Kentucky Derby 2026: Meet Brad Cox's 22 nominees
Brad Cox's 22 Triple Crown nominees set him in fourth place behind Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert and Chad Brown for the number of horses he's preparing the 2026 classics.
The nominees include multiple expensive yearling purchases and homebreds from top breeding operations such as Juddmonte and WinStar Farm. He has taken on several horses sired by his 2021 champion, Essential Quality.
Will one of these colts develop into the next Mandaloun, or better? The road to the Kentucky Derby only intensifies from here.
Runners with Derby points
Further Ado by Gun Runner-Sky Dreamer, 4 starts: 2-0-1 $321,000
Further Ado captured the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29, earning a 121 Horse Racing Nation speed figure in that victory. The $550,000 OBS April purchase is out of Sky Dreamer, whose top offspring Kimbear won four races and earned $807,000 with a Grade 2 win in Dubai. He is possible for the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7. He has 10 points for the Kentucky Derby and is in 18th place on the leaderboard.
My World by Essential Quality-Quebec, 5 starts: 3-0-0 $218,000
My World has won three of five starts, including a victory on debut at Saratoga in August with 108 HRN speed figure. The $350,000 Keeneland September purchase most recently finished 11th in the Saudi Derby (G3) on Feb. 14. As of that race, he is still pointed for the Kentucky Derby. His dam Quebec made 36 starts with seven victories and earned $373,000. He has earned 10 points for the Kentucky Derby and is in 20th place on the leaderboard.
Rancho Santa Fe by Tapit-Family Tree, 4 starts: 2-0-0 $189,000
Rancho Santa Fe won two of his first three starts before finishing fourth in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 6. The colt is out of Indiana Oaks (G2) winner Family Tree, who earned $733,000 with five victories from 13 starts, and her top offspring Heroic Move won eight races, including a Grade 3, and earned over $1 million. Rancho Santa Fe broke his maiden in his debut at Evangeline Downs with 7-1 odds. He has earned five points for the Kentucky Derby.
Quality Mischief by Into Mischief-Quality Way, 5 starts: 1-0-0 $35,000
Quality Mischief was purchased for $300,000 at Keeneland September and won his debut on turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis in August. He finished seventh in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14. His dam's top offspring Market Street was Grade 2-placed as a 2-year-old and has won three races and $365,000 from 27 starts. Quality Mischief has four points for the Kentucky Derby
Cannoneer by Into Mischief-Catch the Moon, 3 starts: 1-0-1 $94,000
Cannoneer was purchased for $1.75 million at Keeneland September. In his last start, he finished fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31 with a 121 HRN speed figure. He is out of Catch the Moon, and his half-brother Girvin won the Haskell (G1) in his millionaire career. This colt broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in his debut at 2-5 odds. Cannoneer also has four points toward the Kentucky Derby.
Stakes horses aiming to move up
Fulleffort by Liam's Map-Callmethesqueeze, 5 starts: 2-1-1 $211,000
Fulleffort has two wins from five starts, including a runner-up finish in the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park on Jan. 17. The $425,000 Fasig-Tipton August purchase is out of Callmethesqueeze, whose top offspring Power Squeeze won the Alabama (G1) and earned over $1 million. He is entered in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park on Saturday.
Commandment by Into Mischief-Sippican Harbor, 3 starts: 2-0-0 $165,000
Commandment won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3 after breaking his maiden on debut at Keeneland in October. His dam Sippican Harbor won two races and earned $263,000 from just four starts. He is possible for the Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
White Tiger by Constitution-Pure Silver, 3 starts: 1-1-0 $96,000
White Tiger ran second in his debut at Churchill Downs in September with a 118 HRN speed figure before getting the win in his next start. He finished ninth in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17 after a 37-day layoff. His dam Pure Silver won three races and earned $290,000 from 10 starts.
Confessional by Essential Quality-Speedy Vanessa, 3 starts: 1-1-0 $78,000
Confessional was purchased for $160,000 at Keeneland September and broke his maiden on debut at Keeneland in October with a 122 HRN speed figure. He finished seventh in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7. His dam's top offspring Eunomia has won three races and was recently third in the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream.
Thunder Buck by Gun Runner-Oxy Lady, 3 starts: 1-0-0 $38,000
Thunder Buck broke his maiden in his second start at Fair Grounds on Dec. 20 with a 102 HRN speed figure before finishing 10th in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17 with a 86 HRN speed figure. His dam Oxy Lady won two races and earned $181,000 from 11 starts, and her top offspring Track Ranger won three races and earned $64,000.
Maiden winners
Doctrine by Constitution-Traffic Blimp, 2 starts: 1-1-0 $55,000
Doctrine was purchased for $280,000 at OBS June and broke his maiden on turf at Gulfstream Park in January with a 111 HRN speed figure. He finished second in an allowance optional claiming race on Feb. 12 at Gulfstream Park. His top sibling Allworthy won three races, is Grade-2 placed and earned $345,000.
