(Further Ado / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

Graduates of Keeneland Sales Prepare for Kentucky Derby and Oaks

LEXINGTON, KY (April 30, 2026) – Keeneland sales are represented by 12 of 24 3-year-old males entered in Saturday’s $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs as well as 11 of 17 sophomore fillies entered in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run at the track the day before.

Twenty horses plus four also-eligibles were entered in the 152 running of the 1¼-mile Derby. They include these Keeneland sales graduates:

Albus (Yaupon-Adream): Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent sold the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino winner to owner Pin Oak Stud for $320,000 at the 2024 September Yearling Sale. Riley Mott trains the colt, who will be ridden by Manny Franco. Albus was bred by Susan Casner.

Commandment (Into Mischief-Sippican Harbor): Lee Pokoik bred the winner of the Florida Derby (G1) Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa and the Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2). Commandment is a graduate of two Keeneland sales. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, offered him as a weanling at the 2023 November Breeding Stock Sale. Consigned to Book 1 of the September Sale, Commandment sold for $500,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. Brad Cox trains Commandment, who is owned by Wathnan Racing and will be ridden by Luis Saez.

Danon Bourbon (Maxfield-Wild Ridge): Lane’s End, agent sold the winner of the Fukuryu Stakes in Japan to Katsumi Yoshida for $450,000 at the September Sale. Blue Heaven Farm bred Danon Bourbon, who races for Danox Co. He is trained by Manabu Ikezoe and will be ridden by Atsuya Nishimura.

Emerging Market (Candy Ride [ARG]-Wild Empress): Breeder Stoneriggs Farm consigned the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner to the September Sale, where he sold to Cayuga Capital for $185,000. Chad Brown trains Emerging Market for Klaravich Stables. The colt will be ridden by Flavien Prat.

Further Ado (Gun Runner-Sky Dreamer): Gainesway, agent, consigned Further Ado to Book 1 of the September Sale, where he was a $275,000 post-sale purchase by George Mellon. Spendthrift Farm owns the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner, who is trained by Brad Cox. John Velazquez will ride. John C. Oxley bred Further Ado.

Incredibolt (Bolt d’Oro-Sapphire Spitfire): Consigned by Burleson Farms, agent, to the September Sale, Incredibolt sold to owner Pin Oak Stud for $75,000. Riley Mott trains the winner of the Street Sense (G3) and the Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County. Jaime Torres will ride Incredibolt, who was bred by Deann Baer and Greg Baer, DVM.

Intrepido (Maximus Mischief-Overly Indulgent): Vinery Sales, agent, consigned the American Pharoah (G1) Presented by DK Horse winner to the September Sale, where he was a $30,000 post-sale purchase by Cardozo’s Brothers Training & Sales. Bred by Sierra Fria Farm and owned by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures, Intrepido is trained by Jeff Mullins and will be ridden by Hector Berrios.

Renegade (Into Mischief-Spice Is Nice): Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the Arkansas (G1) and the Sam F. Davis (L) winner to Book 1 of the September Sale, where he sold for $975,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable. The Derby favorite at odds of 4-1, Renegade races for Repole Stable and breeders Robert and Lawana Low. Irad Ortiz will ride the colt for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Right to Party (Constitution-Havin’ a Party): Second in the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino and third in the Gotham (G3), Right to Party was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent to the September Sale. He sold for $325,000 to Becky Thomas, agent for Chester and Mary Broman. Trained by Kenny McPeek for Chester Broman Sr., Right to Party will be ridden by Chris Elliott. Tony Holmes and Timothy C. Thornton bred the colt.

Six Speed (Not This Time-Browse): Breeder KatieRich Farms consigned Six Speed to the September Sale, where he sold for $50,000 to Margaret O’Toole. Winner of the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3), Six Speed is owned by Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson and Swinbank Stables. Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

So Happy (Runhappy-So Cunning): Consigned as a weanling by Claiborne Farm, agent, to the 2023 November Sale, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the San Vicente (G2) winner sold to Majed Alabdulkarim for $12,000. Bred by Leverett S. Miller, the colt is trained by Mark Glatt for Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. Mike Smith will ride.

The Puma (Essential Quality-Eve of War): Hidden Brook, who bred the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner in partnership with Brian Kahn, offered the colt at the September Sale. Gustavo Delgado trains The Puma for OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing, TCC Stables and Bruce Zoldan. He will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

Twenty-four Keeneland sales graduates have won the Derby. Recent winners are champion Nyquist (2016), Always Dreaming (2017), Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify (2018), Horse of the Year Authentic (2020) and Mage (2023).

The Derby is the 12th of 14 races at Churchill on Saturday. Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET.

Sales graduates take on Kentucky Oaks

Keeneland sales alumni among the horses entered in Friday’s 152nd Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles are:

Always a Runner (Gun Runner-Always Carina): Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, sold the Gazelle (G3) winner for $1,050,000 at the September Sale to Douglas Scharbauer, who races the filly with breeder Three Chimneys Farm. Trained by Chad Brown, Always a Runner will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Brooklyn Blonde (Gun Runner-Shenandoah Queen): Bobby Flay, who co-owns the filly with Sun-Kissed Stable, purchased her for $510,000 at the September Sale from the consignment of Indian Creek, agent. Michael McCarthy trains Brooklyn Blond, who was bred by Benson Farm. Kazushi Kimura will ride.

Counting Stars (Honor A.P.-Paynterbynumbers): Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, to the September Sale, the Fantasy (G2) winer sold to Nestor Martinez for $13,000. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Counting Stars is trained by Mark Casse. She will be ridden by Francisco Arrieta. Counting Stars was bred by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishad Al Saud.

Dazzling Dame (Girvin-Awesome Dama): Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, offered Dazzling Dame as a weanling at the 2023 November Sale. Respect the Valleys, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables own the winner of the Busanda, the White Clay Creek and the Sorority. Luis Saez will ride for trainer Brittany Russell. Dazzling Dame was bred by Maria M. Haire.

Explora (Blame-Collections Choice): Warrendale Sales, agent for breeder Mesingw Farm, consigned the winner of the Oak Leaf (G2) Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association, the Honeybee (G3) and the Santa Ynez (L) to the September Sale, where she sold for $22,000 to Rusty Roberts. Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman race Explora, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert.

Meaning (Gun Runner-Figure of Speech): Winner of Santa Anita Oaks (G2) by Surfside and the Las Virgenes (L), the filly was consigned to Book 1 of the September Sale by breeder Stonehaven Steadings and sold for $440,000 to owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bridlewood Farm. Trained by Michael McCarthy, she will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Percy’s Bar (Upstart-Honestly Deb): Owner Hat Creek Racing purchased the Central Bank Ashland (G1) winner for $52,000 at the September Sale. Bred by Brereton C. Jones, she was consigned by Airdrie Stud. Luan Machado will ride Percy’s Bar for trainer Ben Colebrook.

SCRATCH — Bottle of Rouge (Vino Russo-Blues Corner): Winner of the Del Mar Debutante (G1), the Sunland Park Oaks and the Virginia Oaks Presented by New Kent County, Bottle of Rouge was bred by Kathie Maybee and is a graduate of two Keeneland sales. As a weanling, she was consigned by Four Star Sales, agent, to 2023 November Sale and sold for $60,000 to Kids in America Bloodstock. Hunter Valley Farm, agent consigned Bottle of Rouge to the September Sale, where she sold for $100,000 to Big Sky Racing. Bob Baffert trains her for his wife, Jill J. Baffert. Mike Smith was named to ride.

DREW IN FROM ALSO-ELIGIBLES —

Lovely Grey (Vekoma-Knightwithputnam): Joann Adams and Katy Lee bred the stakes-placed filly, who was offered by Warrendale Sales, agent, at the September Sale. Kelsey Danner trains Lovely Grey for Go Go Greys Stable. Dylan Davis will ride.

Nycon (Nyquist-Raise the Flag): Legion Racing, agent for owner Icon Racing, paid $375,000 for the stakes-placed filly at the September Sale from the consignment of St George Sales, agent, for $375,000. Whit Beckman trains Nycon, who will be ridden by Jaime Torres. She was bred by Pursuit of Success.

Additional also-eligible:

Resist (Maclean’s Music-Bahama Babe): Military Pike Racing Stables bred and owns stakes-placed Resist, who is trained by Tom Drury Jr. Denali Stud, agent, offered the filly at the September Sale. Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride.

Keeneland sales have produced these recent winners of the Kentucky Oaks: champion Abel Tasman (2017), champion Monomoy Girl (2018), Serengeti Empress (2019), Shedaresthedevil (2020) and champion Malathaat (2021).

The field for the Oaks, the final of 13 races at Churchill, is limited to 14 horses. Post time is 8:40 p.m.

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Since its first race meet 90 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five on-site sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. On Oct. 30-31, Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the fourth time, following 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.

For more information please email Keeneland Communications Associate Amy Owens at aowens@keeneland.com