Updated weekly by Daily Racing Form’s David Aragona and David Grening
The 2026 prep season is over, and the Daily Racing Form Derby Watch top contenders list arrives at its final pre-entry form with one change on the list and one off. Intrepido joins at 50-1 after Chad Brown confirmed that Ottinho is out of Derby consideration. Renegade remains the 4-1 favorite for Todd Pletcher, with Commandment and Further Ado co-second choices at 5-1 for Brad Cox. Chief Wallabee and The Puma swap places in the next tier, Chief Wallabee moving to 8-1 and The Puma to 10-1. Entries will be taken Saturday, April 25, at Churchill Downs, and wagering opens Friday, May 1.
Monday drill rewrites the Chief Wallabee equation
Bill Mott worked Chief Wallabee in blinkers Monday at Churchill Downs, the colt’s second breeze in the new equipment and his first at the track. Working in company with recent maiden winner Gilded Bandit, he went a half-mile in 58 seconds from the half-mile pole and galloped out strongly, with Junior Alvarado riding.
Daily Racing Form’s David Grening relayed Alvarado’s read on the equipment change: The horse has a tendency to raise his head late in his gallops, but “with the blinkers on on Monday, he had his head . . . he lowered himself and he just was really more concentrating on finishing.”
On this week’s Derby Watch podcast, Daily Racing Form handicapper David Aragona said “It seems like that workout really kind of grew his bandwagon a little bit.”
Aragona also flagged the historical caveat: Equipment changes entering the Kentucky Derby have not been a reliable formula, though he noted he has not seen a horse of Chief Wallabee’s caliber attempt one.
The Puma’s Gulfstream work still stands up
Aragona called The Puma’s Saturday drill at Gulfstream Park the workout that most caught his eye. Credited officially with five furlongs, the colt continued nearly seven furlongs with a one-mile gallop-out clocked in just under 1:40.
Javier Castellano, who flew in from Aqueduct to ride, told Grening he felt the horse had been babied leading into his preps and delivered a serious drill.
Aragona said the colt “just looked like a million bucks in the morning.” He remains a top-tier contender at 10-1, with concerns tied to kickback if he draws an inside post.
Field finalizes as Intrepido steps in, Chip Honcho still pending
Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins, enters the Derby Watch top 20 at 50-1 after a week on the bubble. Grening reported that Mullins is not especially eager to run coming off a dull Santa Anita Derby, but the ownership group wants to go. With Stark Contrast pointing to the American Turf and Iron Honor also out, Intrepido is positioned to draw a post rather than sit on the also-eligible list.
Weekend pivots to workouts as rain looms
Renegade will ship from Florida after one more drill Thursday, April 23, at Palm Beach Downs. Grening reported that potential Saturday rain at Churchill Downs has some trainers considering moving works to Friday, April 24. Chief Wallabee is expected to breeze again Sunday or Monday.
Grening said “the Chip Honcho decision is going to be very key,” as Steve Asmussen’s colt would be a pace presence in a field Grening described as short on early speed. Grening added that, historically, “in a 20-horse field, you’re going to have horses that want to be forward.”
View the complete Daily Racing Form Kentucky Derby rankings and the full Derby Watch podcast at DRF.com.
Daily Racing Form’s Kentucky Derby rankings (Week 12, April 22, 2026)
1. Renegade (Todd Pletcher, 4-1)
Last start: 1st by 4 lengths, Arkansas Derby (G1), March 28 – 98 Beyer
Best Beyer: 98
T2. Commandment (Brad Cox, 5-1)
Last start: 1st by a nose, Florida Derby (G1), March 28 – 100 Beyer
Best Beyer: 101
T2. Further Ado (Brad Cox, 5-1)
Last start: 1st by 11 lengths, Blue Grass (G1), April 4 – 106 Beyer
Best Beyer: 106
4. Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, 8-1)
Last start: 3rd by 1/2 length, Florida Derby (G1), March 28 – 99 Beyer
Best Beyer: 100
5. The Puma (Gustavo Delgado Sr., 10-1)
Last start: 2nd by a nose, Florida Derby (G1), March 28 – 100 Beyer
Best Beyer: 100
6. So Happy (Mark Glatt, 12-1)
Last start: 1st by 2 3/4 lengths, Santa Anita Derby (G1), April 4 – 100 Beyer
Best Beyer: 100
T7. Danon Bourbon (Manabu Ikezoe, 15-1)
Last start: 1st by 3 1/2 lengths, Fukuryu, March 28
Best Beyer: NA
T7. Emerging Market (Chad Brown, 15-1)
Last start: 1st by a head, Louisiana Derby (G2), March 21 – 90 Beyer
Best Beyer: 97
T7. Potente (Bob Baffert, 15-1)
Last start: 2nd by 2 3/4 lengths, Santa Anita Derby (G1), April 4 – 95 Beyer
Best Beyer: 95
T10. Fulleffort (Brad Cox, 20-1)
Last start: 1st by 2 1/2 lengths, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), March 21 – 94 Beyer
Best Beyer: 94
T10. Incredibolt (Riley Mott, 20-1)
Last start: 1st by 4 lengths, Virginia Derby, March 14 – 88 Beyer
Best Beyer: 88
12. Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, 25-1)
Last start: 2nd by 4 lengths, Arkansas Derby (G1), March 28 – 91 Beyer
Best Beyer: 91
T13. Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, 35-1)
Last start: 3rd by 1 length, Louisiana Derby (G2), March 21 – 88 Beyer
Best Beyer: 88
T13. Pavlovian (Doug O’Neill, 35-1)
Last start: 2nd by a head, Louisiana Derby (G2), March 21 – 90 Beyer
Best Beyer: 90
T15. Albus (Riley Mott, 40-1)
Last start: 1st by 1 1/4 lengths, Wood Memorial (G2), April 4 – 83 Beyer
Best Beyer: 84
T15. Wonder Dean (Daisuke Takayanagi, 40-1)
Last start: 1st by 2 1/2 lengths, UAE Derby (G2), March 28
Best Beyer: NA
T17. Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen, 50-1)
Last start: 5th by 11 1/2 lengths, Louisiana Derby (G2), March 21 – 73 Beyer
Best Beyer: 92
T17. Intrepido (Jeff Mullins, 50-1)
Last start: 4th by 10 lengths, Santa Anita Derby (G1), April 4 – 85 Beyer
Best Beyer: 89
T17. Right to Party (Kenny McPeek, 50-1)
Last start: 2nd by 1 1/4 lengths, Wood Memorial (G2), April 4 – 81 Beyer
Best Beyer: 81
T17. Six Speed (Bhupat Seemar, 50-1)
Last start: 2nd by 2 1/2 lengths, UAE Derby (G2), March 28
Best Beyer: NA
Updated weekly by Daily Racing Form’s David Aragona and David Grening
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