Kentucky Derby 2026: Wednesday training notes

Following late Tuesday afternoon arrivals at Churchill Downs from Southern California, a trio of Kentucky Derby 2026 hopefuls were on the track on a mild Wednesday morning.

So Happy, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, jogged a mile under Gustavo Alvarado during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. EDT training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners.

Also at the same time, Pavlovian jogged a mile under Tony Romero, and Intrepido jogged two miles under Alejandro Galindo.

Trainer Michael McCarthy’s two Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls, Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde, galloped a mile with Brooklyn Blonde on the track at 5:25 and Meaning at 7:15. Isael Alvarez Perez galloped both fillies.

On deck for Thursday morning is a scheduled work from Silent Tactic at 7:15 for trainer Mark Casse. Casse also plans to work his two Kentucky Oaks runners, Counting Stars and Search Party, at 5:15.

Here are updates on each of the Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Albus, Incredibolt. Albus and Incredibolt had routine 1 1/2-mile gallops during the 7:15-7:30 Derby-Oaks training window for trainer Riley Mott.

Antonio Garcia was on Albus, winner of the Wood Memorial (G2), and Charlotte O’Connell partnered Incredibolt, winner of the Virginia Derby.

With storms in the forecast for Friday afternoon, Mott plans to work Friday morning, “or I could push it back to Sunday.”

The son of Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who saddled his first Derby starter in 1984 before Riley was born, Riley is no stranger to the Derby scene that he is stepping into for the first time as a trainer.

“The first Derby I saw here, I think it was Smarty Jones in 2004,” Riley said. “I was a big Smarty Jones fan and (runner-up) Lion Heart too.”

Chief Wallabee. Chief Wallabee galloped 1 1/2 miles at 7:15 under Marvin Orantes for trainer Bill Mott.

The training occurred during the special training window for Kentucky Derby hopefuls and previous Derby winners. That meant Chief Wallabee was followed on the track by 2025 Derby winner Sovereignty, who jogged a mile.

Chip Honcho. Chip Honcho galloped Wednesday morning for trainer Steve Asmussen as connections continue to monitor his Kentucky Derby status.

“We’ve timed it to where we plan on working him on Saturday morning, which is entry morning,” Asmussen said. “We need all the information you can possibly have, and we’ll obviously wait to make a final decision after his last work.”

Commandment, Fulleffort, Further Ado. Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Commandment, Fulleffort and Further Ado warmed up in the chute before galloping Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. All three horses are scheduled to have their final Derby breezes Saturday or Sunday.

Danon Bourbon. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee Danon Bourbon arrived Tuesday evening in Chicago and will undergo 42 hours of USDA quarantine prior to shipping to Churchill Downs.

Emerging Market. Emerging Market galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Luis Ortiz Trinidad for trainer Chad Brown.

“He got around there beautifully,” Brown said, adding, “with the weather that looks like it is coming in late Friday, it looks like I will have to move the final work up to Friday morning.”

Great White. John Ennis’s Great White worked a half-mile in 52.2 seconds out of the gate at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington.

Fifth in the Blue Grass (G1) in his most recent start, Great White is 23rd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would need three defections from anticipated entrants to make the main body of the 20-horse field.

Ennis plans to van Great White to Keeneland on Saturday morning and on to Churchill Downs should he enter the Derby. All Derby and Oaks horses need to be at Churchill Downs by 11 a.m. Saturday.

Intrepido. Intrepido jogged two miles under Alejandro Galindo for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Fourth in the Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start, Intrepido is 21st on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would need one defection from anticipated entrants to make the main body of the 20-horse field.

Litmus Test. Litmus Test galloped 1 1/2 miles under Hector Garcia for trainer Bob Baffert.

Dan Ward, who is overseeing the Baffert string at Churchill Downs, said Litmus Test is scheduled to work Friday

Seventh in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his most recent start, Litmus Test is 22nd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would need two defections from anticipated entrants to make the main body of the 20-horse field.

Pavlovian. Pavlovian jogged a mile under Tony Romero for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill at 7:15.

Romero said Pavlovian is scheduled to work Sunday.

Also jogging a mile under Romero was Robusta, who was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start.

Right to Party. Right to Party galloped Wednesday morning for trainer Kenny McPeek and was scheduled to have one more work prior to the Kentucky Derby.

The colt will be ridden by 20-year-old Chris Elliott in the Derby.

Silent Tactic. Silent Tactic, second in the Arkansas Derby in his most recent start, jogged a half-mile in the mile chute and then galloped a mile and a half under Dass Garcia at 5:15.

Trainer Mark Casse said Silent Tactic would work at 7:15 Thursday morning.

So Happy. Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy jogged a mile during the Derby-Oaks training period under Gustavo Alvarado for trainer Mark Glatt.

Glatt was scheduled to arrive in Louisville Wednesday afternoon with plans to work So Happy Friday morning.

Stark Contrast. Stark Contrast galloped a mile and a quarter under Christian Garcia after coming on the track at 5:25.

The Puma. The Puma tack-walked in Barn 42 Wednesday morning.

“We wanted to give him an extra day,” Gustavo Delgado Jr. said of the Florida Derby (G1) runner-up. “He will not have a work but may have a strong gallop Monday or Tuesday.”

Three years ago, Delgado and his father captured Derby glory with Mage, who had his final work before the run for the roses at Churchill Downs.

The schedule will be varied this time because, as Gustavo Delgado pointed out, “his last work was very, very strong (at Gulfstream Park).”

That work was last Saturday in 1:00.6 with jockey Javier Castellano up.        

Wonder Dean. Yoshinari Yamamoto’s Wonder Dean galloped Wednesday morning and is scheduled to work six furlongs Friday.