Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Express Kid

Dec 22, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Express Kid upsets the Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)

Steve Haahr’s Express Kid picked up 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby following his impressive, 6 1/4-length romp in the $300,000 Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park on Dec. 20. The two-year-old colt led from gate-to-wire and completed the eight furlongs on the fast main surface in 1:38.99 for trainer Wade Rarick and jockey Jose Alvarez.

Arctic Beast, Royalamerican, Western Man, and Way Beyond rounded out the top five across the wire and accumulated qualifying points on a 5-3-2-1 basis.

Express Kid won at first asking in a 4 1/2-furlong heat at Canterbury Park on July 3 and was a runner-up in his stakes debut at Prairie Meadows second time out. The bay colt was well back when finishing sixth in the Clever Trevor S. at Remington in his third appearance, and he preceded his upset score in the Springboard Mile with an allowance triumph on the turf at the same venue on Nov. 6. His lifetime line now reads 5-3-1-0, $236,902.

Express Kid upsets in the Remington Springboard Mile worth 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby! Congrats! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/UXlXgGu0TB

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) December 21, 2025

The son of Bodexpress was bred in the Golden State by Richard Barton Enterprises and is the first stakes victor produced from the winning Street Sense mare Sensationalize. He passed through the auction ring on a pair of occasions, first being a $12,000 RNA at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearling Sale prior to bringing a final bid of just $2,000 at the 2024 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Fall Mixed Sale.

Express Kid earned a lifetime best Brisnet Speed rating of 91 in his first route attempt in the win, and the bargain purchase has some stamina influences on his dam’s side, as well. According to his connections, the youngster could make his next appearance at Oaklawn Park for his three-year-old debut.