWAYS A RUNNER – Gazelle (GIII) winner Always a Runner walked trainer Chad Brown’s Barn 25 Saturday morning following her Friday half-mile move in :48.40.

BELLA BALLERINA – Godolphin’s Bella Ballerina walked in trainer Brendan Walsh’s barn Saturday morning and is expected to go back to the track Sunday.

BOTTLE OF ROUGE/EXPLORA – Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Explora and Jill Baffert's Bottle of Rouge both stretched their legs Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in advance of their dates next Friday in the Grade I Longines Oaks.

Explora, who'll go the nine furlongs of the Oaks with champion jockey Flavien Prat on her back, was out at 5:45 a.m. with exercise rider Humbeto Gomez at the controls. She galloped a mile and a quarter and "felt good," according to her pilot.

Bottle of Rouge also went a mile and a quarter, though she did it during the special 7:15 to 7:30 special training time for Derby and Oaks horses with exercise rider Talia Viscusi doing the driving. Hall of Famer Mike Smith is scheduled to be aboard the daughter of Vino Rosso come Friday. 

BROOKLYN BLONDE/MEANING – The duo of soph fillies who train out of Michael McCarthy's Barn 27 on the Churchill Downs backside merely walked the shedrow Saturday morning after both had turned in works Friday leading up to potential starts in next Friday's Run for the Lillies.

Meaning, who races for Brindlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, is a go for the nine-furlong classic and she'll be handled by the top California rider Juan Hernandez. "Brooklyn," who flies the silks of Sun-Kissed Stables and Bobby Flay, made the Oaks field as of entry time and will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura.

McCarthy was asked how his two lassies had come out of their exercises from the day before. "No complaints," he noted.

COUNTING STARS/SEARCH PARTY – The Mark Casse-trained Oaks duo of West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars and Tracy Farmer’s Search Party returned to the track a little before 6 a.m. to jog for 15 minutes in the mile chute.

Search Party, who had Elver Vargas up this morning, worked a half-mile in :47.60 on Thursday and Counting Stars, who had Froylan Garcia aboard today, worked a half in :48.60 on Thursday. Both walked the shedrow Friday.

DAZZLING DAME – Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables’ Dazzling Dame, returning to Churchill Downs for the first time since finishing fourth in last September’s Pocahonas (GIII), jogged a mile under exercise rider Emma Wolfe.

LORELEI LEE – Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) winner Lorelei Lee will bypass the Kentucky Oaks and instead run in the $600,000 Edgewood presented by Accenture (GII).

MY MISS MO – Averill Racing, Mathis Stable and Tristan De Meric’s My Miss Mo arrived at Churchill Downs from Gulfstream Park Saturday morning following an overnight van ride.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Sunday.

PARADISE/PROM QUEEN – Gary and Mary West’s Prom Queen walked trainer Brad Cox’s shedrow Saturday morning and expected to go back to the track Sunday.

Gazelle (GIII) third-place finisher Paradise will not enter the Kentucky Oaks, according to Cox.

PASHMINA – Red White and Blue Racing’s Pashmina worked a half-mile in :49.60 with Jesse Sauter aboard for trainer Rob Atras.

“The track was kind of deep and sticky, but she did it easy,” Sauter said.

Atras was pleased with the work from Pashmina, whose Oaks appearance will mark a fifth track at which she has raced.

“I thought she worked great,” Atras said. “She got going at the four and a half and he let her pick it up down the lane.

“She’s been all over,” Atras added regarding Pashmina’s travels that have taken her to Keeneland, Fair Grounds, Sunland Park and Aqueduct. “I think that helps coming to a new track that she has done well before.”

PERCY’S BAR – Hat Creek Racing’s Percy’s Bar arrived at Churchill Downs at 8:30 Saturday morning after leaving her home base at Keeneland for trainer Ben Colebrook.

SHE BE SMOOTH/ZANY – Calumet Farm’s She Be Smooth and Repole Stable’s Zany arrived at Churchill Downs at 2:45 Saturday morning after departing Palm Beach Downs in South Florida at 8:20 Friday morning.

However, trainer Todd Pletcher did not enter She Be Smooth in the Oaks.

“I didn’t feel she was ready,” Pletcher said.

SHAPING UP: The $5 MILLION LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS – Here is the top 14 preference list for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) in alphabetical order (with jockey and trainer): Always a Runner (Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown), Bella Ballerina (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh), Bottle of Rouge (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert), Brooklyn Blonde (Kazushi Kimura, Michael McCarthy), Counting Stars (Francisco Arrieta, Mark Casse), Dazzling Dame (Luis Saez, Brittany Russell) Explora (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert), Meaning (Juan Hernandez, Michael McCarthy), My Miss Mo (Micah Husbands, Saffie Joseph Jr.), Pashmina (Ramon Vazquez, Rob Atras), Percy’s Bar (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook), Prom Queen (Javier Castellano, Brad Cox), Search Party (Cristian Torres, Mark Casse), She Be Smooth (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), Zany (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher).