The road to Kentucky Derby 2026 got more serious at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17 with the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes, and Golden Tempo rallied for the win and picked up 20 Derby points. In this report, I will recap the Lecomte, update the points standings, and share my exceptional eleven Derby contenders.
I cover all of the Kentucky Derby 2026 points races on my Runaway Horse YouTube channel, and through 14 points races, my top choices have 6 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and a show finish. There are no Derby points races this week, and we get back on the trail on Jan. 31 with the Holy Bull, Southwest, and Withers.
Last year’s Grade 1 Champagne winner Napoleon Solo has worked twice this year at Palm Meadows. He drilled a 3f bullet in 36.45 (1/5) on Jan. 14, and he went 3f in 36.45 (1/10) on Jan. 21. He currently sits 12th on my Derby list.
Smarty Jones Stakes hero Strategic Risk breezed 5f in 1:02.40 (14/39) at Oaklawn on Jan. 21. The Grade 3 Southwest on Jan. 31 is his next assignment.
Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Commandment is expected to return to the worktab this coming weekend at Payson Park, and he will run next in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 28.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds (1-17-26): Crown the Buckeye made the lead and was pressed by Chip Honcho and Carson Street. Golden Tempo ($7.40) was 8-1 morning line and he was bet down and ended up the 5-2 favorite, and he was patiently handled at the back of the field under Jose Ortiz. He got a smart ride and clean closing trip, and he ran past them all and won by 3/4ths of a length, and he galloped out with gusto. Mesquite rallied for the place and Carson Street pressed, led, and held the show. Chip Honcho chased wide from the outside post and finished fourth, and Quality Mischief (5th), Exosome (6th), Stop the Car (7th), Crown the Buckeye (8th), White Tiger (9th), and Thunder Buck (10th) also ran. Ocelli scratched. Cherie DeVaux saddled the winner and runner-up. Fractions: 23.72, 47.11, 1:11.89, 1:38.25, 1:44.98.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Results
Iroquois (10-5-3-2-1) – Sept. 13 – Winner: Spice Runner ($12.38)
Champagne (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Napoleon Solo ($15.94)
American Pharoah (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Intrepido ($19.60)
Breeders’ Futurity (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 4 – Winner: Ted Noffey ($3.84)
Street Sense (10-5-3-2-1) – Oct. 26 – Winner: Incredibolt ($10.18)
BC Juvenile (30-15-9-6-3) – Oct. 31 – Winner: Ted Noffey ($3.60)
Ky Jockey Club (10-5-3-2-1) – Nov. 29 – Winner: Further Ado ($3.40)
Remsen (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 6 – Winner: Paladin ($5.76)
Los Al Futurity (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 13 – Winner: Litmus Test ($3.20)
Gun Runner (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 20 – Winner: Chip Honcho ($9.80)
Springboard Mile (10-5-3-2-1) – Dec. 20 – Winner: Express Kid ($71.00)
Jerome (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 3 – Winner: My World ($7.24)
Smarty Jones (10-5-3-2-1) – Jan. 3 – Winner: Strategic Risk ($7.00)
Lecomte (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 17 – Winner: Golden Tempo ($7.40)
Holy Bull (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31
Southwest (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31
Withers (20-10-6-4-2) – Jan. 31
Robert Lewis (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 7
Sam F. Davis (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 7
Risen Star (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 14
Sunland Derby (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 15
John Battaglia Memorial (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 21
Fountain of Youth (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28
Gotham (50-25-15-10-5) – Feb. 28
Rebel (50-25-15-10-5) – March 1
Tampa Bay Derby (50-25-15-10-5) – March 7
San Felipe (50-25-15-10-5) – March 7
Virginia Derby (50-25-15-10-5) – March 14
Jeff Ruby Steaks (100-50-25-15-10) – March 21
Louisiana Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 21
Arkansas Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28
Florida Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28
UAE Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – March 28
Blue Grass (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4
SA Derby (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4
Wood Memorial (100-50-25-15-10) – April 4
Lexington (20-10-6-4-2) – April 11
Top 20 Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Leaders (thru 1-21-26)
Ted Noffey (40 points)
Golden Tempo (20 points)
Litmus Test (19 points)
Chip Honcho (14 points)
Intrepido (13 points)
Universe (13 points)
Spice Runner (11 points)
Napoleon Solo (10 points)
Further Ado (10 points)
Express Kid (10 points)
Paladin (10 points)
My World (10 points)
Strategic Risk (10 points)
Incredibolt (10 points)
Mesquite (10 points)
Brant (9 points)
Balboa (9 points)
Carson Street (6 points)
Very Connected (6 points)
Comport (5 points)
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven” Kentucky Derby 2026 Contenders (1-21-26)
1 – PALADIN (Gun Runner – Secret Sigh, by Tapit) – Trainer: Chad Brown – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: Chad Brown’s $1.9 million colt has tactical speed and a finishing kick, and he wrapped up his juvenile campaign with a smart victory in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct on Dec. 6. He is wintering in Florida and he has worked three times since the Remsen including a half-mile breeze in 49.80 (12/59) on Jan. 17.
