2026 Kentucky Derby, Oaks series kick off at Churchill Downs

The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby series kicks off Saturday at Churchill Downs, when the Derby site plays host to the $300,000 Iroquois (G3) over one mile. The $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), the first race in the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, will be held earlier in the card and is also run at one mile.

The top five finishers in the Iroquois and Pocahontas will receive qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1 for their respective target races next May.

The Iroquois has attracted a field of 10 led by Comport, who rebounded from a second-place effort in the Bashford Manor S. to land the Ellis Park Juvenile by two lengths over Spice Runner. The Iroquois will mark the third meeting between the two, with Spice Runner having finished a distant fifth in the Bashford Manor in their first encounter.

Bettors looking to play against the top pair are likely to gravitate toward some of the less exposed second-time starters that won on debut. Vost and Nine Ball both exit graduating efforts at Ellis Park, while Nothing Personal walloped rivals at Colonial Downs by 8 3/4 lengths while earning a Brisnet Speed rating of 86.

Seven fillies were entered in the Pocahontas, the only stakes veteran being Dazzling Dame. The daughter of Girvin led all the way to capture the Sorority S. at Monmouth last out, going a two-turn mile, improving her record to 2-for-2.

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who has won a record four editions of the Pocahontas, is represented by Taken by the Wind and Our Two Girls, who captured their respective debuts at Saratoga and Ellis Park. Embrace the Moment is the only other winner in the field, having won first out at Delaware Park.

There are three other stakes on Saturday's card at Churchill, the most meaningful being the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. for older sprinters. The six-furlong dash marks the return of Bentornato, whose last appearance was a half-length second to Straight No Chaser in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar last November.

Grade 2 veteran World Record owns a solid local mark and placed in both the Aristides (G3) and Bing Crosby (G1) in his last two outings, while Kelly's Landing (G3) victor Roll On Big Joe looks to rebound from a fifth in the Bing Crosby. Skelly is one of the fastest sprinters around on his best day, but is not immune to getting rubber-legged in the sixth furlong.