Correll’s Corner: “Road to Derby 152” Drum roll, please

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview

TRINITY, Fla. – Although weather, extreme cold in the Midwest and East Coast, has caused several racetracks to delay or postpone some races, I’ve seen enough colts on the Kentucky Derby trail to start compiling a Top 10 list for 2026.

I’m going to concentrate on colts that have run since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. We’ve already lost the 2-year-old champion because of a bone bruise and Ted Noffey won’t be back until after the first Saturday in May.

I will list the horse, sire, most recent race it was in and the trainer.

Nearly (Not This Time) won the Holy Bull at Gulfstream. Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Further Ado (Gun Runner) won the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill. Brad Cox.

Solitude Dude (Yaupon) won the Swale at Gulfstream. Saffie Joseph Jr.

Golden Tempo (Curlin) won the Lecomte at Fairgrounds. Cherrie DeVaux

So Happy (Runhappy) won the San Vicente at Santa Anita. Mark Glatt.

Commandment (Into Mischief) won the Mucho Macho Man. Brad Cox.

Strategic Risk (Noble Bird) won the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. Mark Casse.

Litmus Test (Nyquist) won the Los Alamitos Futurity. Bob Baffert.

Paladin (Gun Runner) won the Remsen at Aqueduct. Chad Brown.

Potente (Into Mischief) broke his maiden impressively at Santa Anita on first asking. Bob Baffert.