A chestnut colt named Paladin surged to the top of Kentucky Derby contender lists after a victory in the Risen Star Stakes on February 14th, solidifying his position as a leading prospect for the May 2nd race at Churchill Downs. The unbeaten Paladin, trained by Chad Brown, is owned by a consortium including Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine LLC.
The victory at Fair Grounds Race Course was not without challenge. Paladin won by half a length despite being bumped during the race, demonstrating a resilience that has impressed observers. His connections have previously come close to Derby glory; two years prior, they finished second with Sierra Leone, losing by a nose to Mystik Dan in a photo finish that also included Forever Young. Michael Tabor, one of Paladin’s owners, previously won the Derby in 1995 with Thunder Gulch.
Paladin’s pedigree is a significant factor in his potential. He is the son of Gun Runner, a former Horse of the Year, and Secret Sigh, whose father is the renowned Tapit. This lineage suggests a capacity for the 1¼ mile distance of the Kentucky Derby. The colt’s earnings currently stand at $437,500.
While Paladin currently leads the pack, several other contenders are vying for a spot in the starting gate. Further Ado, trained by Brad Cox, is also considered a strong prospect. The colt has won his last two starts, including the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November, but has yet to prove himself at the Derby distance. Cox previously had a horse elevated to first place in the 2021 Derby, Mandaloun, after Medina Spirit was disqualified.
Another horse to watch is Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher, who has a strong record in the Florida Derby, a key prep race. Pletcher has won the Florida Derby eight times since 2007. Renegade, like Paladin, is being carefully managed to ensure peak performance in the coming months.
Into Mischief-sired horses Plutarch and Canaletto, both also owned by the same group as Paladin, represent further strength in depth for the powerful ownership and training combination. Bob Baffert, Plutarch’s trainer, has likened the colt to his 2020 Derby winner, Authentic. Brown, however, has opted to run Canaletto in the Tampa Bay Derby, prioritizing experience over a potentially premature push for qualifying points.
Reagan’s Honor, trained by Cherie DeVaux, recently displaced another DeVaux trainee, Golden Tempo, in the Derby Dozen rankings after a dominant performance at Fair Grounds. DeVaux is hoping for a strong showing in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland to secure sufficient qualifying points for the Derby.
The upcoming Blue Grass Stakes on April 4th at Keeneland will be a crucial test for Paladin, as well as Reagan’s Honor, and will further clarify the field of contenders as the Kentucky Derby draws closer. The San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 7th will also be a key race, featuring Plutarch and potentially Litmus Test.