Further Ado Leads Derby Dozen; Silent Tactic to Fifth

1. Further Ado 

Owner/Trainer: Spendthrift Farm/Brad Cox

Gun Runner  —Sky Dreamer , by Sky Mesa

Breeder: John C. Oxley (KY)

Though he did not run quickly on the basis of speed figures in the fall when capturing the Nov. 29 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, let's not forget that he posted a 105 Equibase Speed Figure and a 98 Beyer Speed Figure at Keeneland in a 20-length maiden romp a month earlier. He dipped to a 90 ESF and an 82 Beyer in the Kentucky Jockey Club in an apparent bounce, but still won by 1 3/4 lengths against more accomplished foes than he faced in his maiden win. Freshened over the winter, he has a strong chance to circle back to his best and perhaps reach greater heights this spring.

2. Nearly 

Owner/Trainer: Centennial Farms/Todd Pletcher

Not This Time  —Ib Prospecting , by Mineshaft  

Breeder: Wind Hill Farm (FL)

Considering this colt is 3-for-3 at Gulfstream Park, recently topped by an authoritative Jan. 31 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) victory, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher understandably has him pointed to the March 28 Florida Derby (G1) at the South Florida track. Pletcher has won the Florida Derby eight times, and of those, Always Dreaming  went on to capture the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1), giving Pletcher his second victory in the Run for the Roses. Super Saver , third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and second in the Arkansas Derby (G1), was Pletcher's initial Derby winner in 2010. 

3. Paladin 

Owner/Trainer: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine/Chad Brown

Gun Runner—Secret Sigh , by Tapit   

Breeder: Summer Wind Equine (KY)

Trainer Chad Brown is mirroring Sierra Leone  's racing schedule with this colt. After a season finale in the Remsen Stakes (G2)—a 1 1/8-mile race Paladin won, compared to Sierra Leone, who was second in 2023—Paladin returns over the same trip in the Feb. 14 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Sierra Leone won the 2024 Risen Star in advance of earning his first top-level stakes win in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) before his nose runner-up finish in the Derby. Paladin figures to be a clear favorite in the Risen Star after a form-flattering Sam F. Davis Stakes victory from Remsen runner-up Renegade. Paladin climbs a spot from last week.

4. Commandment 

Owner/Trainer: Wathnan Racing/Cox

Into Mischief  —Sippican Harbor , by Orb 

Breeder: Lee Pokoik (KY)

With all three of his starts having come around one turn, he remains a question mark in a two-turn route race, but he'll get his opportunity soon enough in a race such as the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) or another Derby prep around that time. He finished well in taking the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at a mile, passing four horses to take the lead in midstretch, and then drawing away with a closing furlong in :12.87. Progeny of seven-time leading sire Into Mischief have three wins in the Derby: Authentic   (2020), Mandaloun   (by disqualification in 2021), and Sovereignty  (2025).

5. Silent Tactic 

Owner/Trainer: John C. Oxley/Mark Casse

Tacitus  —Magical Sign , by Gun Runner

Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation (KY)

His Southwest Stakes (G3) victory was a beauty. Not only did he win going away by 3 1/4 lengths, but he passed nine horses in the final quarter-mile, striking the front with a sixteenth of a mile remaining and still pouring it on at the finish to register a closing half-furlong in :06.12. He is a horse who should love 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby. For completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.85, he earned a 103 ESF and an 88 Beyer; now has a pair of wins and two seconds in four starts.

WATCH: King Reviews Southwest Stakes, Derby Dozen Rankings

6. Brant 

Owner/Trainer: Zedan Racing Stables/Bob Baffert

Gun Runner—Tynan , by Liam's Map  

Breeder: PTK (KY)

Paladin cost $1.9 million at auction, but he's not the most expensive purchase of the Derby Dozen runners. It's Brant, who fetched $3 million last year during the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. As a grade 1-winning son of Gun Runner, Brant will be headed to stud upon the conclusion of his racing career. Of course, how valuable he becomes for Zedan Racing Stables will depend in part on what he does this year at 3. The 2025 Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner is one of the most talented colts around, though stamina questions linger after he tired to third in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1); three easy works for six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert so far in 2026.