2 – CANNONEER (Into Mischief – Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon) – Trainer: Brad Cox – – Last Ranking (2)
Comments: He graduated by 7+ lengths as the favorite on the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes undercard at Churchill on Nov. 29. He has breezed four times at Payson Park since his maiden win including a 5f move in 1:01.00 (2/5) on Jan. 16. He is targeting the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream on Jan. 31.
3 – TED NOFFEY (Into Mischief – Streak of Luck, by Old Fashioned) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (3)
Comments: He won three Grade 1 races in 2025 (Hopeful, Breeders’ Futurity, BC Juvenile) and will be named 2-year-old champion later this month after a 4-for-4 juvenile campaign. He got back on the worktab with a 3f bullet in 37.01 (1/8) at Palm Beach Downs on Jan. 16.
4 – RENEGADE (Into Mischief – Spice if Nice, by Curlin) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: He finished in front of Paladin in a flat mile special weight event at Aqueduct in October but was disqualified and placed second. He met Paladin again in the Remsen (G2) on Dec. 6 and he finished 2 lengths back in second. Todd Pletcher’s maiden has worked four times at Palm Beach Downs since his last start including a half-mile breeze in 50.36 (12/16) on Jan. 17.
5 – LITMUS TEST (Nyquist – Study Hard, by Malibu Moon) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: Picked up his first graded win in his fourth attempt in the Los Al Futurity (G2) as the favorite on Dec. 13. He has worked three times since his last outing including a half-mile move in 48.00 (11/58) at Santa Anita on Jan. 18.
6 – GOLDEN TEMPO (Curlin – Carrumba, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Cherie DeVaux – Last Ranking (7)
Comments: Captured his sprint debut at Fair Grounds on the Gun Runner Stakes Day undercard on Dec. 20. He was the favorite in the Lecomte (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 17 and he rallied from the back of the pack to win by 3/4ths of a length, and he galloped up with energy (81 BSF). He should continue to run faster as distances increase and the Risen Star (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 14 might be his next assignment.
7 – FURTHER ADO (Gun Runner – Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (6)
Comments: He has not had a published work since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. Four Kentucky Jockey Club horses have run back and none of them won. Universe was 7th in the Smarty Jones,Very Connected was 5th in the Gun Runner, Cherokee Nation was second in a MSW route at SA on Jan. 9, and Spice Runner was 11th in the Remington Springboard Mile.
8 – LIBERTY NATIONAL (Maxfield – Virtuoso, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Ken McPeek – Last Ranking (8)
Comments: Smartly earned his diploma in a dirt route at Churchill (Nov. 29) on the Ky Jockey Club Stakes Day undercard (1st by 4 1/4 lengths). He rallied for the place as the chalk in the Gun Runner on Dec. 20 and the form of that race has not held up. He has worked three times since his last start including a best of 79 bullet in 48.00 at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17.
9 – INCREDIBOLT (Bolt d’Oro – Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Riley Mott – Last Ranking (9)
Comments: Looked good going last-to-first in the Street Sense (G3) on Oct. 26. He has worked five times at Palm Beach Downs since Dec. 17. He drilled a half-mile bullet in 48.45 (1/20) on Jan. 7, and he went 5f in 1:02.00 (2/3) on Jan. 14. He is nominated to the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream on Jan. 31.
10 – NEARLY (Not This Time – IB Prospecting, by Mineshaft) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (10)
Comments: This one earned a 96 BSF for his Jan. 2 victory at seven panels at Gulfstream. He breezed a half-mile in 50.26 (11/21) at Palm Beach Downs on Jan. 16 and he is nominated to the Holy Bull (G3) on Jan. 31.
11 – MOB (Gun Runner – Onslaught, by Street Sense) – Trainer: Brian Lynch – Last Ranking (11)
Comments: He was entered on Jan. 2 at Gulfstream but was a vet scratch. He got back on the worktab with a 5f move in 1:02.75 (5/14) at Palm Meadows on Jan. 18. He was firing bullets prior to scratching as the morning line favorite earlier this month and it probably won’t take him long to get fit enough to enter a race again.
Next Nine: (12) Napoleon Solo, (13) Brant, (14) Blackout Time, (15) Strategic Risk, (16) So Happy, (17) Commandment, (18) Pyromancer, (19) Schoolyardsuperman, (20) Iron Honor
