After major prep races, which horses are set to run in 2026 Kentucky Derby?

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Less than 35 days remain until the 2026 running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

With the race set for May 2, the projected 20-horse field for the 152nd edition of the Derby is becoming clear.

This past weekend featured four major prep races on the road to Derby 152. Both domestically and internationally, the results of these top qualifying races mean that several horses and their connections have already secured spots in the expected Derby field.

On Saturday on the American Road to the Kentucky Derby, Commandment won the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and Renegade won the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Each of those races awarded 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, which means Commandment and Renegade are assured of a starting spot in the Derby.

Commandment is now the top Kentucky Derby qualifier

Commandment — trained by Louisville native Brad Cox and ridden by jockey Flavien Prat — ran down The Puma in the closing stages to win the Florida Derby in a thrilling photo finish.

You can expect Commandment, a winner in four straight races, to be one of the favorites in this year’s Kentucky Derby. The horse already has won at Churchill Downs, as the first win of his career came in November in a maiden special weight race at the Louisville track.

Also of note? Seven of the last 20 Kentucky Derby winners previously ran in the Florida Derby.

With wins in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Commandment has banked 150 qualifying points on the American pathway to the Kentucky Derby. That’s more than any other horse.

The second-place runner in Saturday’s Florida Derby, The Puma, will also be taking part in the Run for the Roses. The Puma’s 106 Kentucky Derby qualifying points are plenty to earn a spot in the Derby starting gate. He’s secured Derby qualifying points in three different races in the past two months: A third-place finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, a win in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs and Saturday’s runner-up effort in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Adding to The Puma’s profile as a potential Kentucky Derby contender are his connections. Trainer Gustavo Delgado conditioned the 2023 Derby winner, Mage. Jockey Javier Castellano was aboard Mage for that 2023 Derby win, and he’s ridden The Puma in three of his four career races.

Another horse from the Florida Derby that’s likely to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate is Chief Wallabee, the third-place finisher who has 50 qualifying points. The horse — which ran second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes in late February — is trained by Bill Mott, who won the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty and the 2019 Derby, by disqualification, with Country House.

Nearly, a Todd Pletcher trainee who ran fourth in the Florida Derby, could potentially get into the Kentucky Derby field with his 35 qualifying points.

Renegade secures Kentucky Derby spot with win in Arkansas

Renegade, trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Pletcher, was impressive in his Arkansas Derby victory, which came by four lengths. Renegade — who has finished in the money in all five of his career starts — now has 125 qualifying points for the Derby, the second-most of any horse.

One of the owners of Renegade is Mike Repole, a well-known horse racing figure who is known for co-founding Glacéau (maker of Vitaminwater) and BodyArmor SuperDrink, a sports drink manufacturer. Repole is also a major source of NIL funds for the St. John’s men’s basketball program. Repole has had several Kentucky Derby runners in recent years, including Mo Donegal (fifth in 2022) and Fierceness (15th in 2024).

Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic will also be in the Kentucky Derby field. The Mark Casse trainee has earned 100 Derby qualifying points thanks to consistent prep season performances. Silent Tactic has finished either first or second in all six of his career starts. That includes three second-place efforts this year in Derby prep races at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. Silent Tactic also won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at the same track in early February.

Danon Bourbon, Wonder Dean (JPN) lock up international spots for Kentucky Derby

Internationally, both the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby came to an end this weekend.

Wonder Dean (JPN) won the Grade 2, $1 million UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as part of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Derby. He’ll be Kentucky Derby-bound, as will second-place finisher Six Speed.

Wonder Dean is the fifth straight Japanese horse to win the UAE Derby. A Japan-bred horse has never won the Kentucky Derby, but Forever Young finished third in the 2024 event. Wonder Dean’s trainer, Daisuke Takayanagi, conditioned fifth-place Kentucky Derby finisher T O Password in 2024.

Six Speed is trained by Bhupat Seemar, who has saddled a Derby contender before. Seemar’s Summer Is Tomorrow finished in last place in the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky-bred Danon Bourbon is also heading to the Derby from the Japanese qualifying pathway. Danon Bourbon improved to a perfect 3-for-3 in his racing career with a win in the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.

Notably, Danon Bourbon was not the first choice to make the Kentucky Derby field from the Japanese pathway. Both Danon Bourbon and Don Erectus (JPN) are credited with 40 qualifying points from prep races. Don Erectus also has more career earnings, which is the tiebreaker used to determine which horse from the Japanese pathway qualifies for the Kentucky Derby.

Don Erectus’ connections haven’t nominated the horse for the Triple Crown, though. As such, Danon Bourbon will claim the Japanese qualification spot and take part in the Run for the Roses.

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