Kentucky Derby News

As a $2,000 yearling purchase turned Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful, Express Kid is the very type of rags-to-riches story that fuels dreams.

Ted Noffey’s withdrawal wasn’t the only drama in the week. We were scheduled to have three Derby preps and two Oaks preps this weekend, but the weather-related cancellations meant we ended up with only one for each.

California’s first Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier of 2026 is Saturday’s $100,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

Nearly left a favorable impression in his initial stakes and two-turn start, drawing off to 5 3/4-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream

Bob Baffert has won the Robert B. Lewis (G3) for seven straight years, and a grand total of 13 times overall. The Hall of Fame trainer is triple-handed in Saturday’s $100,000 renewal at Santa Anita.

Seven re-entered the 1 1/8-mile contest at Aqueduct, worth points on the 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five finishers.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Oaklawn Park on Friday for the $1 million Southwest (G3), a 1 1/16-mile qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.

Feb. 6 is the new date for the Southwest (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Martha Washington S. for Kentucky Oaks (G1) candidates. Oaklawn Park had to postpone both scoring races due to frigid temperatures.

A total of 42 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points, split 20-10-6-4-2 among the top five finishers, will be awarded in Friday’s $200,000 Withers S. at Aqueduct.

Nearly confirmed himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender, delivering a spectacular victory in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream.