Kentucky Derby 2026 contender page: Check out the leaders

One could say that all Kentucky Derby 2026 hopefuls are tied with zero points, but that is not the case because Churchill Downs has a tiebreaker based on earnings in unrestricted stakes races.

That puts Pinky Ring, an Army Mule filly trained by Wesley Ward, at the top of the current class by virtue of her win in the $250,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on May 1 at Churchill Downs. But she has not worked since.

Pinky Ring is one of two fillies in the top four, with Mythical rounding out that quartet. She won the Tremont Stakes at Saratoga last month and earned a 111 Horse Racing Nation speed figure in the process, the highest of her crop so far. She has worked three times for trainer Jorge Delgado this month at Monmouth Park. Being by St. Patrick's Day out of a Brethren mare, she could be a little more classic-minded than Pinky Ring.

Of course, the Kentucky Derby trail is a tough row to hoe for a filly, so it is no surprise that a couple of stakes-winning colts lead our first look of the HRN Kentucky Derby 2026 contender page.

Sanford Stakes winner Obliteration leads Bashford Manor Stakes winner Romeo in the HRN fan-powered rankings, though Romeo has a slight edge on Obliteration via non-restricted stakes earnings.

You can cast your vote for Kentucky Derby contenders and watch them as they move up the rankings each week.