Kentucky Derby Update for Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Danon Bourbon, Wonder Dean (JPN) Work Toward Derby 152

Apr 28, 2026 Kevin Kerstein

DANON BOURBON, WONDER DEAN (JPN) WORK TOWARD DERBY 152

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Tuesday, April 28, 2026) – Two Japanese-based runners turned in half-mile works Tuesday morning over a Churchill Downs track that was upgraded to fast after the first harrow break following overnight rain.

Breezing during the 7:15-7:30 (all times Eastern) training window for Kentucky Derby, Oaks and prior Derby winners, Danox Co. Ltd.’s undefeated Danon Bourbon worked a half-mile in :52.80 with a final quarter-mile in :24.20 for trainer Manabu Ikezoe.

Yoshinari Yamamoto’s Wonder Dean (JPN) worked a half-mile in :54.60 with a final quarter-mile in :26.40. Wonder Dean, trained by Daisuke Takayanagi, had worked six furlongs in 1:17.80 here on Friday.

KENTUCKY DERBY UPDATE

ALBUS/INCREDIBOLT

Pin Oak Stud’s Albus and Incredibolt galloped a mile with Antonio Garcia astride the former and Charlotte O’Connell the latter for trainer Riley Mott during the special Kentucky Derby and Oaks training period from 7:15-7:30 a.m.

Horses for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby will be loaded into the starting gate in two tiers with posts 1 and 11 loading first and then moving outward.

Albus has post 2 and Incredibolt the 11 which means they could be in the gate longer than most of the field.

“Neither one of them has had any gate issues,” Mott said after his initial two Derby entrants returned to the barn from their activity over a track labeled as fast.

Both horses have run all their races on fast tracks and this morning “they floated over the track,” Mott said of the activity over a surface that had plenty of moisture in it.

“There is no reason to believe they won’t (handle an off track),” Mott said. “But you never know until you try it.”

Albus and Incredibolt were scheduled to school in the paddock with horses in this afternoon’s fifth race.

CHIEF WALLABEE

Trainer Bill Mott sent Chief Wallabee out for a gallop at 7:15 with Marvin Orantes aboard.

Third in the Florida Derby (GI) in his most recent start, Chief Wallabee is owned by Mike and Kay Kay Ball.

“I have known Mike and Kay Kay for more than 40 years and this is the first horse that I have trained for them,” Mott said.

Chief Wallabee will exit post 12 in the Derby and be one of the first horses to load in the 20-horse field.

“He hasn’t had any problems at the gate,” Mott said. “He’s been pretty good.”

COMMANDMENT/FULLEFFORT/FURTHER ADO

Trainer Brad Cox’s Kentucky Derby trio of Wathnan Racing’s Commandment, St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing’s Fulleffort and Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado were all out early Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

At 5:15 a.m., Commandment, with assistant trainer and exercise rider Katie Tolbert aboard, jogged about one mile before galloping 1 ¼ miles.

Close behind, Fulleffort and exercise rider Edvin Vargas followed the same routine.

Nearly 90 minutes later, Further Ado, accompanied by exercise rider Jonathan Santiago, jogged in the chute before galloping 1 ¼ miles.

DANON BOURBON

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee Danon Bourbon completed his final serious move prior to Kentucky Derby 152 Tuesday morning, breezing a half-mile in :52.80 under assistant trainer Satoshi Oshita.

The colt began his move from the finish line, galloping in about :15-second furlongs before increasing his speed once he reached the half-mile pole and finishing his final furlong in :12.60. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe is scheduled to arrive Friday.

Kate Hunter, speaking on behalf of Danon Bourbon’s connections, said the colt continues to handle Churchill Downs well.

“He seems to be moving over the track well and they are really hopeful his pedigree will shine through,” Hunter said.

Hunter noted the team was pleased with Tuesday’s move.

“I think a ‘breeze’ may not be entirely accurate with what they like to do the week of a race, but they were very happy with how he went,” Hunter said. “They have already put in their most serious work, and when they get here, it is more about just waking him up and letting him know it is just about race time.”

Though Danon Bourbon never has raced around a left-handed turn, Hunter said that should not be a concern.

“The training centers in Japan are ambidextrous, so at a certain time of the day, they switch directions,” Hunter said. “So he has experience training both ways.”

