Derby News

With the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Oct. 31, the focus for the best 2026 Classic contenders, a few of the big guns have already been racing.

An excellent field of six three-year-old colts will vie in Saturday’s $350,000 Perryville S. (G3) at Keeneland.

Every week, we will assess what we think are the leading contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby on the First Saturday in May, and for the Kentucky Oaks the day beforehand.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) (“CDI”) announced today the addition of three new points-bearing races on the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The UAE 2000 Guineas (Group 3), the Saudi Derby (G3) and the Dubai...

Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures Intrepido picked up 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his three-quarters of a length score in the $300,050 American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 4.

Gold Square's Napoleon Solo earned 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series after posting a dominant, 6 1/2-length triumph in the $500,000 Champagne S. (G1) at Aqueduct on Oct. 4.

Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey picked up 10 qualifying points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his 2 3/4-length tally in the $642,594 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 4.

Six horses are entered for the grass in Saturday’s $150,000 Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct. The one-mile turf race attracted some fast runners in what could be a fantastic feature in the Empire State.

Every week, we will assess what we think are the leading contenders for the 2026 Kentucky Derby on the First Saturday in May, and for the Kentucky Oaks the day beforehand.

The Coolmore partners’ Puerto Rico led all the way in Sunday’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), giving trainer Aidan O’Brien his 10th win in the historic prize for two-year-olds.