Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Emerging Market

Mar 25, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Emerging Market wins the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)

Klaravich Stables’ three-year-old named Emerging Market loomed up to the leader in the stretch and got up by a head under the wire in taking the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 21. He earned 100 qualifying points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series for his great effort, and the colt clocked 1 3/16 miles on the fast dirt surface in 1:55.18 with Flavien Prat in the controls.

“In his first race, he showed a lot of professionalism,” Prat said. “I was a little worried about the nine-hole, but we worked out a good trip. He fought hard. It was a good run, very professional. Honestly, when I turned for home, I thought I would win easily, but Pavlovian gave us a good challenge.”

Pavlovian was game in second, while it was another length back to Golden Tempo in third. Universe was well back in finishing fourth, and second choice Chip Honcho came next when crossing the wire in fifth. The second-through-fifth place finishers in the race earned Derby qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10 scale.

What a finish! 👀

🌹 100 Kentucky Derby points goes to EMERGING MARKET, rises to the moment in the G2 https://t.co/EynbFb3eBd Louisiana Derby at @fairgroundsnola!

Chad Brown trains and Flavien Prat was aboard.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/w5P3wLeQgc

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 21, 2026

The Chad Brown-trained Emerging Market made his debut on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs and came out victorious in a two-turn race over a game foe. From two career starts, the chestnut colt has a lifetime line of 2-2-0-0, with earnings of $618,880.

Emerging Market was bred in Kentucky by Stoneriggs Farm and was purchased for a reasonable $185,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The son of the outstanding Candy Ride is the first stakes winner produced from the Empire Maker mare named Wild Empress, who is a half-sister to Grade-1 winning champion She Be Wild.

The unbeaten horse lacks the experience of most of his three-year-old counterparts, but he has been very good in both runs to date and has also registered healthy Brisnet Speed ratings of 99 and 102 from his two races this season, too. His pedigree and running style both indicate that classic distances will be well within his scope, and he also has room to improve with just two races under his belt as of now, too. The exciting horse could make his next run in the Kentucky Derby.