Kentucky Derby 2026: What's next for Golden Tempo + 23 others?

Kentucky Derby 2026 is just over two weeks past. A few of the runners already have returned in the Preakness, and others are preparing for the Belmont Stakes or other late-spring or summertime goals. 

Find out which of the contenders, listed by order of finish, will return in the Belmont Stakes or other major 3-year-old races soon.

Golden Tempo, 1st, Belmont likely. Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced four days after Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby that she would point him to the Belmont. Golden Tempo returned to the work tab Friday at DeVaux's Keeneland base, going four furlongs in 48.6 seconds.

Renegade, 2nd, Belmont likely. Although Renegade has not returned to the work tab, he has shipped to Saratoga and is targeting the Belmont Stakes, according to a New York Racing Association release. Of trainer Todd Pletcher's four Belmont wins, three have come with horses who ran solid but not winning races in the Kentucky Derby. His other came with Rags to Riches, who came off a win in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), meaning she also had a similar five-week turnaround.

Ocelli, 3rd, Belmont possible. Ocelli returned from the Derby in two weeks to finish fourth behind Napoleon Solo in the Preakness Stakes. According to a Sunday report from David Grening of Daily Racing Form, the Whit Beckman trainee is possible for the Belmont Stakes.

Chief Wallabee, 4th, Belmont likely. The Bill Mott trainee is Belmont-bound, according to NYRA. He worked Saturday for the first time since the Kentucky Derby, going four furlongs in 48.62 over the dirt training track at Saratoga.

Danon Bourbon, 5th, out for the year. The Japan-based colt came out of the Kentucky Derby with bone chips in his knee, according to a report at Japanese outlet Daily Sports. He will have surgery and then is likely to be "resting for the rest of the year," according to a quote from Manebu Ikezoe.

Incredibolt, 6th, next start undetermined, Trainer Riley Mott decided last Monday to enter Incredibolt in the Preakness after he came out of the Kentucky Derby well. He chased on for a fifth-place finish at Laurel behind Napoleon Solo. No next spot has been confirmed for him, though according to a Sunday report by Grening at Daily Racing Form, races such as the Indiana Derby (G3) and Ohio Derby (G3) are in play.

Commandment, 7th, Belmont likely. The Florida Derby (G1) winner is pointing to the Belmont, according to a report from Steve Sherack of Thoroughbred Racing News, citing Case Clay, the U.S. racing manager for owner Wathnan Racing. The Brad Cox trainee returned to the work tab Friday at Churchill Downs, working four furlongs in 48.8 seconds while in company with his multiple Grade 1-placed stablemate Bless the Broken.

Wonder Dean, 8th, plans undetermined. In the days after his Kentucky Derby run, Wonder Dean returned to Japan. Trainer Daisuka Takayanagi did not identify a next goal for him. 

So Happy, 9th, Belmont possible. The Mark Glatt trainee has not returned to the work tab since the Kentucky Derby. But he is listed by the Louisville Courier-Journal as possible for the Belmont Stakes, though was not on a list of probables published Monday at Daily Racing Form.

Emerging Market, 10th, Belmont likely. The lightly raced Chad Brown trainee returned to the work tab Saturday at Saratoga, breezing four furlongs in 50.12 over the dirt training track at Saratoga. "He did a little maintenance work, and I thought he went exceptionally well – he was moving great," Brown told NYRA after the work. "He’s on target for the Belmont. I’m very happy with him. He lost a shoe in the Derby and took a couple days to get himself organized with that foot, but he’s doing well."

Further Ado, 11th, plans undetermined. The beaten Kentucky Derby favorite returned to the work tab Friday at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox, going a solo four furlongs in 48.8 seconds. 

Potente, 12th, Belmont possible. The Bob Baffert trainee is being considered for the Belmont, according to a report Monday from Grening of Daily Racing Form. He returned to the work tab Friday, going three furlongs in 36.4 seconds at Churchill Downs.

Six Speed, 13th, plans undetermined. The connections of Bhupat Seemar-trained Six Speed planned to keep him in the U.S. after the Kentucky Derby, according to a May 3 news release from Churchill Downs. The son of Not This Time has not returned to the work tab.

Robusta, 14th, plans undeterined. Robusta returned from the Derby to finish ninth in the  Preakness. No word on his next start.

Albus, 15th, Indiana Derby possible. The Riley Mott trainee has not worked back since Kentucky Derby. According to a report Sunday from Grening of Daily Racing Form, Albus will be pointed to the Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 11.

Intrepido, 16th, on a break. After his 16th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Intrepido was turned out, according to a report from Steve Andersen of Daily Racing Form. Mullins did not how long his break would be.

Litmus Test, 17th, plans undetermined. Trained by Bob Baffert, Litmus Test posted his first work since the Kentucky Derby on Sunday, going four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Churchill Downs.

Pavlovian, 18th, plans undetermined. The Doug O'Neill trainee returned to the work tab Saturday for his first drill since the Kentucky Derby, going four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Keeneland.

Kentucky Derby scratches

These horses were scratched from the Kentucky Derby. Some of them have raced or worked since, and others are taking a longer break from the track.

Great White, scratched at gate, on a break. After flipping behind the Kentucky Derby starting gate, he and jockey Alex Achard came out unscathed and returned to race in the Preakness on Saturday. Trainer John Ennis told Horse Racing Nation on Monday that Great White would get time off, come back in the fall and target a 4-year-old campaign.

The Puma, pointed to Haskell. Trainer Gustavo Delgado announced in a May 13 post on X that The Puma would point toward a return in the Haskell (G1) on July 18 at Monmouth. He has not returned to the work tab since being scratched from the Kentucky Derby the morning of the race.

Corona de Oro, also-eligible. After being the lone horse not to draw into the Kentucky Derby off of the also-eligible list, the Dallas Stewart trainee was routed to the Preakness, where he finished 11th behind Napoleon Solo.

Right to Party, vet scratch. The Kenny McPeek trainee has not returned to the work tab since being scratched by regulatory veterinarians the day before the Kentucky Derby.

Fulleffort, out with injury. Fulleffort was scratched from the Kentucky Derby two days before the race after a chip was found in his left hind ankle. He will return for a campaign in the second half of the year after surgery to remove the chip, according to a report from Grening of Daily Racing Form.

Silent Tactic, bruised foot. He was pointed to the Preakness after being scratched from the Kentucky Derby on the Wednesday before thrace because of a foot bruise. But he was taken out of Preakness consideration after continuing problems with the same bruise. According to a Preakness note last Monday, trainer Mark Casse is "just going to back off him a little bit and try to get him ready for Saratoga."