The Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park was the latest road to Kentucky Derby 2026 points race and Nearly battled on the pace and dominated the race. In this report, I will recap the Holy Bull, 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 video channel, and through 15 points races, my top choices have 6 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and a show finish. There are four Derby points races this week, the Southwest and Withers on Feb. 6, and the Robert Lewis and Sam F. Davis on Feb. 7.
Unbeaten 2-year-old champ Ted Noffey was recently diagnosed with bone bruising and is off the Triple Crown trail. He is out of action for 90-days and they hope to have him back in action at Saratoga this summer.
Englishman, a highly regarded $400,000 son of Maxfield, got back on the worktab for Cherie DeVaux. He breezed an easy 3f in 39.20 (5/8) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 29. He romped by 7 1/4 lengths in his extended sprint bow at Churchill last September (97 BSF).
367 horses were nominated to the 2026 Triple Crown Series. The list was released on Feb. 3 and the cost to nominate early was $600. The second nomination deadline is April 6 and the cost at that stage is $6,000. After that deadline passes, horses can still be nominated to all three races for $200,000, or horses can be nominated to only the Kentucky Derby ($50,000), Preakness ($150,000), and Belmont Stakes ($50,000).
Kentucky Derby 2026 Points Race Recaps
Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park (1-31-26): Nearly ($5.40) ran his Gulfstream winning streak to three and once again he was clearly best. This time, he dueled with race favorite Cannoneer, put that one away, and won by 5 3/4 lengths. Bravaro stalked wide from the outside post and was second best, and Project Ace lagged far back early and found his best stride late in an okay show finish. Cannoneer weakened to fourth and was followed by Global Aviator and a very disappointing Incredibolt. John Velazquez rode the winner for Todd Pletcher and he received a 98 BSF for his victory on Saturday. Fractions: 22.82, 45.96, 1:10.32, 1:37.42, 1:44.52.
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 – Winner: Nearly ($5.40)
Southwest (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 6
Withers (20-10-6-4-2) – Feb. 6
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 2-3-26)
Nearly (20 points)
Golden Tempo (20 points)
Litmus Test (19 points)
Chip Honcho (14 points)
Intrepido (13 points)
Universe (13 points)
Napoleon Solo (10 points)
Further Ado (10 points)
Express Kid (10 points)
My World (10 points)
Strategic Risk (10 points)
Paladin (10 points)
Incredibolt (10 points)
Mesquite (10 points)
Bravaro (10 points)
Brant (9 points)
Balboa (9 points)
Very Connected (6 points)
Carson Street (6 points)
Project Ace (6 points)
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven” Kentucky Derby 2026 Contenders (2-3-26)
1 – PALADIN (Gun Runner – Secret Sigh, by Tapit) – Trainer: Chad Brown – Last Ranking (1)
Comments: The 2025 Remsen (G2) winner has been on the worktab at Payson Park since Dec. 28. He went a half-mile in 49.80 (9/60) on Jan. 30 and is expected to make his first start of the year in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14.
2 – RENEGADE (Into Mischief – Spice if Nice, by Curlin) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (4)
Comments: The maiden ended his 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in the Remsen (G2). He has worked five times at Palm Beach Downs since Dec. 27 including a half-mile breeze in 48.87 (8/30) on Jan. 31. The Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7 is his next scheduled start.
3 – LITMUS TEST (Nyquist – Study Hard, by Malibu Moon) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (5)
Comments: Last year’s Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) hero has worked five times since that victory including a 5f move in 1:00.60 (19/68) at Santa Anita on Jan. 31. He is entered in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 6 but is expected to scratch and remain in California. The San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 7 will probably be his next assignment.
4 – GOLDEN TEMPO (Curlin – Carrumba, by Bernardini) – Trainer: Cherie DeVaux – Last Ranking (6)
Comments: Handled a route of ground with ease in a late charging victory in the Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 17. He got back to work with a half-mile move in 49.60 (94/176) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 30. He is scheduled to run next in the Risen Star (G2) on Feb. 14.
5 – NEARLY (Not This Time – IB Prospecting, by Mineshaft) – Trainer: Todd Pletcher – Last Ranking (10)
Comments: He moves up five spots after a sharp victory in the Holy Bull (G3) on Jan. 31. He clearly loves Gulfstream and his running style versatility allows him to adapt to multiple race shapes. This one raced twice in January and will skip the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 28. The Florida Derby on March 28 might be his final Kentucky Derby prep.
6 – FURTHER ADO (Gun Runner – Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (7)
Comments: He won his final two starts last year including the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in November. He has worked twice this year. He drilled a 3f bullet in 37.00 (1/9) at Payson Park on Jan. 25, and he went a half-mile in 49.40 (5/59) on Jan. 31. He is expected to make his first start this year in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.
7 – LIBERTY NATIONAL (Maxfield – Virtuoso, by Awesome Again) – Trainer: Ken McPeek – Last Ranking (8)
Comments: Ended his juvenile campaign with a rallying runner-up finish in the Gun Runner. The race flow was against him and he finished with interest and galloped out in front. He has worked five times at Fair Grounds this year including a half-mile in 48.20 (5/53) on Feb. 2. He is entered in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 6.
8 – NAPOLEON SOLO (Liam’s Map – Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy) – Trainer: Chad Summers – Last Ranking (12)
Comments: He won the Grade 1 Champagne for fun last fall and has worked three times at Palm Meadows this year. He fired back-to-back 3f bullets on Jan. 14 and Jan. 21, and he breezed a half-mile in 49.05 (4/11) on Jan. 28. He will begin his 2026 campaign in the Fountain of Youth (Feb. 28), Gotham (Feb. 28), or Tampa Bay Derby (March 7).
9 – BLACKOUT TIME (Not This Time – Beauty Parlor, by Elusive Quality) – Trainer: Ken McPeek – Last Ranking (14)
Comments: Chased Ted Noffey in a clear runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and he was a BC Juvenile (G1) vet scratch. He returned to the worktab last month. He breezed 3f in 37.20 (6/18) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 23, and he went a half-mile in 49.40 (78/176) on Jan. 30.
10 – BRANT (Gun Runner – Tynan, by Liam’s Map) – Trainer: Bob Baffert – Last Ranking (13)
Comments: Was last seen setting the pace and finishing third in the BC Juvenile (G1). The Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity hero worked 3f in 37.80 (4/7) at Santa Anita on Jan. 22, and he traveled a half-mile in 48.80 (10/17) on Jan. 29.
11 – COMMANDMENT (Into Mischief – Sippican Harbor, by Orb) – Trainer: Brad Cox – Last Ranking (17)
Comments: Smartly captured his last two starts at Gulfstream around one turn including a flat mile stakes score in the Mucho Macho Man. He sports a pair of half-mile works since his last outing and is expected to make his first start in a points race in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on Feb. 28.
Next Nine: (12) Strategic Risk, (13) So Happy, (14) Pyromancer, (15) Schoolyardsuperman, (16) Bravaro, (17) Canaletto, (18) Potente, (19) Iron Honor, (20) Englishman
