Chief Wallabee

Jerry Bailey has won the GI Kentucky Derby twice and has provided expert analysis on the NBC broadcast of the race for years. So who better to join the TDN Writers' Room podcast team for its annual Derby handicapping show than the Hall of Fame jockey? The podcast is presented by Keeneland and Bailey was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. Much of the talk after the draw centered around morning-line favorite Renegade (Into Mischief) getting the one hole. Bailey doesn't think that will be a problem. "I know the...

Tune in to the 2026 Kentucky Derby edition of the TDN Writers' Room. The crew takes a deep dive into the full field and NBC racing analyst joins in to take a wider look at the Derby, plus Saturday's undercard and Friday's Kentucky Oaks.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A 7:22 a.m. announcement over the PA system on the Churchill Downs backstretch welcomed Kentucky Oaks/Derby runners as well as Kentucky Derby winners to the track for a special 15-minute training window on a humid and overcast Tuesday morning. With the surface in terrific condition and officially listed as fast despite torrential, late-night thunderstorms, last year's Kentucky Derby winner and physically imposing Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) showed this year's class how it's done with a powerful gallop to get things started. His Bill Mott-trained...

On a cloudy Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, six entrants put in their final breezes over a fast track, led by Chief Wallabee (Constitution). Mike and Kay Ball's Chief Wallabee worked a half-mile in :49.20 in company with the 3-year-old maiden winner Steel (Tapit). Junior Alvarado was aboard for trainer Bill Mott. The TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard produced splits of :13.20, :25.40, :49.20 and out five-eighths in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:15.20. "We did what we wanted to do and if it doesn't work out, then that's...

Trainer Brad Cox's trio of Kentucky Derby hopefuls--Commandment (Into Mischief), Fulleffort (Liam's Map) and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' Further Ado (Gun Runner)--highlighted a bustling morning at Churchill Downs a week out from Derby 152. Working during the 7:15-7:30 (all times Eastern) training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects, the Cox trio was joined by Chester Broman's Right to Party (Constitution) (five furlongs in 1:01.20) for trainer Kenny McPeek. For Team Cox the group included Wathnan Racing's Commandment (five furlongs in 1:01.40 in company with the 4-year-old...

Renegade (Into Mischief), a spectacular, come-from-behind winner for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the GI Arkansas Derby, was tabbed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite despite drawing the rail in a field of 20 set for next Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides. Renegade, a $975,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is campaigned in partnership by Repole Stable and breeders Robert and Lawana Low. Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). The last horse to win the...

Mike and K.K. Ball's Chief Wallabee (Constitution) worked five furlongs in company in 1:00 on a crisp Monday morning at Churchill Downs. Working during the special training period for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses from 7:15-7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) with recent maiden winner Gilded Bandit (Charlatan), Chief Wallabee produced fractions of :24.80, :36.60, :48.20 and 1:00 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven-eighths in 1:26.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Jockey Junior Alvarado was in the irons. "It was a good work," Alvarado said. "We...

It truly is spring in Kentucky when the penultimate preps for the marquee event in May start rolling out, and so was the story Saturday morning as Albus (Yaupon) and Right to Party (Constitution) led the work tab for GI Kentucky Derby hopefuls at Churchill Downs. The top two from last month's GII Wood Memorial Stakes both went out Saturday morning with winner Albus spotted first for trainer Riey Mott. He breezed four panels in :49 flat (35/65) for his first move over the track since arriving at the venue...

Several horses clustered near the bottom of the "Road to the GI Kentucky Derby" are eligible for the race based on points, but their connections have not committed to the Derby. So this list differs slightly from the official qualifying rankings with respect to a few horses who are currently outside the top 20 points leaders and looking to get in. 1) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief--Sippican Harbor, by Orb). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000...

The final weekend of nine-furlong preps in New York, California and Kentucky didn't vault any unexpected new shooters to the top of the GI Kentucky Derby pecking order. Yet while the likely favorites look well established, none stands out as invincible, and there's an intriguing mix of mid-priced long shots deeper down the list. Next week we'll expand to rate the Top 20 contenders.   1) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief--Sippican Harbor, by Orb) O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA...

Following his victory in the GI Arkansas Derby, Renegade (Into Mischief) has been tabbed the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the sixth and final pool for the GI Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Thursday at noon and closes Saturday at 6 p.m. Other top interests in Pool 6 include GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment (Into Mischief) at 6-1; GIII Tampa Bay Derby winner and Florida Derby runner-up The Puma (Essential Quality) at 8-1; and GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth runner-up Chief Wallabee (Constitution) at 10-1. To see the complete...

by T.D. Thornton-Last Saturday's news that the No. 1-ranked Paladin (Gun Runner) will miss the GI Kentucky Derby with a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right front ankle created a vacancy atop this list. Any set of Derby rankings abhors a vacuum, but it wasn't easy deciding which of several worthy candidates out of the GI Florida Derby and GI Arkansas Derby would take over the kingpin slot.   1) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief-Sippican Harbor, by Orb) O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg...