Study Guide: 2026 Louisiana Derby

Mar 16, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Chip Honcho wins the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography)

One of the first final-tier Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers worth 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers is Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.

The Louisiana Derby has been a highly productive Kentucky Derby (G1) stepping stone in recent years, producing Derby winners Country House (2019) and Mandaloun (2021), as well as Derby runners-up Hot Rod Charlie (2021) and Epicenter (2022).

Let’s meet the nine horses entered in the 2026 Louisiana Derby:

Pavlovian

Start(s): 9
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Reddam Racing
Breeder: Reddam Racing
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $413,450

Sire: Pavel
Dam: Mandy’s Grace
Color: Gray/roan

Pavlovian joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a hard-fought victory in the Sunland Park Derby, winning by a nose. The Louisiana Derby is a tougher race, but the 95 Brisnet Speed rating Pavlovian earned at Sunland Park suggests he’s fast enough to factor against this caliber of competition.

Autobahn

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: WinStar Farm, CHC, and First Go Racing
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (80) when winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $48,000

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Take Charge Paula
Color: Dark bay/brown

Autobahn was much the best in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight last month, charging from off the pace to dominate by 5 3/4 lengths. However, his winning time was on the slow side, and the 80 Brisnet Speed rating he earned looks light against the Louisiana Derby field.

Chip Honcho

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia
Breeder: Venneri Racing and Tony Fanticola
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $260,475

Sire: Connect
Dam: Miss My Rose
Color: Dark bay/brown

Chip Honcho is one of the top win contenders in the Louisiana Derby. Last time out, he led almost all the way in the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star at Fair Grounds, ultimately finishing second by half a length against current Kentucky Derby favorite Paladin. A similar performance in the Louisiana Derby will make Chip Honcho tough to catch.

Universe

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: 4 G Racing, Gregg Day, Steven Crain, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Becky Pietras
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $259,650

Sire: Global Campaign
Dam: Equalityforall
Color: Bay

Universe has competed in five straight Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers. He performed well last year, recording a trio of top-three finishes, but this year he finished seventh in the Smarty Jones S. and fourth in the Risen Star. He’ll need improvement to conquer the Louisiana Derby.

Golden Tempo

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing third in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $233,000

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Carrumba
Color: Bay

Golden Tempo has competed exclusively at Fair Grounds, unleashing big late rallies to win the Lecomte (G3) and finish third in the Risen Star. In the Louisiana Derby, he’ll wear blinkers for the first time, which could potentially sharpen his early speed and lead to an improved performance. Don’t count Golden Tempo out of the mix for victory—his pedigree suggests he’ll relish racing 1 3/16 miles.

Spirit of Royal

Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Gervais Racing
Breeder: Papason Stables
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta

Top Speed Rating: (84) when finishing ninth in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $121,164

Sire: Global Campaign
Dam: Spirit Lets Hearit
Color: Bay

Spirit of Royal has shown flashes of talent, most notably winning a one-mile maiden special weight at Oaklawn Park. But in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut, he finished ninth in the Southwest, and he’ll need a stronger performance to secure a top-five finish in the Louisiana Derby.

Blacksmith

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and St. Elias Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $103,600

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Sweet Achiever
Color: Bay

Blacksmith, from the barn of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, finished second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He recently scored his first victory in a one-mile maiden special weight, triumphing by 3 3/4 lengths, so Blacksmith is progressing in the right direction and warrants respect in his first start outside of California.

Easterly

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: WinStar Farm, CHC, and First Go Racing
Breeder: Cypress Creek Equine
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Edgard Zayas

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $49,600

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Dakota Wind
Color: Dark bay/brown

Easterly debuted in a one-mile maiden special weight, finishing second against Class President, who later won the Rebel (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Easterly’s second start yielded a decisive 2 3/4-length win in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight. He clearly has talent, but his career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating is modest compared to some of the other Louisiana Derby entrants.

Emerging Market

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Stoneriggs Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning a maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $18,880

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Wild Empress
Color: Chestnut

Emerging Market earned a flashy 99 Brisnet Speed rating when debuting victorious in a one-mile and 40-yard maiden special weight. But the close runner-up, Powershift, subsequently disappointed when finishing sixth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, so it remains to be seen whether Emerging Market can repeat his 99 while stepping up in class and distance for the Louisiana Derby.