Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Chief Wallabee

Apr 14, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Chief Wallabee wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Michael Ball and Katherine Ball’s three-year-old named Chief Wallabee has compiled 50 qualifying points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series and currently sits in 18th place on the leaderboard to secure his slot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on May 2.

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Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, who conditioned champion Sovereignty to a win in the Run for the Roses in 2025, Chief Wallabee commenced his career in a maiden special weight heat at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10 and was an impressive winner in his first lifetime appearance. The son of fine sire Constitution was then placed in the graded stakes ranks to contest the Fountain of Youth (G2) at the same venue on Feb. 28, and he made a sustained run before ultimately finishing a close second to Commandment in his first stakes race. He was last seen checking in a close third in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 7, and his career mark reads 3-1-1-1, $216,600.

Chief Wallabee has arrived at @ChurchillDowns pic.twitter.com/YtKGiXazDQ

— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 14, 2026

The sophomore colt was bred in the Bluegrass State by his owners and is the first winner produced from the unraced Medaglia d’Oro mare named A La Lucie. His second dam is the Grade-3 winning Ghostzapper mare named Gloryzapper.

Chief Wallabee has registered Brisnet Speed ratings of 96-103-100 from his trio of races to date, and he fits well with the upper echelon of horses heading into the Kentucky Derby. He has also earned triple-digit Late Pace ratings in every start, led by a monstrous 117 figure in his latest run, which indicates that stretching out to classic distances should not pose a problem for the horse going forward. The bay has obvious room for improvement with just three races to his credit, and he is also in great hands to move forward at Churchill Downs in May, as well. Regular rider Junior Alvarado will be in the saddle atop the serious contender in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

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