Kentucky
Our top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as Run for the Roses 2026 nears
Kentucky Derby contender Further Ado favored by trainer Brad Cox
After Further Ado won by 11 lengths, trainer Brad Cox talked about ‘dominating’ performance as three-year-old heads to the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
After the final weekend of major prep races, we have a projected field for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Further Ado (Blue Grass), So Happy (Santa Anita Derby) and Albus (Wood Memorial) clinched their spots in the Kentucky Derby with victories on Saturday.
The top 20 horses on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard are eligible to run, though there usually are injuries and defections in the weeks leading up to the race.
Buy tickets for Kentucky Derby 152 here
Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland will offer 20 qualifying points to the winner, though that’s not expected to be enough for any of the competitors to jump into the Kentucky Derby field.
With four weeks to go until the Kentucky Derby, here’s our ranking of the top five contenders:
Owners: Robert and Lawana Low; Repole Stable (Mike Repole).
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Sire: Into Mischief.
Road to Kentucky Derby points: 125 (No. 3)
Career earnings: $1,031,500.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Owner: Wathnan Racing (Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani).
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: Flavien Prat.
Sire: Into Mischief.
Road to Kentucky Derby points: 150 (No. 1).
Career earnings: $1,017,339.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Owners: OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado); JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo); High Step Racing LLC (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, Todd Perry).
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.
Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Sire: Essential Quality.
Road to Kentucky Derby points: 106 (No. 6).
Career earnings: $442,280.
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Owner: Spendthrift Farm (Eric Gustavson).
Trainer: Brad Cox.
Jockey: TBA.
Sire: Gun Runner.
Road to Kentucky Derby points: 135 (No. 2).
Career earnings: $1,146,328.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 4 at Keeneland.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Owner: Danox Co. Ltd.
Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe.
Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura.
Sire: Maxfield.
Road to Kentucky Derby points: Qualified via Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Career earnings: $222,762.
Last race: Won Fukuryu Stakes on March 28 at Nakayama Racecourse.
Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
Four people have died due to flooding from thunderstorms in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday, and he issued a state of emergency with additional rainfall expected.
Flash flood warnings were in effect Saturday for parts of Kentucky and Indiana amid heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency late Saturday afternoon said between 4 and 10 inches of rain had already fallen in some parts of southwestern Indiana, with more possible.
Beshear’s office said up to 7 inches of rain were expected in parts of his state through the late evening.
He said on social media that three people had died in Madison County and one in Jackson County due to flooding.
“This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth,” he said in a statement. “As more heavy rain continues through late tonight, we need folks to remain alert and to avoid driving, especially after dark when there is limited visibility.”
Beshear said there were “significant roads underwater” in Madison County, with search and rescue teams sent to that region. He also said at least 12 state roads were “out of commission” because they were flooded.
In northwestern Kentucky, just outside Louisville, Bullitt County emergency management officials asked residents of a rural road to evacuate as a precaution after a landslide at a dam embankment. The dam was holding and there was no indication of imminent failure, they said.
The area saw about 3 inches of rain in the past two days, according to the National Weather Service.
Kentucky
Kentucky Arts Council's Celebrating the Black Experience Art Exhibit to visit NKY in November
Beechwood senior wide receiver Tyler Fryman has committed to University of Kentucky football and baseball according to Hayes Fawcett of Rivals.
Fryman made the change to the Wildcats on June 26, just three days after announcing he was decommitting from Louisville Cardinals baseball. Fryman had been committed to Louisville since 2023.
The four-star recruit took an official visit to Kentucky on June 19. A week later, he’s flipped his school and added a new sport.
For Beechwood last season, Fryman caught 62 passes for 1,320 yards and 23 touchdowns. He was also the 9th Region Player of the Year in baseball and an indoor track state champion.
Fryman also had football offers from Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Ole Miss among others.
-
New York25 minutes agoMetropolitan Diary Challenge Day 1: What Is Your N.Y. Story?
-
Los Angeles, Ca32 minutes agoLASD releases video of man shot by deputy after allegedly charging them with knife
-
Detroit, MI50 minutes agoRick Mahorn returns to coaching Detroit basketball with BIG3 Amps
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSuspect arrested after shooting near San Francisco Pride events, police say
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoDallas shooting injures 2 as police search for suspect
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoColombia wins Group K after 0-0 draw with Portugal in Miami Stadium; both teams advance to World Cup knockouts
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoBeyond the frame: ‘Where’s Boston?’ revisited through new oral histories – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoArizona Cardinals will face Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix for 1st time