Hunter also joked about the possibility of a Japanese-trained horse winning the Kentucky Derby.

“My goal in life is to be some American trainer’s worst nightmare, to bring over a Japanese horse that’s going to ruin Kentucky Derby day, so I apologize in advance,” she said with a laugh.

EMERGING MARKET

Klaravich Stables’ Emerging Market galloped 1 ½ miles during the special training sessions for Derby and Oaks horses between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m.

GOLDEN TEMPO

Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Golden Tempo galloped Tuesday morning for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

INTREPIDO

The California-based colt by the Into Mischief sire Maximus Mischief was out for a mile jog underneath Alejandro Galindo during the special 7:15 to 7:30 Derby/Oaks training period Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

The bay is owned by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures and trained by California veteran Jeff Mullins, who is scheduled to make the scene Thursday.

Galindo, who has been overseeing the graded stakes winner in Kentucky, noted that the light jog by Intrepido this morning was completely by design.

“We need to keep him nice and fresh,” he said. “We want him to break in front Saturday and stay there.”

Intrepido will be handled Saturday by his regular pilot, Hector I. Berrios, and they’ll come out of Post 3 in the 20-horse lineup.

LITMUS TEST/POTENTE

Bob Baffert's Barn 33 was its usual beehive Tuesday morning of Derby Week with the trainer Bob Baffert leading the charge with aid from his two key assistants, Jimmy Barnes and Dan Ward.

The main man was asked about his trio of Derby and Oaks types – Litmus Test and Potente (Derby) and Explora (Oaks).

'Well, I can tell you that they've all got their heads sticking out of their stalls, which is a real good sign,' he said. 'When they're standing back in the corner with their head down, that's when you've got trouble.'

The Hall of Fame conditioner worked it out that his two Derby colts would go out for exercise during the 7:15 to 7:30 special Derby/Oaks training session at the big Churchill Downs oval. Litmus Test was partnered by exercise rider Talia Viscusi for a jog around the track, while Potente accomplished a similar feat under Humberto Gomez.

Derby Day Litmus Test will partner with Martin Garcia as they come out of Post 4 in the field of 20. Potente will have Juan Hernandez up as they break from Post 14 in the 152nd Run for the Roses.

PAVLOVIAN

The homebred roan/gray soph who races in the silks of two-time Derby winner J. Paul Reddam jogged a mile Tuesday morning under exercise rider Tony Romero during Churchill Downs' special 7:15 to 7:30 special Derby/Oaks training session.

Romero gave the move a thumbs up afterward back at Barn 41 where trainer Doug O'Neill shook hands with friends and associates, then later on gave a pep talk to a crew of equine students from Blue Grass Community and Technical College being sheparded on the backside by Remi Bellocq, the former industry executive, cartoonist and jockey – as well as the son of the legendary racing cartoonist Pierre (PEB) Bellocq.

O'Neill fired up the youngsters and drew lots of smiles along the way. And Bellocq brought warm feelings to some old racing friends when he let them know that his Dad is still hanging tough at his home in New Jersey at the ripe old age of 99.

Pavlovian will come out of Post 16 in the Derby and be handled by California veteran Edwin Maldonado.

RENEGADE

The Kentucky Derby morning line favorite – Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable's Renegade – went trackside at Churchill Downs for some exercise during the special 7:15 to 7:30 Derby/Oaks training session on a racetrack termed 'good,' which was a good thing all things considered following a heavy-duty night of thunder, lightning and pelting rain in the Louisville area.

Trainer Todd Pletcher tagged along to oversee the drill and he was joined by his oldest son, Payton, who is just a few weeks away from graduating from veterinarian school.

Regular exercise rider Nora McCormack was in the boot on the bay colt by Into Mischief and steered him through a gallop of a mile and one-eighth in good order.

Come Saturday, Renegade will be handled by champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. as they break from Post 1 in the 152nd edition of the world's most famous race.

RIGHT TO PARTY

Chester Broman Sr.’s Right to Party galloped 1 ½ miles.

“He’s doing well,” said assistant trainer Greg Geier. “Got in a nice gallop this morning.”

