The AR Derby (Grade 1) (BC)- $1,500.000 Purse
OP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
March 28, 2026

With 100 KYD points on the line for the winner of the AR Derby, the pressure was on most of the field to pick up the win to secure their spot in the big race. One horse that was not in a “must win” situation was Hurts, as thanks to his win in the Fountain Of Youth, he was already in a safe spot. However, the top share of the $1,500.000 purse is plenty of incentive, and Hurts would cement himself as a favorite for the KYD by grabbing this victory. This win can also be celebrated by trainers of horses on the bubble, since another horse does not shoot to the top with the result of the race. This is a feel-good story in the making to, for Royalty Stables, since his horse Baffert was snake bitten in the TC races, finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, but winning none of them. Hurts will now be in the huddle to pick up where Baffert left off, and to potentially get that big TC win. For now, Royalty Stables will celebrate his first win in the AR Derby. J R Velazquez was aboard for his second such win. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:47.81, the second quickest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it!

(½ Mile- :47.35)- The opening half mile sees three horses go to the front, and work their way around the turn, and enter the backstretch while running alongside one another. With a neck in front here, the one in the middle, Night Rider Stables’ People Batty, holds the lead as Angelos Stable’s Gary runs to his outside and the Mb Stables- trained Angel In Command runs on the rail. Just off the lead in fourth, Serenity Stables’ Blacketer is a length ahead of Hulk, who’s trained by D J C Racing Stables. In the middle of the pack, Fandom is a length behind him for Aer Stables. Next is where we find our eventual winner from Royalty Stables and fittingly sporting saddlecloth number one, Hurts. He’s in a good spot on the rail, clear of a three wide group behind them. From inside to outside, that trio consists of Knockturn Alley (Delta Farms), The Wrong Guy (Night Rider Stables), and Cherokee Monster (TwinTowersRacing). Trailing, is Open Invitation (Mb Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.40)- People Batty is right where he likes to be early in race, out in front, as he now is able to clear Gary and Angel In Command by a length. Those two are neck and neck, while Blacketer continues to have a nice stalking trip behind them. Hulk is to his inside, and able to keep pace. Fandom continues to run in sixth, but as we begin the run around the final turn, Hurts is preparing to go on by while still running close to the rail, Meanwhile, Open Invitation is showing a lot more interest, sweeping by Cherokee Monster, The Wrong Guy, and Knockturn Alley while four wide.

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- People Batty is still out in front and seems to be in good stride as he enters the top of the stretch. His lead is about a length and a half now on Angel In Command, who has been on the rail all race. Gary gets caught wide, and is looking vulnerable, though for now is still third. Blacketer will be taking that spot imminently in the stretch and has a great lane to work with to try and finish this off. Hulk has to move off the rail if he wanted to try and pass Angel In Command, and Hurts began to move forward and make his bid, it was clearly he’d have to move over a lane or two as well. Now, he’d be positioned right behind Blacketer to push his way through the remaining traffic. Fandom swings four wide, right in front of Open Invitation, as that one has struggled to maintain the move we were beginning to see from him. Cherokee Monster was a length behind Hurts and was beginning to show his usual late closing kick. The Wrong Guy also showed more interest. Knockturn Alley would move to the rail and hope for the best.

(Finish- 1:47.81)- As People Batty looks to go wire to wire, trouble was looming as a wide open hole was present for Hurts to come on through. It would be right to the outside of Blacketer, and he was coming on strong. Blacketer was also in good stride, but when you have the reputation that Hurts does, that’s the one to be the most concerned with. Cherokee Monster was keeping pace with him, and that would allow him to follow Hurts through the field. In the final half furlong, Hurts takes the lead, and there is no one that is going to catch him as he goes on to grab another prep win! Cherokee Monster stayed with him and will take second, and those 50 points added to what he already had likely clinches his KYD ticket as well. Blacketer catches People Batty just in time in a photo for show. It may not be enough for him to get into the big race, as he sits 27th right now. For People Batty, those 15 points added to his previous 35 should get him in as long as we stop having dead heats for wins in other preps. His stablemate, fifth place The Wrong Guy will be out, unless there’s a short rest hail mary. The rest of the field reads Fandom, Hulk, Angel In Command, Knockturn Alley, Open Invitation, and Gary.

About The Winner- Hurts, trained by Royalty Stables and ridden to victory by regular rider J R Velazquez, is a three year old colt by Hide And Seek and is out of Agapova. He was bred in New York as a first quarter two year old by Royalty Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his seventh in 10 starts, and his sixth stake win, all of which graded. His career earnings are now $2,288.80.

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES