Here we go again – grab your hats and fluff the fancy tuxedo tails as the first weekend of May seems to be barreling down towards us at speed, and the post-up for the Kentucky Derby has an impressive eight horses who hail from or were trained in the Ocala area.
There are twenty horses in the starting lineup of the Derby race, and more often than not, almost half of them have been bred, raised, or trained in the Horse Capital of the World™. Marion County has some of the richest deposits of limestone in the soil, full of minerals that give horses the nutrition most other breeders have to add as supplements in feed – plus there’s a layer of clay that holds onto moisture and creates incredibly fertile ground. The grass is, quite literally speaking, greener. And really healthy eating for those of the equine persuasion. There are plenty of trees for shade,and plenty of clean water to drink.
It’s why so many iconic horse farms have flourished here for decades, building on experience and creating a reputation for Ocala as a hub of unrivaled expertise in breeding, raising, and training horses. They all seem to almost constantly win races and go on to produce equally impressive offspring. Many of these amazing farms have their own racetracks so horses can train and condition. It’s reflective of the commitment and massive investment of what is often a generational family business, like Shade Tree Farm and Cashel Stud. Bridlewood Farm, built by Arthur Appleton and now owned by the Malone family, is still one of the most famous in the racing industry, having raised and trained over 100 stakes winners. Unquestionably, Ocala’s climate, conditions, and arable land have proven to be unique and integral to its equestrian successes, which led to more horse farms being built, which led to an entire infrastructure that evolved exclusively around the horse industry.
“Typically more than around half of the horses who compete in the Derby annually come were bred, raised, or trained here in Marion County. In recent years, as much as three-quarters of the field has passed through here. There are a lot of horses on the Derby trail that started their training in Ocala, which is the premier training ground probably anywhere in the world.”
“Typically more than around half of the horses who compete in the Derby annually come were bred, raised, or trained here in Marion County. In recent years, as much as three-quarters of the field has passed through here,” says Brock Sheridan, Editor-in-Chief of Florida Equine Communications. “There are a lot of horses on the Derby trail that started their training in Ocala, which is the premier training ground probably anywhere in the world.”
The Kentucky Derby is the annual coming-out event of equestrians and is the first leg of the American Triple Crown stakes. And they’re big stakes; bets at the Derby alone have topped out at over $209 million, while online wagers generate up to $32 million. The horse who wins the top prize canters off with a purse of $3 million and is generally an odds-on favorite for the subsequent Preakness Stakes two weeks later – and then the Belmont Stakes in early June. After that, winning horses like American Pharoah, Justify, Secretariat, and Citation usually retire comfortably on a stud farm and bring in millions more by fruitfully multiplying their bloodline.
Further Ado
Color Sex: Chestnut Colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 135
Trainer: Brad Cox
Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC (Eric P. Gustavson)
Jockey:
Breeder: John C. Oxley
Breeding: Gun Runner – Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa
Auction History: Purchased by Spendthrift for $550,000 at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale. Consigned by Scott Kintz’s Six K’s Training and Sales based in Ocala, Florida. Purchased by George Mellon for $275,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearlings Sale. Consigned by Gainesway.
Last Race: Won the Toyota Blue Grass S. (Grade 1) on April 4 at Keeneland.
Record: 6-3-1-1
Earnings: $1,146,328
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Graduate of Scott Kintz’s Six K’s Training and Sale early training, who also consigned him to the OBS Spring Sale
The Puma
Color Sex: Chestnut colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 106
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Owner: OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado), JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo et al) and High Step Racing (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira and Todd Perry)
Jockey:
Breeder: Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn (Kentucky)
Breeding: Essential Quality – Eve of War, by Declaration of War
Auction History: Sold for $150,000 to Marquee Bloodstock as agent for Marquee Bloodstock at OBS Spring
Last Race: 2nd to Commandment in Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park
Record: 4-1-2-1
Earnings: $442,280
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Graduate of Florida training program at Hidden Brook. 2025 OBS Spring Sale Graduate where he was consigned by Hidden Brook.
Silent Tactic
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 100
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: John C. Oxley
Jockey:
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation (Kentucky)
Breeding: Tacitus – Magical Sign, by Gun Runner
Auction History: Sold for $500,000 at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale to Ocala resident Justin Casse. Consigned by Thorostock, Nick Sallusto, Morriston, Florida
Last Race: Second to Renegade in Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Record: 6-2-4-0
Earnings: $1,051,922
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Trained by Ocala resident Mark Casse and trained at his Casse Training Center in Ocala. Received early trained by Nick Sallusto’s Thorostock in Morriston, Florida. Thorostock also consigned Silent Tactic at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale where he was purchased by Justin Casse of Ocala, Florida.
Emergency Market
Color Sex: Chestnut colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 100
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Klarvich Stables Inc. (Seth Klarman)
Jockey:
Breeder: Stoneriggs Farm (Kentucky)
Breeding: Candy Ride (Arg) – Wild Empress, by Empire Maker
Auction History: Purchased by Cayuga Capital for $185,000 at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Consigned by Stoneriggs Farm
Last Race: Won Louisiana Derby (Grade 2) at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana
Record: 2-2-0
Earnings: $618,880
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Trained early by Niall Brennan at Niall Brennan Stables in Ocala, Florida
Renegade
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 125
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Robert and Lawana L. Low and Repole Stable (Mike Repole)
Jockey:
Breeder: Robert and Lawana L. Low and Repole Stable (Kentucky)
Breeding: Into Mischief – Spice is Nice, by Curlin
Auction History: Sold for $975,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable at 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
Last Race: Won Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Record: 5-2-2-1
Earnings: $1,031,500
Ocala/Marion County Connection: 4-1 morning line favorite, graduated from the early training program of J.J. Pletcher at his Payton Training Center in Ocala. Trained by Pletcher’s son Todd Pletcher, Renegade is owned by Robert and Lawana L. Low and Mike Repole’s Repole Stable. He was an impressive, come-from-behind winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park and with earnings of $1,002,500, he is one of two millionaires in the Derby field.
Potente
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 50
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Speedway Stables LLC (Peter Flour and K.C. Werner)
Jockey:
Breeder: Pam & Martin Wygod (Kentucky)
Breeding: Into Mischief – Sweet Sting, by Awesome Again
Auction History: Purchased by Speedway Stables for $2.4 million at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton August Saratoga Sale. Consigned by Lane’s End.
Last Race:
Record:
Earnings:
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Graduate of Niall Brennan Stables early training program based in Ocala, Florida
Intrepido
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points:
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Owner: Dutch Girl Holdings LLC (Michele Arthur) & Irving Ventures LLC (Ruben Isla)
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Breeder: Sierra Fria Farm LLC
Breeding: Maximus Mischief – Overly Indulgent
Auction History:
Last Race:
Record:
Earnings: $290,000
Passed before the OBS auctioneers from the consignment of Cardoza’s Brothers. Owned by Michelle Arthur’s Dutch Girl Holding LLC and Ruben Islas’s Irving Ventures LLC, both of San Diego, Intrepido is 50-1 on the morning line and trained by Jeff Mullins. Intrepido was most recently fourth in the Santa Anita Derby.
Corona de Oro
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points:
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Owner: On Our Own Stable LLC, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables LLC, Saints or Sinners
Jockey: Hernandez Jr., Brian Joseph
Breeder:Willow Oaks Stable LLC
Breeding: Bolt d’Oro – Lemon de Oro
Auction History:
Last Race:
Record:
Earnings: $92,540
Ocala/Marion County Connection: On the Derby also-eligible list, spent time as a yearling with Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association board member Beth Bayer of Ocala. Bayer consigned the colt to the 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale where Michael Sucher of West Palm Beach, Florida purchased him for $100,000 in the name of his Champion Equine. Corona de Oro received his early schooling from Tom McCrocklin of Ocala.
So Happy
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points:115
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Owner: Norman Stables LLC (Robbie Norman) & Saints or Sinners (Hans & Ana Maron)
Jockey: Mike Smith
Breeder: Leverett S. Miller
Breeding: Run Happy – So Cunning, by Blame
Auction History:
Last Race: April 4, 2026, at Santa Anita: Won stakes race 1 1/8 miles at 7-1 odds by 2 3/4 lengths
Record: 3-for-4 with one show through April 4, 2026
Earnings: $444,000
OBS graduate having been purchased by Rodolfo Garcia’s First Call consignment for $150,000 by trainer Mark Glatt. Now owned by Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners, So Happy is listed at 15-1 in the program. Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner.
Litmus Test
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points:
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: SF Racing, LLC (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf, et al.), Madaket Stables, LLC (Sol Kumin), Stonestreet Stables, LLC (Barbara Banke), Bashor Racing, LLC (Dianne Bashor), Determined Stables (Matt Dorman), Golconda Stable (Ben Goldberg), Waves Edge Capital, LLC (W. Gregg Slager) and Catherine Donovan
Jockey:Martin Garcia
Breeder:Machmer Hall
Breeding: Liam’s Map – Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again
Auction History: Purchased by St. Elias Stables and Starlight Racing for $425,000 at 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. Consigned by Eaton Sales (Ky)
Last Race:
Record:
Earnings: $429,688
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Bob Baffert-trained, seventh in the Arkansas Derby after a poor start. Owned by a long list of partners that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Litmus Test found the Derby starting gate with a third-place finish in the Rebel Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park in March and a victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December. He is 50-1 in the program.
Right to Party
Color Sex: Chestnut colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points:
Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek
Owner: Chester Broman Sr.
Jockey: Chris Elliott
Breeder:Tony Holmes & Timothy C. Thornton
Breeding: Constitution – Havin’ a Party
Auction History:
Last Race: April 4, 2026, at Aqueduct: Finished 2nd in stakes 1 1/8 miles at 39-1 odds (1 1/4 lengths behind winner)
Record:
Earnings: $176,000
Ocala/Marion County Connection: Becky Thomas purchased Right to Party as a yearling in Kentucky as an agent for Mary and Chester Broman Sr. then trained the chestnut colt at her Sequel at Winding Oaks training center located in Ocala. Now racing in the name of Chester Broman Sr., Right to Party exits a second-place finisher to Derby-contender Albus in the Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack. Right to Party is 30-1 on the morning line and is trained by Kenneth McPeek, who has his Silverleaf Hills Training Center in Summerfield, Florida.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby starts Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 am, when the gates open up and let in the swarming fans, with their colorful hats, whimsical fascinators, and tailored suits to find their seats before first post at 6:57 pm EST. The current odds-on favorite is Renegade at 4-1, followed closely by Commandment (7-1), The Puma (12-1), and Chief Wallabee (13-1) – but legendary trainer Bob Baffert, who coached American Pharoah and Justify to the Triple Crown, has another strong contender in this year’s Derby with Potente, just fresh off a win at San Felipe.
If you can’t be at Churchill Downs, fret not! If you’re yearning to party a little with like-minded fans with a penchant for festive hatgear, head up to the annual World Equestrian Center’s Watch Party and/or Hat Party, where you can feast on delectable food and watch the goings-on in Kentucky live on the Jumbotron.
You can also watch early morning workouts on Churchill Downs’ live feed as we get closer to Saturday, and follow Race Day action on NBC and Peacock beginning at Noon EST.
Note: The current starting lineup will be updated throughout the week with changes, which often happens, so keep checking back so you stay abreast of who’s doing what and whether the odds have switched.
