Juvenile prep races feature exciting Derby, Oaks hopefuls

Oct 02, 2026 James Scully

U. S. S. Valor broke his maiden in spectacular fashion at Saratoga (Photo by Chris Rahayel/Coglianese Photos)

Exciting prospects for next spring's Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) are in action this weekend, with six graded stakes for two-year-olds carrying major implications. Along with serving as the final major prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 30, the Champagne (G1) and Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park, the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland, and the American Pharoah (G1) and Oak Leaf (G2) at Santa Anita will award qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis toward berths in the 2027 Derby and Oaks.

Here's a look at the top contenders in each race, starting with the Derby preps.

Derby preps

Champagne (G1)

U. S. S. Valor (3-5 morning line favorite): A troubled third in his early-August debut, U. S. S. Valor returned four weeks later and dominated a seven-furlong maiden special weight on the front end at Saratoga, posting a whopping 105 Brisnet Speed rating in a 13-length romp. By 2019 Preakness (G1) winner War of Will and trained by Kentucky Derby winner Shug McGaughey, U. S. S. Valor looks special entering his stakes debut in the one-mile Champagne.

Gaudreau (8-5): Winner of a key maiden at Saratoga, Gaudreau raced up close from the start and edged Coach Pope and U. S. S. Valor over 6 1/2 furlongs, earning a solid 90 Speed rating in his career debut. The Chad Brown-trained son of 2016 Derby winner Nyquist returns off a two-month rest and is a candidate to keep improving in his second start.

Club Reign (8-1): Co-owned by Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, Club Reign romped by six lengths in his career debut on the Travers Day undercard, earning a solid 87 Speed rating. Out of a mare by Bernardini—broodmare sire of the last two Derby winners—the Whit Beckman-trained colt promises to bring early speed to the Champagne.

Breeders' Futurity (G1)

Coach Pope (4-5): The University of Kentucky basketball team holds its first practice this weekend, and brilliant maiden winner Coach Pope—named for head coach Mark Pope—figures to draw plenty of local support in the Breeders' Futurity. He doesn't need it, as the Tapit colt won his second career start by 12 lengths at Churchill Downs in a fast time (99 Speed rating), and Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek is behind him.

Q B Rocket (2-1): A pair of Derby winners, trainer Brad Cox and jockey Junior Alvarado, team up with Q B Rocket, who didn't disappoint, winning his career debut at Saratoga as the favorite. The Gun Runner colt earned a fine 95 Speed rating, taking a six-furlong maiden by nearly two lengths and looks built for longer distances.

American History (4-1): It wasn't the fastest 6 1/2-furlong maiden, but American History looked the part, winning by about eight lengths in his Saratoga debut. His pedigree blends speed and stamina—his dam is a half-sibling to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Vekoma—and he’s eligible to keep progressing for two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher.

American Pharoah (G1)

Hughes (4-5): Trained by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Hughes is by three-time Derby-winning sire Into Mischief, and his first two maternal broodmare sires—Union Rags and Point Given—both won the 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1). Longer distances appear to be in his wheelhouse. He’s won his first three starts in sprints, including the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and Best Pal (G3), by a combined 18 1/2 lengths, and Hughes will stretch to two turns in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah.

Imperial Honor (9-5): A Baffert stablemate to Hughes, Imperial Honor brings high speed into his first stakes try, ripping off fast early fractions en route to a sharp 5 1/4-length debut win over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in early September. The Honor A. P. colt earned an encouraging 93 Speed rating and adds Derby-winning jockey Joel Rosario.

Oaks preps

Alcibiades (G1)

Summer Starlet (4-5): A convincing winner of her first two starts, including the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, Summer Starlet will take some beating stretching out to two turns for the first time in Friday's 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades. The City of Light filly is trained by two-time Oaks winner Steve Asmussen, with Flavien Prat picking up the mount on the fast-closing stalker.

Forever Carina (9-2): A full sister to this year's Oaks winner Always a Runner, Forever Carina rolled to a two-length win in her late-August Saratoga debut, rallying boldly from far off the pace over 6 1/2 furlongs. She shares connections with Always a Runner—trainer Chad Brown and jockey Jose Ortiz—and may appreciate the added ground Friday.

Emphatic (4-1): Her first two starts came at Colonial Downs and Monmouth, but Emphatic looked classy, winning impressively over maiden and stakes company (Sorority). Trained by Brendan Walsh, she adds hot-riding Tyler Gaffalione—the same Walsh-Gaffalione team that won the 2023 Oaks.

Frizette (G1)

Libby Lloyd (8-5): A smashing 10-length maiden winner over six furlongs at Saratoga, Libby Lloyd puts her speed on display stretching to a one-turn mile in the Frizette. The Chad Brown-trained daughter of Into Mischief posted the field's top last-out Speed rating (93) in the eye-catching win.

Rum Twist (3-1): From a classy female family, the Mark Hennig trainee is from the first crop of 2021 Derby winner Mandaloun. Rum Twist broke through in her third start, drawing away to win by nearly six lengths, and should appreciate the added ground as a stalker.

Oak Leaf (G2)

Deluge (8-5): Bred for the main track, Deluge was bet down to favoritism and posted a game win in her career debut on turf. The Maximus Mischief filly switches surfaces for three-time Oaks-winning trainer Bob Baffert and is the slight favorite over five rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf.

Holmby (9-5): After winning her first two starts, including the Sorrento (G3) at odds-on, Holmby lacked her usual late kick and finished third in the Del Mar Debutante (G1). By well-regarded first-crop sire Corniche, she may appreciate the stretch to two turns and rates as a rebound candidate for Baffert.

Quattro Passi (5-2): Favored in both career starts, Quattro Passi makes her stakes debut for Doug O'Neill after romping by 9 1/4 lengths in a Del Mar maiden in early September. The Girvin filly earned a field-best 91 Speed rating, and two-time Oaks-winning jockey Mike Smith has the mount.