KY Juvenile

Purse $250.00 – For Two Year Olds

5 Furlongs – Dirt

Churchill Downs – April 29, 2026

The 17th running of the KY Juvenile isn’t about what’s been accomplished—it’s about what could be unfolding for these two-year-olds. Every runner brings just one start to the table, turning this into a race of guesswork as much as analysis. Two fillies also line up against the boys this year, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already unpredictable race. Being the first stakes race of the season for two-year-olds, this race offers an early glimpse at emerging talent—the past 16 winners have gone on to average 12 stakes appearances over their careers. Another notable trend is that every winner of the KY Juvenile has entered off a maiden victory; no horse has captured this race without first breaking their maiden. No owner has won this race twice, but D J C Racing Stables and TwinTowersRacing both have runners entered this year with a chance to take the lead in the owner standings. The stakes record still belongs to Paco, who stopped the clock in 57.14 for five furlongs back in 2021. With so little to separate this field on paper, this race will come down to who takes the biggest step forward. Let’s see who will be in the starting gate this year!

1. State Collection – (Lemax Farms, D E. Centeno) Was drawn the widest in a ten-horse field on debut at Turf Paradise and wasted no time finding the front. In the blink of an eye, jockey Carlos Montalvo got this colt three-wide heading into the far turn. He took the lead at the ⅜ pole and began kicking it into high gear. Every stride, State Collection was widening from the field and you can tell at the top of the stretch, no one was catching him. It ended up being a one-length victory, and the son of Collected earned a 90 speed figure. It’s worth noting that his mom, State Caviar, was the winner of the Grade One Del Mar Oaks back in 2022.

2. My Way – (Family Racing, J L. Ortiz) Bought at auction for $23.13 in late 2025. My Way ran at Penn National in his first start and drew the rail. He wasn’t quick out of the gate, as he found himself sitting in eighth heading into the far turn. There was room to run, but this colt wasn’t looking like he was waiting to make up ground. At the top of the stretch, My Way was nine lengths off the leaders and made no impact down the lane. To be perfectly honest, it’s hard to back a horse who didn’t do much running on debut. Also, history is not on his side, as every past winner of this race has come off a maiden win.

3. Bronze Wolf – (TwinTowersRacing, S X. Bridgmohan) The first of two entrants for TwinTowersRacing and had an impressive off-the-pace victory. He settled midpack after breaking from the gate, about two lengths off the frontrunners. The first quarter went in 22.53, and Bronze Wolf was in perfect striking position at the top of the stretch. It seemed that there was going to be some traffic trouble, but jockey Shaun Bridgmohan found a clear lane to run with one furlong to run. Once there was room, Bronze Wolf exploded and displayed a fast closing kick. It was a formidable effort due to the fact that there obviously wasn’t a lot of time for a late run. My top pick.

4. Whispering Pines – (Mb Stables, J R. Velazquez) Went off as the favorite at Keeneland in early April and did not disappoint. It was definitely not a perfect trip for the daughter of Championship Rounds, as she was three-wide sitting behind a wall of horses after a slow-ish start. Things got worse rounding the turn and at the top of the stretch due to the leaders dropping down more towards the rail. This left Whispering Pines having to go five-wide at the 3/16 pole, which accounted for a lot of unnecessary ground lost. It all worked out as she came with a big run and ran down the four horses in front of him. I like the filly taking on the boys here.

5. Berserker Fast – (TwinTowersRacing, M. Franco) The second entrant for TwinTowersRacing comes off an eye-catching one-length win at Keeneland. He drew the rail, and jockey John Velazquez had only one thing in mind: to go to the lead. Berserker Fast broke very quickly and found himself a head in front at the ⅜ pole. He dueled with a horse named Conjurer until they hit the top of the stretch. At that point, this son of Averys Sunset slowly started inching away and put one length on Conjurer, passing the 1/16 pole. Other horses were closing, but Berserker Fast was long gone. No doubt he will be a major contender.

6. U Can Call Me Al – (High Voltage, J J. Hernandez) A $26.03 auction purchase last month and proved to be a good purchase. He debuted at Parx, drawing the eight hole out of a field of ten. He caught a flyer out of the gate and put a length on the field in the first furlong. Passing the ⅜ pole, U Can Call Me Al crossed over and got on the rail to save ground. Oh, and at that point, he was two lengths in front and ran the first quarter in 22.13! This colt is very fast to say the least, and he kept his two-length advantage until the final 1/16. Several rivals were trying to catch up, but there was no catching this guy. Could be dangerous.

7. Sacred Star – (Serenity Stables, G W. Corbett) Was bought privately for $150.00 and is one of two entries for Serenity Stables. He was bought on March 23rd, and connections wasted no time in entering this colt. Sacred Star ran eleven days later at Santa Anita, and drew post nine of ten. Jockey Edwin Maldonado got him out fast and was able to race three wide heading into the far turn. The son of Sinissippi Star started inching away at the top of the stretch, and was actually a quarter length in front. Everything was great, until the final 1/16, when Poor Duck ranged up alongside and got his nose down on the wire. It was a bad beat but a great effort.

8. Two Thousand – (The Sidley Stud, A . Jimenez) Started off his career at Charles Town and was the heavy favorite. He drew the comfy three-post in a field of eight and had a really good trip. There were two dueling pacesetters, and jockey Yan Aviles had this colt directly behind them about a length back. He showed a lot of patience rounding the far turn and eventually made his move at the quarter pole. Two Thousand showed a good closing kick down the lane, just getting up at the wire to win by a neck. It’s clear that this homebred for The Sidley Stud can run, but there are others in here who are more attractive.

9. Sassette – (Serenity Stables, Ar. Bocachica) The second entrant for Serenity Stables and the second filly in here taking on the boys. Sassette had an impressive wire-to-wire victory at Santa Anita for C And C Racing, and was privately purchased for $925.00! Now in the hands of Serenity Stables, she will look to take a step forward. It was a very straightforward victory, as she dueled early on the lead and inched away starting at the quarter pole. The daughter of Championship Bay was a length in front in the final furlong, and no one was able to catch her. For the big purchase price and very fast works, I don’t mind this entry.

10. Poor Duck – (Bigking, P. Lopez) Ran against Sacred Star first time out and got the best of him by a nose. The key for this colt was that he sat just behind the speed down the backside and around the far turn. Also, Poor Duck always had a clear running lane, so it was really an ideal trip. His presence wasn’t felt until the field reached the 3/16 pole, and he was one length off the front runners. The son of Blue Duck was closing swiftly on the outside, and it was just a matter of whether he was going to find the wire in time. He got up to win by a nose and ran the 4 ½ furlongs in 51.50. In a race with a lot of speed, his stalking tactic will be a big advantage.

11. Imperialism – (D J C Racing Stables, R. Santana Jr.) Bought last year at auction for $25.01 and unfortunately gets a very wide draw. This colt was luckier in his maiden race, where he drew the two post at Parx. This is another one who didn’t have much speed leaving the gate and settled midpack about two lengths off the leaders. He saved ground on the rail around the turn and started looking for room to run at the quarter pole. There wasn’t anywhere to run until the 3/16 pole, and that’s when Imperialism came with his run. It was a rather comfortable victory, stopping the clock in 51.55. He fits, though others appear a touch better.

– AJM

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded