Kentucky Derby 2026 scouting report: East-southeast division

The east-southeast division of the 2026 Kentucky Derby scouting report provides a list of prospects for the 2026 run for the roses. Beginning with last Saturday’s Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds, the Derby qualifying points doubled to 20-10-6-4-2.

Since the road to the Derby began in September, 14 official points races were run and six of them were won by horses in this division. Ted Noffey won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for Todd Pletcher and Spendthrift Farms. Napoleon Solo got a victory in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct for Chad Summers and Gold Square. Paladin won the Remsen (G2) for Chad Brown. My World was victorious in the Jerome, and on Saturday Golden Tempo won the Lecomte.

Horses qualified for this report by earning qualifying points on the Derby trail and/or being part of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools. They are here in order by Derby points earned or alphabetically with most recent odds at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada, followed by Kentucky Derby Future Wager odds from pool 3, sire with KDFW sire pool odds, trainer, ownership, most recent race, overall record, earnings and a summary comment.

Division leader 

Ted Noffey, 40. Caesars 8-1*, KDFW3 6-1*, Into Mischief 9-2, Todd Pletcher; Spendthrift Farm. 1st Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and 1st Breeders’ Futurity, 4: 4-0-0, $1,657,963. Champion 2-year-old had his first official workout since the Breeders’ Cup on Jan. 16 at Palm Beach Downs training center in Florida to prepare for the Fountain of Youth (G2).

Derby trail winners 

Golden Tempo, 20. Caesars 30-1, KDFW3 4-1 all others, Curlin 15-1, Cherie DeVaux; Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. 1st Lecomte at Fair Grounds, 2: 2-0-0, $183,000. Second on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard. 

My World, 10. Caesars 66-1, KDFW3 50-1, Essential Quality 45-1, Brad Cox; Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables. 1st Jerome at Aqueduct, 4: 3-0-0, $217,750. A start in the Saudi Derby (G3) on Feb. 14 is next.

Napoleon Solo, 10. Caesars 25-1, KDFW3 40-1, Liam’s Map 22-1, Chad Summers; Gold Square. 1st Champagne, 2: 2-0-0, $319,000. Recently returned recorded first breeze of the year at Palm Meadows training center in Florida. Probably will make his next start at Gulfstream Park.

Paladin, 10. Caesars 10-1, KDFW3 10-1, Gun Runner 5-1, Chad Brown; Magnier, Tabor, Brant, Smith and Summer Wind Equine. 1st Remsen (G2), 2: 2-0-0, $184,250. Shows two workouts at Payson Park training center in Florida since the Remsen win. The Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds is his probable next start.

Derby points 

Mesquite, 10. Caesars 95-1, KDFW3 57-1, Union Rags 157-1, DeVaux; LBD Stable. 2nd Lecomte at Fair Grounds, 3: 1-1-0, $120,675. Finished second behind his stablemate to get 10 Derby points. 

Balboa, 9. Caesars 95-1, KDFW3 80-1, Not This Time 7-1, Brittany Russell; SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golgonda Stable, New Waves Capital, Catherine Donovan. 2nd in Jerome, 7: 2-1-2, $189,600. Has not returned to the worktab since the Jerome.

Carson Street, 6. Caesars 125-1, KDFW3 7-2 all others, Street Sense 127-1, Brendan Walsh; Ike and Dawn Thrash. 3rd in the Lecomte, 5: 1-1-3, $110,400. He was a $125,000 Keeneland yearling sale. 

Arctic Beast, 5. Caesars 100-1, KDFW3 7-2 all others, Yaupon 53-1, Mike Maker; Paradise Farms, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stable, Jennifer Rice. 2nd Springboard Mile, 4: 3-1-0, $265,305. New York-bred. 

Renegade, 5. Caesars 40-1, KDFW3 37-1, Into Mischief 9-2, Pletcher; Lawana and Robert Low, Repole Stable. 2nd Remsen (G2), 3: M-2-1, $79,000. Still a maiden. Three workouts at Palm Beach Downs since the Remsen.

Enforced Agenda, 3. Caesars 100-1, KDFW3 7-2 all others, Liam’s Map 22-1, George Weaver; St. Elias Stable. 3rd Jerome, 2: 1-0-1, $64,750. St. Elias home-bred posted a Jan. 16 workout at Palm Beach Downs.

