Ky. Derby 2026: Napoleon Solo drills ahead of Fountain of Youth

Undefeated Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Napoleon Solo continues to train toward his 3-year-old debut, which could come in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

In his fourth South Florida workout since mid-Jan. and first in company, Napoleon Solo covered four furlongs in 48.0 seconds over the main track at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. The drill ranked as the fastest of 19 recorded works at the distance.

Trainer Chad Summers said he caught the son of Liam's Map galloping out in 1:04 and 1:14. Napoleon Solo's workmate, unraced but well-regarded 3-year-old Maxfield colt No Rain No Flowers, covered the distance in 49.10 seconds.

"It went very well. I was very happy with it," Summers said. "We're right on pace for where we need to be, (and) very excited about where we are. We'll go one day at a time, see how he is tomorrow, and get with Gold Square and try and figure out a plan."

Napoleon Solo last raced Oct. 4, when he upset the Champagne (G1) field by 6 1/2 lengths in the one-turn mile at Aqueduct. In his only other start, he won his debut by 5 1/4 lengths sprinting six furlongs last August at Saratoga.

"He's doing well. I'm very thankful to be down here at Palm Meadows. You see what the weather has been like up and down the East Coast, so we're very thankful to be down here and training the horse every day," Summers said.

"We came down here with a plan of getting six works into the horse before his first race. That's what Sovereignty did last year," he added. "I have all the respect in the world for Hall of Fame (trainer) Bill Mott, so we'll try and kind of mimic that plan a little bit."

Sovereignty made his sophomore debut winning the Fountain of Youth last March and suffered his only loss of the season when finishing second in the Florida Derby (G1) before winning the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers (G1) en route to champion 3-year-old and horse of the year honors.

Napoleon Solo previously worked three furlongs in 36.45 seconds on Jan. 14 and Jan. 21 and covered a half-mile in 49.11 seconds on Jan. 28. Both the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth and Aqueduct's one-mile Gotham (G3), also on Feb. 28, remain under consideration for the season opener.

"We're down here for a reason, it's not just for the sunshine," Summers said. "We'll leave it up to the boss and Gold Square and we'll see. I think he's on target to be ready for the Fountain of Youth or the Gotham. Obviously it's a one-turn mile as opposed to two-turn, mile and a sixteenth. We'll see who goes to what race."

Napoleon Solo was one of 367 horses nominated to the Triple Crown by the initial Jan. 28 deadline and one of three for Gold Square. One is stakes winner Two Out Hero, who finished third in the Summer Stakes (G1) on Sept. 13 at Woodbine for trainer Kevin Attard. The other is Toga Twist, who finished third in the Funny Cide Stakes for New York-breds last summer. Toga Twist was bred by Gold Square and runs for Legion Racing, GenSax Racing, Flash Toga Farm, Echo Sam and Steven Lovelette.

Arkansas Derby (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Cyberknife, trained by Brad Cox, represented Gold Square in the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

"To see our name on the list among the elite of the elite is a lot of fun. For Gold Square to have three horses nominated to the (Triple Crown) and a horse they bred is a big salute to the program that Al Gold and Gold Square have established.

"Running in the Derby a few years ago with Cyberknife wasn't maybe the outcome they wanted. To win the Arkansas Derby and the Haskell after that and be second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is nothing to sneeze at. Going to the Kentucky Derby, it's got to be on everybody's list. We'd definitely love the opportunity to get back there again, hopefully this year."

Napoleon Solo was one of 15 graded-stakes winners with published works Thursday.

Baeza (McKinzie), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Pennsylvania Derby), worked three furlongs in 37.8 seconds at Santa Anita Park on Thursday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 13 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita Park. In his last start, he placed sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Brant (Gun Runner), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Del Mar Futurity), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Santa Anita Park on Thursday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 20 works at the distance. His previous work was 7 days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita Park. In his last start, he placed third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Oct. 31 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Carson's Run (Cupid), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Saratoga Derby Invitational), worked three furlongs in 38.0 at Payson Park Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 12 works at the distance. His previous work was 147 days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start, he placed seventh in the Manhattan (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Saratoga on June 8 for trainer Miguel Clement.

Far Bridge (English Channel), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, 2024 Sword Dancer, 2023 Belmont Derby Invitational), worked three furlongs in 38.0 at Payson Park Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 12 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed 4th in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Belmont At The Big A on Sept. 27 for trainer Miguel Clement.

Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Champagne), worked four furlongs in 48.0 at Palm Meadows Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of 19 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows Training Center. In his last start, he won the Champagne (G1) going one mile on the main track at Belmont At The Big A on Oct. 4 for trainer Chad Summers.

Stronghold (Ghostzapper), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Santa Anita Derby), worked four furlongs in 51.0 at Santa Anita Park on Thursday morning. It was the 28th fastest of 29 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita Park. In his last start, he placed second in the Pat O'Brien (G2) going seven furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 23 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Dicey Mo Chara (Adaay), a Grade 2 winner (2022 San Gabriel), worked four furlongs in 49.0 at Santa Anita Park on Thursday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 29 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed third in an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 18 for trainer Leonard Powell.

Muhimma (Munnings), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Demoiselle), worked three furlongs in 37.0 at Payson Park Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the second fastest of 12 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Payson Park Training Center. In her last start, she placed third in the Ashland (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Keeneland on April 7 for trainer Brad Cox.

Wynstock (Solomini), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Los Alamitos Futurity), worked four furlongs in 49.9 at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the 17th fastest of 72 works at the distance. His previous work was 13 days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start, he won an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Jan. 1 for trainer Brad Cox.

Durante (Distorted Humor), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2025 Aristides, 2023 Bold Ruler), worked four furlongs in 51.4 at Oaklawn Park on Thursday morning. It was the 30th fastest of 36 works at the distance. His previous work was 17 days ago going three furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start, he placed sixth in the Ring The Bell going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 13 for trainer David Jacobson.

Eclatant (Into Mischief), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Forward Gal), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Payson Park Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. Her previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Payson Park Training Center. In her last start, she placed fourth in the Leslie's Lady Overnight going seven furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on June 8 for trainer Brad Cox.

Nic's Style (Uncaptured), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Hurricane Bertie), worked four furlongs in 50.8 at Payson Park Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 20 works at the distance. This is her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed second in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 22 for trainer Bill Mott.

Parchment Party (Constitution), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Belmont Gold Cup), worked four furlongs in 50.2 at Payson Park Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 20 works at the distance. His previous work was 11 days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park Training Center. In his last start, he placed 20th in a handicap going about two miles on the turf at Flemington on Nov. 4 for trainer William I. Mott.

Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Withers), worked four furlongs in 47.9 at Parx Racing on Thursday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 47 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed sixth in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Parx Racing on Jan. 14 for trainer Robert Reid Jr.

West Hollywood (Uncle Mo), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Saranac), worked four furlongs in 48.6 at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the 15th fastest of 73 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start, he placed fifth in an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Churchill Downs on April 29 for trainer Brad Cox.