SILENT TACTIC

John Oxley’s Silent Tactic returned to the track after a scheduled walk day and jogged in the mile chute before galloping a mile and a half under Dass Garcia for trainer Mark Casse.

Silent Tactic began his career at Woodbine last fall and then wintered at Oaklawn Park. He will be Casse’s 12th Kentucky Derby starter and the seventh to begin his career on the all-weather surface at Woodbine.

“We identified him as a possible Derby prospect and felt that Oaklawn was a good place to get him started,” said Casse, who followed a similar path last year with Sandman.

Previously, Casse’s Derby horses had started their 3-year-old campaigns in Florida or at Fair Grounds.

SIX SPEED

UAE Derby (GII) runner-up Six Speed walked the shedrow following his half-mile move in :48.80 Monday at Churchill Downs. He’s scheduled to school in the paddock during Tuesday’s second race.

SO HAPPY

Norman Stables & Saints or Sinners’ So Happy galloped 1 1/2 miles Tuesday morning.

THE PUMA

Florida Derby (GI) runner-up The Puma, owned by OGMA Investments, JR Ranch and High Step Racing, galloped during the 7:15 a.m. Kentucky Derby and Oaks exclusive training window Tuesday morning.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado said the colt’s foundation was already in place before shipping from Florida.

“He’s experienced a lot in a short amount of time,” Delgado said. “He had two good works in Florida, and coming to Kentucky we knew we didn’t have to do a whole lot with him. Right now it’s just about keeping him happy and maintaining him for Derby Day.”

WONDER DEAN (JPN)

Yoshinari Yamamoto’s Wonder Dean (JPN) recorded his final serious move prior to Kentucky Derby 152 Tuesday morning, working a half-mile in :54.60 under Takuya Nakano.

Before the move, the UAE Derby (GII) winner warmed up in the chute for about 15 minutes. He began his extended gallop from the five-furlong pole and gradually increased his speed starting at the half-mile marker, working through an opening quarter-mile in :28.20 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:08.40. After completing the move, he schooled in the starting gate.

Nakano, who oversees Wonder Dean, was pleased with the breeze.

“Everything went great, according to plan,” Nakano said. “I feel like he is taking to the track well. We will see tomorrow how tired he is. He will probably just walk.”

Nakano said Wonder Dean has settled in well since arriving in Kentucky nearly a month ago.

“He has been here almost a month now, and he really seems to be enjoying the environment being closer to other horses,” Nakano said. “His favorite thing to do is grazing. That is something he didn’t really get to do in the Middle East. It’s much more sand than grass, so he’s enjoying the bluegrass of Kentucky.”

Wonder Dean will hand walk Wednesday before likely returning to the track Thursday and Friday.

THE $5 MILLION KENTUCKY DERBY PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE (GI)

Here’s the field for Kentucky Derby 152 in post position order (with jockey, trainer and morning-line odds): Renegade (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, 4-1); Albus (Manny Franco, Riley Mott, 30-1); Intrepido (Hector Berrios, Jeff Mullins, 50-1); Litmus Test (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 30-1); Right to Party (Chris Elliott, Kenny McPeek, 30-1); Commandment (Luis Saez, Brad Cox, 6-1); Danon Bourbon (Atsuya Nishimura, Manabu Ikezoe, 20-1); So Happy (Mike Smith, Mark Glatt, 15-1); The Puma (Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado, 10-1); Wonder Dean (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Daisuke Takayanagi, 30-1); Incredibolt (Jaime Torres, Riley Mott, 20-1); Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 8-1); Silent Tactic (Cristian Torres, Mark Casse, 20-1); Potente (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert, 20-1); Emerging Market (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown, 15-1); Pavlovian (Edwin Maldonado, Doug O’Neill, 30-1); Six Speed (Brian Hernandez Jr., Bhupat Seemar, 50-1); Further Ado (John Velazquez, Brad Cox, 6-1); Golden Tempo (Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux, 30-1); Fulleffort (Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox, 20-1). Also Eligibles: Great White (Alex Achard, John Ennis, 50-1); Ocelli (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman, 50-1); Robusta (Emisael Jaramillo, Doug O’Neill, 50-1); Corona de Oro (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 50-1).

LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE

ALWAYS A RUNNER

Douglas Scharbauer & Three Chimneys Farm’s Always a Runner galloped 1 1/2 miles for trainer Chad Brown.

BELLA BALLERINA

Godolphin’s Bella Ballerina galloped about 1 ½ miles Tuesday morning under exercise rider Erin Campbell.

BROOKLYN BLONDE/MEANING

Trainer Michael McCarthy and his right-hand assistant Justin Curran had their Oaks filly Meaning, who is owned by Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, out before 6 a.m. Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Juan Alverez. The pair stood in the gate then galloped a mile and an eighth around the big oval.

Later during the special Derby/Oaks session between 7:15 and 7:30 they brought out their other Oaks runner, Sun-Kissed Stable and Bobby Flay’s Brooklyn Blonde, for a tour around the big oval.

“It’s all going to plan,” said McCarthy, who indicated he likes it just that way.

COUNTING STARS/SEARCH PARTY

Trainer Mark Casse’s two Kentucky Oaks hopefuls, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars and Tracy Farmer’s Search Party jogged in the mile chute and then galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 training window for Derby and Oaks horses.

Froylan Garcia was aboard Counting Stars, who comes into the Kentucky Oaks off a 5 ½-length victory in the Fantasy (GII) at Oaklawn Park on March 27.

Prior to the Fantasy, she was second to Oaks rival Explora in the Honeybee (GIII), which followed a last-place showing as the odds-on favorite in the Martha Washington (Listed).

“She didn’t show up one day at Keeneland (in her second start) and that was mind-boggling,” Casse said. “The Martha Washington, she had missed some training because of weather and that affects horses in different ways.

“The good thing is, she is training well and she has shown up in her past two races.”

A daughter of Gun Runner, Search Party, who had Elver Vargas up Tuesday morning, gives Farmer and Casse their second Oaks starter in two years following Grade I winner La Cara.

“I trained her dam Devious Charm,” Casse said. “She was the first horse I bought for Mr. Farmer and the first day she tried to jump the round pen and got cut up and spent 30 days at a clinic. I thought, ‘Well, that’s a good start.’”

Devious Charm was stakes-placed in her 19-race career and earned nearly $180,000. Search Party is her second foal.

“I think she has more Gun Runner in her,” Casse said.

DAZZLING DAME

Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables’ Dazzling Dame jogged a mile and galloped a mile with a pony Tuesday morning with trainer Brittany Russell looking on.

Russell, who went out on her own in 2018, will see her first Oaks starter exit post 7 in the 14-horse field.

“She will be the last one in the gate and that is fine with me,” Russell said of the speedy Girvin filly who has won four of six starts and most recently was second in the Virginia Oaks to Bottle of Rouge.

Dazzling Dame has been going to the track at 7:15 each morning under Emma Wolfe. However, before going to the track she is out of her stall and grazing behind Barn 41.

“Yes, we have grass at Fair Hill (Training Center in Maryland),” Wolfe said of Dazzling Dame’s main base. “She gets five hours of turnout each day there. Here, she gets an hour in the morning and another hour in the afternoon.”

Dazzling Dame completed her morning activity with a visit to the paddock after training hours.

EXPLORA

Initially trainer Bob Baffert had considered just letting his Oaks filly Explora have a walk day, but then he “called an audible” and had Humberto Gomez take her out right at the end of the special training period.

“We went to the gate first,” the exercise rider noted, “and then we went for a little gallop of about a mile. She was just stretching her legs.”

Friday, Explora will come out of the No. 1 hole and have champion jockey Flavien Prat on her back.

LOVELY GREY

Go Go Grey Stable’s Lovely Grey galloped Tuesday morning and was scheduled to school in the paddock during the second race for trainer Kelsey Danner.

MY MISS MO

Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) runner-up My Miss Mo galloped at 7:15 a.m. for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

PASHMINA

Red White and Blue Racing’s Pashmina visited the paddock and then galloped a mile and a half under Jesse Sauter for trainer Rob Atras.

Pashmina started her career on the grass at Keeneland before winning her dirt debut by 10 3/4 lengths at Fair Grounds.

“Rob likes to start some of his horses on turf for a good Day One experience,” Brittany Atras, assistant to her husband, said. “She didn’t run that bad (in her debut, splitting the field of 12).”

