Coreell’s Corner: Derby 152 Starting gate getting crowded

Posted On 23 Mar 2026

Starting gate getting crowded

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

TRINITY, Fla. – Fulleffort and Emerging Market won the Jeff Ruby and the Louisiana Derby respectively and earned spots in the Kentucky Derby starting on the first Saturday in May.

Fulleffort’s win was on fake dirt at Turfway Park and he has never been on the real stuff, so the Derby will be his first try on it.

Emerging Market battled down the long Fairgrounds stretch to beat Pavlovian by a short head, and both colts have enough points to get into the Derby. Golden Tempo, who was in third, also has enough points to get in if his connections decide to go.

Incredibolt won the Virginia Derby on March 14 at the speedway know as Colonial Downs and picked up enough points to be in the Derby. Problem is his speed figure only improved one point since he won a race at Churchill Downs on Oct. 26, 2025. He flopped in the Holy Bull earlier this year and trainer Riley Mott plans to train him up to the Kentucky Derby. Good luck with that.

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

Paladin (Gun Runner) won the Risen Star and has two mile-and-an-eighth races under his belt. Trainer Chad Brown.

Potente (Into Mischief) won the San Felipe at Santa Anita. Bob Baffert.

Renegade (Into Mischief) won the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay. Todd Pletcher.

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

Commandment (Into Mischief) won the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. Brad Cox.

Class President (Uncle Mo) won the Rebel at Oaklawn. Todd Pletcher.

The Puma (Essential Quality) won the Tampa Bay Derby. Gustavo Delgado.

Fulleffort (Liam’s Map) won the Jeff Ruby. Brad Cox.

Emerging Market (Candy Ride) won the Louisiana Derby and he may train up to the Derby. Chad Brown.

Incredibolt (Bolt d’Oro) won the Virginia Derby. Riley Mott.

Iron Honor (Nyquist) won the Gotham. Chad Brown.