Easterly by Uncle Mo-Dakota Wind, 2 starts: 1-1-0 $50,000
Easterly finished second in his debut at Gulfstream Park in December before winning a maiden special weight on Feb. 7 with a 104 HRN speed figure. His dam's top offspring Unanimously won nine races and earned $183,000 from 37 starts. He made his debut at 10-1 odds and earned a 103 HRN speed figure in that effort.
Swift Blade by Quality Road-Atheer, 2 starts: 1-0-0 $34,000
Swift Blade won a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds on Jan. 19 with a 111 HRN speed figure after finishing ninth in his debut at Churchill Downs. His 4-year-old full brother Atlal broke his maiden last September at Kentucky Downs and has earned $144,000 from eight starts. Swift Blade made his debut at Churchill Downs at 8-1 odds in November.
Maiden runners
Autobahn by Nyquist-Take Charge Paula, 2 starts: 0-0-1 $7,000
By Nyquist, Autobahn earned a 94 HRN speed figure when finishing third in his most recent start at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. He debuted at Gulfstream Park in December at 3-1 odds and finished fifth with an 85 HRN speed figure. His dam Take Charge Paula won five races and earned $452,000 from 14 starts, and her top offspring Long Neck Paula has won three races and earned $388,000.
Al Arqraah by Uncle Mo-Gold Medal Dancer, 1 start: 0-0-1 $7,000
By Uncle Mo, the colt earned a 114 HRN speed figure when finishing third in his debut at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10. He has not worked since Jan. 30, over two weeks ago, following that debut effort. His dam Gold Medal Dancer won seven races and earned $640,000 from 20 starts, and her top offspring Dance Recital won one race and earned $47,000 from 12 starts.
Touch of Fire by Constitution-Mexican Gold, 1 start: 1-0-0 $32,000
By Constitution, the colt won his debut at Fair Grounds on Jan. 8 with a 125 HRN speed figure at 4-1 odds. He worked five furlongs in 1:02.2 at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14, maintaining his fitness since that debut victory. His dam Mexican Gold won three races and earned $235,000 from nine starts, and her top offspring Arrobatic won three of five races and earned $176,000.
Unraced maidens
Act of Parliament by Quality Road-Fuhriously Kissed, $750,000
Act of Parliament was purchased for $750,000 at OBS April and is owned by Wathnan Racing. He is out of Fuhriously Kissed, who won four races and earned $398,000 from 23 starts. His dam's top offspring Kiss Me Again won one race and earned $89,000 from 17 starts. The colt has 11 lifetime works and most recently worked three furlongs in 37.2 at Payson Park on Feb. 15.
Emilio by Charlatan-Goldfield, $1.5 million
Emilio was purchased for $1.5 million at Fasig-Tipton August by Resolute Racing. Bred by Stonestreet Farm, he is out of Goldfield, whose top offspring Complexity won five races including the Grade 1 Champagne and earned $616,000 from 10 starts. The colt has 17 lifetime works and most recently worked four furlongs in 49.0 at Payson Park on Jan. 31.
Final Story by Candy Ride-Book Review
Final Story is out of stakes winner Book Review, who won six races and earned $885,000 from 15 starts. He is a homebred for Gary and Mary West. His most noteworthy sibling Regal Beauty won three races and earned $175,000 from 10 starts. The colt has 11 lifetime works and most recently worked four furlongs in 49.0 at Payson Park on Feb. 12.
Hickman Creek by Constitution-Calm Water
Hickman Creek is out of Calm Water, who managed one placing from eight starts and earned $26,000 during her racing career. But her top offspring, Laurel River, won the Dubai World Cup (G1) and earned $7.51 million from 11 starts. Hickman Creek is a homebred for Juddmonte. This colt has 17 lifetime works and most recently worked four furlongs in 50.0 at Payson Park on Feb. 14.
Leading Change by Gun Runner-Starship Warpspeed, $800,000
Leading Change was purchased for $800,000 at Keeneland September and is out of Starship Warpspeed, whose top offspring Shedaresthedevil won 10 races, including the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and earned $2.78 million. This colt has 14 lifetime works but last worked Oct. 17 at Churchill Downs, over four months ago without any recent activity. He was bred by WinStar Farm, and Wathnan Racing owned the colt when he was nominated.
Noble Edition by Into Mischief-Ms Locust Point, $650,000
Noble Edition was purchased for $650,000 at Keeneland September and is out of stakes winner Ms Locust Point, who won nine races and earned $676,000 from 20 starts. The colt has only five lifetime works and most recently worked three furlongs in 38.0 at Payson Park on Feb. 8. He was bred by CLearsky Farms and is owned by Wathnan Racing.