7. Litmus Test 

Owner/Trainer: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Baffert

Nyquist  —Study Hard , by Malibu Moon

Breeder: Machmer Hall (KY)

Following his scratch from Friday's Southwest, the 2025 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner breezed the next day at Santa Anita Park, a sign he is in good health. Look for Baffert to run him next month, perhaps in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita or in another Derby prep out of town. His Saturday work was nice, clocking a half-mile in :48 2/5. Not only did he outperform his Baffert-trained workmate passing the wire when encouraged on the gallop out, but he also left two other horses breezing for other trainers far behind. 

8. Golden Tempo 

Owner/Trainer: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable/Cherie DeVaux

Curlin  —Carrumba , by Bernardini

Breeder: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables (KY)

Perfect in two starts at Fair Grounds, winning a Dec. 20 maiden race when sprinting and the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte Stakes (G3) in his first route Jan. 17, this late runner now gets a test against Paladin in Saturday's Risen Star. The 1 1/8-mile trip looks up Golden Tempo's alley, though the Risen Star seems to have less speed than the Lecomte. Three of those he defeated in the Lecomte return for another try, though not stablemate and Lecomte runner-up Mesquite . Carson Street  (third), Chip Honcho  (fourth), and Quality Mischief  (fifth)—all within 3 lengths of Golden Tempo in the Lecomte—are all back.

9. Plutarch 

Owner/Trainer: Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Tabor/Baffert

Into Mischief—Stellar Wind , by Curlin 

Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)

This impeccably bred colt, by Into Mischief out of the champion mare Stellar Wind , showed promise last year at a 2, but beat himself on occasion by racing greenly. Still, he picked up three stakes placings as a maiden, including a close third in the 2025 American Pharoah Stakes (G1). After graduating from the maiden ranks last fall, he took another step forward Feb. 7 in taking the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. Hustled to press Intrepido  after a somewhat tardy break, he won as clearly best while appearing to coast a bit once striking the front in the stretch.

10. Renegade 

Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low/Pletcher

Into Mischief—Spice Is Nice , by Curlin

Breeder: Robert and Lawana Low (KY)

A fine second in the Remsen in light of a wide trip and an early backstretch move, he was ridden more patiently in Saturday's Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and blew away the field through the stretch with a strong finish. He posted a 100 ESF and a 92 Beyer—both career highs. Less enthusiastically, horses exiting the Sam F. Davis are 0-1-2 in the Derby from 31 starts, and the race itself was downgraded from a grade 3 to listed status beginning in 2025. The race tends not to feature the cream of the 3-year-old crop.

11. Blackout Time  

Owner/Trainer: Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway, and Magdalena Racing/Kenny McPeek

Not This Time—Beauty Parlor , by Elusive Quality 

Breeder: Newstead (KY)

Should all go well, he will return to racing action in the March 1 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn, though he still needs to work his way off the vets' list and clear tests after being a regulatory scratch from last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. After getting his initial training done at Fair Grounds, his next work will come this week at Oaklawn, according to co-owner Lance Gasaway. Gasaway teamed with other partners and trainer Kenny McPeek to win the 2024 Derby with Mystik Dan  . Last year's Breeders' Futurity (G1) runner-up, Blackout Time is McPeek's top Derby hope this year.

12. Canaletto 

Owner/Trainer: Magnier, Tabor, Derrick Smith, Brant, and Brook Smith/Brown

Into Mischief—Distorted Music , by Distorted Humor 

Breeder: Lothenbach Stables (KY)

A flashy debut winner at Gulfstream Jan. 25 for Brown and many of the owners associated with Paladin and Plutarch, Canaletto promisingly resumed breezing Feb. 8. He obviously needs to have everything go right to make the Derby, having made just a single start at a mile and likely having just three races before the first Saturday in May. The Fountain of Youth or the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby are being considered for his next race, Brown said.