Stakes or allowance winner

Commandment, 0. Caesars 20-1, KDFW3 23-1, Into Mischief 9-2, Cox; Wathnan Racing. 1st Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream, 3: 2-0-0, $165,459. Holy Bull (G3) is a possible next start.

Final Score, 0. Caesars 33-1, KDFW3 7-2 (all others), Not This Time 7-1, Pletcher; Repole Stable. 1st Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland, 4: 3-1-0, $397,550. No workouts posted since October victory.

Nearly, 0. Caesars 35-1, KDFW3 20-1, Not This Time 7-1, Pletcher; Centennial Farms. 1st allowance at Gulfstream – 3: 2-0-0, $78,950. He is a probable runner in the Holy Bull.

Maiden winners

Chief Wallabee, 0. Caesars 25-1, KDFW3 17-1, Constitution 41-1, Mott; Mickael and Katherine Ball. 1st maiden special weight at Gulfstream on Jan. 10 – 1: 1-0-0, $40,800. Homebred is the first foal from an unraced mare.

Class President, 0. Caesars 150-1, KDFW3 50-1, Uncle Mo 66-1, Pletcher; WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, CHC Inc. 1st maiden special weight at Gulfstream, 1: 1-0-0, $24,000. Already has a workout posted at Palm Beach Downs. 

Crossingthechannel, 0. Caesars 250-1, KDFW3 99-1, Omaha Beach 59-1, Michael Trombetta; Estate of R. Larry Johnson, R. D. M. Racing Stable, Michael Trombetta. 1st maiden special weight at Aqueduct on Jan. 4, 3: 1-2-0, $70,400. Homebred from Virginia.

Iron Honor, 0. Caesars 50-1, KDFW3 60-1, Nyquist 37-1, Brown; St. Elias, William Lawrence, Cathi Glassman. 1st maiden special weight on Dec. 13 at Aqueduct – 1: 1-0-0, $46,750. He has not posted a workout since his maiden victory.

Jackson Hole, 0. Caesars 90-1, KDFW3 7-2 all others, Nyquist 37-1, Pletcher; WinStar Farm, CHC inc., First Go Racing. 2nd in an allowance at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17, 2: 2-0-0, $60,000. The $1.3 million Keeneland yearling is undefeated in two starts.      

Local Knowledge, 0. Caesars 50-1, KDFW3 7-2 all others, Yaupon 53-1, Pletcher; Spendthrift Farm – 1st maiden special weight at Keeneland on Oct. 4 – 1: 1-0-0, $62,233. No workouts posted since his October maiden victory. 

Rebel Instinct, 0. Caesars 40-1, KDFW3 7-2 all others, Into Mischief 9-2, Brown; Resolute Racing and Whisper Hill Farm. 1st maiden special weight at Aqueduct going one mile, 2: 1-1-0, $63,750. No workouts posted since his November victory.

Thunderously, 0. Caesars 40-1, KDFW3 22-1, Gun Runner 5-1, Mott; Wathnan Racing. 1st maiden special weight at Gulfstream on Jan. 10, 1: 1-1-0, $40,800. He was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling. 

Waymark, 0. Caesars NA, KDFW3 99-1, Liam’s Map 22-1, Cox; Windancer Farm. 1st maiden special weight at Gulfstream on Dec. 28, 1: 1-1-0, $24,000. He was a $700,000 Keeneland September yearling.

Remaining east-southeast division preps

Withers, Aqueduct, Jan. 31, 20-10-6-4-2

Holy Bull (G3), Gulfstream Park, Jan. 31, 20-10-6-4-2

Sam F. Davis (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, Feb. 7, 20-10-6-4-2

Gotham (G3), Aqueduct, Feb. 28, 50-25-15-10-5

Risen Star (G2), Fair Grounds, Feb. 28, 50-25-15-10-5

Fountain of Youth (G2), Gulfstream, Feb. 28, 50-25-15-10-5

Tampa Bay Derby (G3), Tampa, March 7, 50-25-15-10-5

Virgina Derby, Colonial Downs, March 14, 50-25-15-10-5

Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds, March 21, 100-50-25-15-10

Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream, March 28, 100-50-25-15-10

Wood Memorial (G2), Aqueduct, April 4, 100-50-25-15-10