Kentucky
Kentucky Derby roundup: Fierceness tries the track
Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old of 2023 and possible favorite for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, made his first appearance on the Churchill Downs main track on Tuesday morning.
Fierceness galloped a mile during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.
Also making his first appearance on track was Catalytic, who jogged a mile under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.
Scheduled to work six furlongs on Wednesday morning is Forever Young. Jockey Ryuseu Sakai is slated to be aboard for the work.
At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning, Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. Grand Mo the First is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Thursday.
Also at Gulfstream, Fiona’s Magic worked six furlongs in 1:15.16 toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks for trainer Bo Yates. Fiona’s Magic is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs in the next 48 hours, according to Yates
Catalytic. Making his first appearance on track Tuesday morning was Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic, who jogged a mile under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalystic arrived at Churchill Downs Monday morning after vanning from South Florida. Catalystic is scheduled to work Sunday.
Catching Freedom, Encino, Just a Touch. Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch all galloped about 1 1/2 miles on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.
Following their training sessions, the trio schooled in the paddock at 10 a.m.
Cox, who was at Keeneland on Tuesday morning, is scheduled to be back at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.
Domestic Product, Sierra Leone. Trainer Chad Brown’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped a mile and a half during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.
It was the first day on the track for Domestic Product.
“The first day on the track was excellent. He was moving well,” Brown said.
Sierra Leone, winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Risen Star, had regular exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard.
Dornoch, Society Man. Trainer Danny Gargan’s Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Dornoch and Society Man, galloped a mile and a half under Pricilla Schaefer.
Dornoch galloped at 7:30 and comes into the Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
Society Man, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in his most recent start, galloped at 9 a.m.
Endlessly. Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner, Endlessly had an easy 1 1/2 mile gallop early Tuesday morning.
Endlessly is slated to work Saturday.
Fierceness. Fierceness made his first appearance on the track at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning.
Fierceness galloped a mile during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.
“He looked smooth and handled it well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the morning’s activity.
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Grade 1 Florida Derby in dominating fashion, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning, weather permitting.
Pletcher said Fierceness would make a couple of trips to the starting gate as well as a couple of paddock schooling sessions next week.
Pletcher discusses Fierceness and Kentucky Oaks contender Leslie’s Rose with Jennie Rees of the Kentucky Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
Forever Young. The undefeated Forever Young warmed up in the mile chute for a half-hour before galloping a mile and a half under jockey Ryusei Sakai.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young is scheduled to work six furlongs in company Wednesday morning with Sakai aboard.
Yahagi is scheduled to arrive in Louisville next Tuesday night and be trackside on Wednesday morning, May 1.
Grand Mo the First. At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning, Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. Grand Mo the First is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Thursday.
“It was a beautiful workout,” Barboza said via text of the solo move with jockey Emisael Jaramillo up. “We will arrive there Thursday night, walk Friday and then go to the track Saturday.”
Honor Marie. Honor Marie galloped 1 1/2 miles on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. under trainer Whit Beckman’s exercise rider Maurilio Garcia.
His jockey, Ben Curtis, was also in town on Tuesday to watch his Derby mount train.
Just Steel. Just Steel returned to the track on Tuesday for the first time since his serious one-mile work Saturday.
The D. Wayne Lukas trainee had an easy gallop around 5:30 a.m.
Mystik Dan. Mystik Dan galloped a mile and a half for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Winner of the Grade 3 Southwest and most recently third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Mystik Dan is scheduled to work Saturday.
Resilience. Resilience jogged about one mile on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. a day after his five furlong move in 1:01.60
“It was a beautiful work and had very good energy,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “He’s a very easy horse to manage. He galloped out very strong. I had to pull him up a little bit earlier because he wanted to keep going.”
Alvarado was named to ride Resilience in the Kentucky Derby.
Stronghold. Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start, was en route to Louisville on Tuesday morning from trainer Phil D’Amato’s main base at Santa Anita.
Stronghold was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon.
Track Phantom. Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner, Track Phantom jogged about one mile then had a light gallop under exercise rider Roberto Howell on Tuesday at 5:45 a.m.
West Saratoga. West Saratoga galloped two miles at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, under Donte Lowery for trainer Larry Demeritte.
West Saratoga is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs with a work scheduled for Saturday morning.
“I thank God every day for my blessings in this life and this is truly amazing how we got to this position with this horse,” Demeritte said. “I’m hopeful people will see our story and become interested in this sport because this horse is proving anyone with a dream can make it to the Derby stage.”
Also Eligibles. Welch Racing’s Epic Ride galloped at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Trainer John Ennis tentative plans call for Epic Ride to come to Churchill Downs after training Friday morning in Lexington.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
Which game could be a trap?
We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
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Fourth of July festivities to celebrate in Louisville
See the Fourth of July festivities planned in Louisville for America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.
Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.
Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?
Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
Are fireworks legal in Louisville?
In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.
If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.
But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky
How to use fireworks safely
The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:
- Use fireworks outdoors.
- Obey local laws.
- Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
- Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
- Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
- Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
- Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Former Courier Journal reporter Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
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