PERCY’S BAR

Hat Creek Racing’s Ashland (GI) winner Percy’s Bar jogged two miles under Rene Morales for trainer Ben Colebrook.

“She will gallop in the morning, go to the gate and stand and go to the paddock,” Colebrook said.

Percy’s Bar won the Ashland over a track labeled as good, defeating Oaks morning-line favorite Zany in the process and becoming the only Oaks runner with an off-track victory. The only other Oaks starter with off-track experience is Lovely Grey, who was fifth in debut over a sloppy track at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

With a slight chance of rain in the Friday forecast for Oaks Day, “that’s a good stat to know,” Colebrook said.

PROM QUEEN

Gary and Mary West’s Prom Queen galloped with Katie Tolbert in the saddle, then schooled in the paddock after training.

ZANY

The Kentucky Oaks morning-line favorite Zany, who is owned by Repole Stable, went from Barn 39 down to the big Churchill Downs oval for a gallop of just more than a mile under exercise rider Wilmer Hernandez during the special 7:15 to 7:30 training period for Derby and Oaks horses.

The chestnut daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been a galloping winner of three of four lifetime starts and continued her Oaks preparedness by schooling in the paddock following Tuesday morning training.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will give ace rider Irad Ortiz Jr. a leg up on the racy distaffer Friday, then watch them break from post 2 in the nine-furlong classic that will be the 13th and final offering on a card that kicks off a spectacular weekend of racing.

The $5 MILLION LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS

Here’s the field for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) in post position order, with jockey, trainer and morning-line odds: Explora (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert, 6-1); Zany (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, 4-1); Search Party (Cristian Torres, Mark Casse, 30-1); Counting Stars (Francisco Arrieta, Mark Casse, 8-1); Meaning (Juan Hernandez, Michael McCarthy, 5-1); My Miss Mo (Micah Husbands, Saffie Joseph Jr., 20-1); Dazzling Dame (Luis Saez, Brittany Russell, 30-1); Bottle of Rouge (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 20-1); Always a Runner (Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown, 10-1); Prom Queen (Javier Castellano, Brad Cox, 8-1); Percy’s Bar (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook, 6-1); Bella Ballerina (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh, 10-1); Pashmina (Ramon Vazquez, Rob Atras, 30-1); Brooklyn Blonde (Kazushi Kimura, Michael McCarthy, 30-1); Lovely Grey (Dylan Davis, 30-1). Also Eligibles: Nycon (Jaime Torres, 50-1); Resist (Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1).

KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS MORNING WORKOUTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Continuing through Wednesday, Churchill Downs will be open free-of-charge daily from 6:45-10 a.m. so guests can watch the nation’s top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds train toward their engagements in this year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks during Dawn at the Downs.

Horses train on Churchill Downs’ main track daily from 5:15-10 a.m. There is an exclusive training window only for Derby and Oaks participants from 7:15-7:30 a.m. following the 6:45-7:15 a.m. renovation break. Those horses will be identified by special saddle towels that include their names: yellow saddle towels for Derby horses and pink saddle towels for Oaks contenders.

Guests can park for free in the Yellow Lot off Longfield Ave. (all vehicles must be removed by 10:30 a.m.) and enter Churchill Downs through the Clubhouse Gate. Guests will be directed to Sections 115-117 to watch the morning workouts.

KENTUCKY DERBY MORNING WORKS SHOW CONTINUES THROUGH THURSDAY

The Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show presented by TwinSpires.com continues through Thursday, offering fans an exclusive look at the final preparations of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.

Airing daily from 6:45-7:45 a.m. (all times Eastern), the one-hour program will be streamed live on the Kentucky Derby Facebook Page, YouTube and X accounts. The show will highlight the 15-minute exclusive training window from 7:15-7:30 a.m. for horses preparing for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Hosted by Churchill Downs’ expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Benson, Tony Calo and Kevin Kilroy, the show will include insight, commentary and exclusive interviews from notable figures such as the voice of the Kentucky Derby Travis Stone, former leading rider Rosie Napravnik, TwinSpires.com handicapper James Scully, Churchill Downs morning line oddsmaker Nick Tammaro and racing analyst Ren Carrothers.

For more information, visit www.kentuckyderby.com.