Kentucky Derby 2026 scouting: Litmus Test leads west division

The west division of the Kentucky Derby 2026 scouting report provides a list of prospects for the run for the roses. The west division includes Derby prep races that are run in California and New Mexico. That means stakes at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos, Del Mar and Sunland.

Since the road to the Derby began in September, nine official points races have been run, and two of them were won by 2-year-olds in this division. Intrepido won the Grade 1 American Pharoah, and Litmus Test was first in last weekend’s Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), both for Bob Baffert.

From the 13 horses listed in this first west division report, Baffert has nine and Doug O’Neill has two. Zedan Racing is the top owner in this report with three 2-year-olds who sold for a total of $5.2 million.

Horses qualified for this report by earning qualifying points on the Derby trail and/or being part of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool 2. They are here in order by Derby points earned or alphabetically with the most recent odds at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada. Listed next are Kentucky Derby Future Wager odds from pool 2 last month, sire, trainer, ownership, most recent race, overall record, earnings and a summary comment.

Derby trail race winners

Litmus Test (19) – Caesars 25-1, KDFW 69-1, Nyquist, Bob Baffert - SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, et al. - 1st Los Alamitos Futurity, 5: 2-0-1, $350,188. Also 4th in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Intrepido (13) – Caesars 55-1, KDFW 74-1, Maximus Mischief, Jeff Mullins – Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures – 5th BC Juvenile, 4: 2-0-0, 292,800.  Won the American Pharoah.

Derby point winners

Mr. A. P. (15) – Caesars 25-1, KDFW 29-1, American Pharoah, Vladimir Cerin – Holly and David Wilson - 2nd BC Juvenile, 4: 1-3-0, $403,000. Son of Triple Crown winner.

Brant (9) – Caesars 25-1, KDFW 25-1, Gun Runner, Baffert – Zedan Racing – 3rd BC Juvenile – 3: 2-0-1 - $408,000 - $3 million Ocala 2-year-old purchase.

Desert Gate (5) – Caesars 55-1, KDFW 68-1, Omaha Beach, Baffert – Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman – 2nd American Pharoah, 4: 2-2-0, $246,000. Ran in three graded stakes.

Blacksmith (5) - Caesars 45-1, KDFW 2-1 (all others), Liam’s Map - Baffert – Wathnan Racing - 2nd Los Alamitos Futurity, 3: M-2-0, $53,200. Still a maiden.

Plutarch (3) – Caesars 45-1, KDFW 2-1 (all others), Into Mischief, Baffert – Magnier, Tabor and Smith – 3rd American Pharoah, 5: 1-2-1, $321,000. Also 2nd in Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3).

Provenance (3) - Caesars 35-1, KDFW 58-1, Into Mischief, Baffert – Spendthrift Farm - 3rd Los Alamitos Futurity – 3: 1-0-2, $69,600. Son of the $4.7 million earner Monomoy Girl.

Acknowledgemeplz (2) - Caesars 250-1, KDFW 2-1 (all others), Bucchero, Doug O’Neill – Purple Rain Racing and Mark Davis - 4th Los Alamitos Futurity, 3: 1-1-1, $60,000. $75,000 Ocala 2-year-old purchase.

Civil Liberty (2) – Caesars 50-1, KDFW 2-1 (all others), Independence Hall, O’Neill – Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis – 4th American Pharoah, 3: M-1-1, $70,000. Still a maiden.

Cherokee Nation (1) - Caesars 50-1, KDFW 41-1, Not This Time, Baffert - SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, et al. – 5th Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill – 3: M-1-0, $28,605. Still a maiden.

Impressive maiden winners

Boyd (0) - Caesars 25-1, KDFW 22-1, Violence, Baffert – Zedan Racing Stables – 1st Ed Brown at Churchill Downs, 2: 2-0-0, $186,500. $1.05 million 2-year-old purchase.

Buetane (0) - Caesars 75-1, KDFW 101-1, Tiz the Law, Baffert – Zedan Racing Stables – 2nd Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga – 2: 1-1-0, $108,000. Purchased this year for $1 million more than as a yearling.

Remaining west division preps

Robert B. Lewis (G3) – Santa Anita, Jan. 13; 20-10-6-4-2 points

Sunland Derby – Sunland Park, Feb. 15; 20-10-6-4-2

San Felipe (G2) – Santa Anita, Feb. 28; 50-25-15-10-5

Santa Anita Derby (G1) – Santa Anita, April 4; 100-50-25-15-10