First Look: 4 stakes precede Kentucky Derby 2026 week

This week marks the last stop before Kentucky Derby 2026. One premier meet closes its gates on Friday and another throws them open the next morning. Next Saturday, the sport's biggest day takes over everything.

Keeneland wraps its spring meet with the Grade 3 Bewitch, where Mrs. Astor arrives carrying one of the more reliable streaks in the sport. The 6-year-old mare has finished no worse than third dating to October 2024. Jonathan Thomas has her tuned up for another marathon try, and the 1 1/2-mile distance fits her wheelhouse after a January win in the Astra Stakes at Santa Anita. She'll have company though, with Just Basking coming off an upset in The Very One (G3) and Venencia winning a Keeneland turf route from last fall.

Horseplayers have four stakes at four tracks to work over this week, a last pour before the whole sport piles into Louisville.

Friday

Bewitch (G3), Keeneland, 1 1/2 miles, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Mrs. Astor has finished no worse than third in her last nine starts, a run dating to October 2024. The 6-year-old Lookin At Lucky mare won the Red Carpet (G3) at Del Mar in November, added the 1 1/2-mile Astra Stakes at Santa Anita in January and rallied for third in the Santa Ana (G3) on March 15.

Southern Hospitality, Oaklawn, 6 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds

Third behind Tommy Jo and Kentucky Oaks 2026 contender Percy's Bar in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga last August, Rileytole then lost the Frizette (G1) by a nose to Iron Orchard at Aqueduct on Oct. 4. The Mitole filly broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park in July 2025 for Saffie Joseph Jr. and transferred to Steven Asmussen's barn after the Frizette.

Saturday

Roxelana, Churchill Downs, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Brief early speed gave way to a ninth-place finish in the Inside Information (G2) on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park in One Magic Philly's most recent effort for trainer Brendan Walsh. The 5-year-old Good Magic mare previously ran second in the Chilukki (G3) at Churchill Downs in November and captured the Chillingworth (G3) at Santa Anita in 2024.

Royal Heroine (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Grand Slam Smile captured three of her last four starts, most recently rolling to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Irish O'Brien on March 21 at Santa Anita as the heavy favorite. Sean McCarthy's 5-year-old Smiling Tiger finished third in the Buena Vista (G2) on Feb. 28 between stakes victories in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Jan. 17 and November's Betty Grable at Del Mar.