Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Pennsylvania Derby

Sep 16, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

The Puma, shown winning the Tampa Bay Derby, is by 2021 Travers champion Essential Quality (Photo by SV Photography)

A strong field of 11 three-year-old horses will travel 1 1/8 miles over the dirt surface at Parx on Saturday in the lucrative, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1). The top-level race has attracted a strong field in what is expected to be a super competitive feature on a huge day of racing in the Keystone State.

The Puma is an improving colt who has performed well with the best in his division this season and will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in his local debut. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the son of young sire Essential Quality finished second in his first race at Gulfstream Park in January and followed up with a third-place effort in the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs behind Grade 1 victor Renegade.

He bagged the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his third start before missing by just a nose in the Florida Derby (G1), then went to the sidelines for nearly four months. The chestnut colt has finished a respectable fourth in both the Haskell (G1) and Travers (G1) since returning from the break and could peak while making his third run off the layoff on Saturday.

The Puma is not especially fast in the early going, but he does come home with good acceleration, and he lands in a nice spot with plenty of speed in the cast to aid his style of rallying from off the early action. Jockey Javier Castellano has ridden the sophomore in four of his six career races and will be in the saddle.

THE PUMA had his running shoes on today and pounced on the favorites at 7/1 in the G3 Tampa Bay Derby to pick up 50 points towards Kentucky Derby 152! 🏆🌹

Gustavo Delgado trains the 3YO and @jjcjockey was aboard!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/yYD0LqSu1b

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 7, 2026

Iron Honor, second in the Preakness (G1) two back before coming home a neck in front of The Puma in the Haskell, will have blinkers back on for trainer Chad Brown. The bay son of Nyquist has a good combination of speed and stamina, and the colt has trained well in advance of his first run on the course, too. Jose Ortiz will ride the win threat.

The Jonathan Thomas-trained Zihnal has improved his Brisnet Speed rating in each effort in 2026 and most recently comes off a stylish score in the West Virginia Derby (G3). The Quality Road gelding has a high cruising speed with seemingly no distance limitations, and I like his spot on the rail. He will run with blinkers on for the second time, and living legend John Velazquez retains the mount.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #6 The Puma on top of #1 Zihnal and #2 Iron Honor in the 2026 Pennsylvania Derby is the Best Bet of the Week.