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

As the KYD gets closer, the time is now for top three-year-olds to pick up those all-important points to get into the big race. For some, it’s about further strengthening their case of not only making it to CD, but to be considered one of the favorites. For others, the AR Derby is their first chance to run in a significant prep of this magnitude. There are also those on the bubble, who’s trainers will be watching closely what goes on in the remaining preps all the way through the Lexington. That’s plenty of incentive, but there’s also that $1,500.000 purse on the line which is certainly motivating enough even if it wasn’t for the KYD. Recent race history has been dominated by Mb Stables, though it was another trainer being the boss of the AR Derby last year as Wood Duck Stables grabbed the win with Boss Spearman. Also a part of that field, and finishing third was Extreme Jet, who went on to win not only the KYD, but also the BEL and the Travers. As for Boss Spearman, he now runs in the silks of John Henry, and while he is not running poorly, he has not found the winners circle since the AR Derby. Let’s meet our field of eleven for this year’s race:

1- Hurts (Royalty Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- After winning the Fountain Of Youth stakes last month, Hurts has established himself as one of the top contenders for the KYD. The win only strengthened his case following a great two-year-old season that saw wins in the Hopeful and Breeders Futurity while running third in the BC Classic itself. He’s locked into the big race, so he’s here mainly to get the top share of this purse and is one to root for if you’re a trainer hoping another horse doesn’t shoot up to the top of the point standings following this race. Never has a bad race and has overall won six of nine.

2- Angel In Command (Mb Stables, ridden by L Dettori)- On the other end of the spectrum to Hurts, we have Angel In Command, who is running in a prep for the second time following his acquisition by Mb Stables in January. His first prep appearance did not go well, and that led to the trainer sending him to AQU to run against State Breds in the $135.000 Gander. Following a win in that, he’s here to play spoiler in the KYD points. As per the usual, Mb has plenty of options in the top 20, so Angel In Command would have to particularly impress to be considered one of his three if he did pick up a win.

3- Knockturn Alley (Delta Farms, ridden by F Pennington)- Began his career running well, with two wins in three races, but has struggled to carry that into the stakes ranks. He’s yet to finish in the top three in such a race, and the only time he’s earned anything at this level was when he was fourth in the $250.000 Smarty Jones. This track hasn’t been pretty for the closer in the Southwest or the Rebel, so perhaps the trainer will be considering a different tactical approach. With only two KYD points, something has to turn around for him.

4- Hulk (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- Hulk is similar to Knockturn Alley in that he got off to a great start for his career, but has not been able to build on that at this level. Following back-to-back wins in overnights, he hasn’t done another more than finish fourth in the Davis Stakes, which gave him four points on the leaderboard. His last mile work came in January and was very impressive, but he has not brought that to the track on race day as of yet.

5- Fandom (Aer Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Fandom falls right in line with Knockturn Alley and Hulk, so maybe it is fitting that they are all starting next to one another gate. File him away as another horse that began his career hot, also getting wins in his first two races. One of them is the $100.000 Allison Derby, so that’s a little more than the previous two can say. Earned four points of his own by running fourth in the Lewis Stakes but was flat in the San Felipe.

6- The Wrong Guy (Night Rider Stables, ridden by E J Zayas)- Back in October, Night Rider Stables claimed this one for a mere $5.000 and should be commended for turning him around. After taking some time to get to know his new acquisition, he would enter The Wrong Guy in the $100.000 Hobbs Fall Classic, for NM-Breds, and he’d get the win. Next up, it was off to run against graded competition where he came from out of nowhere to be second in the Lecomte, but we would not see that closing kick in the Fountain Of Youth. It’s tricky as to whether or not we should consider that a throw out, so he’s a bit of a wild card in this. He has 10 KYD points right now.

7- Open Invitation (Mb Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- He’s been a regular entrant in races, making his 13th career start here in the AR Derby. It took him a long time to break his maiden, needing eleven races to do so. He was productive in maiden races, and Mb Stables decided to give up on the conventional route and run him in stakes before that win. In January, he’d finally get that first win, coming in the Grade 3 Southwest right here in what was actually his seventh stake appearance. So, it wasn’t as much of a shocker as it might normally be for a maiden to win such a race. After running fourth in the Rebel, he’s on the bubble right now in the standings, with 34 points, and is also fifth on the separate Mb leaderboard.

8- People Batty (Night Rider Stables, ridden by L Saez)- This might be an example of a horse responding especially well to a geld. Prior to the snip, the potential was there for Night Rider Stables to give him stakes chances, but the results were poor. After it, People Batty has won two of three, including the LA Futurity in December. His best race of that group is actually the one he did not win, as he successfully showed he could handle a prep, placing second in the Risen Star Stakes to Bold Intruder. This has moved him up to 15th on the leaderboard, one point ahead of Open Invitation. I like his promise, and he may be one of the trainers of other KYD contenders should hope does not get into the KYD.

9- Blacketer (Serenity Stables, ridden by M J Sanchez)- You can always count on at least one horse being the “swing for the fences” horse in a race like this. In the AR Derby, Blacketer is definitely that horse. After all, he has only run twice, winning on debut in a GP maiden claimer, then winning a CT allowance last month, so he is 2-for-2 to start his career. Each of those races were for different trainers, and neither of them were Serenity Stables. He was picked up by Serenity for $300.000 last week, and now here he is. It’s obviously not unprecedented for a horse like this to pull off a surprise, but I’ll have to see it first.

10- Cherokee Monster (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by M Franco)- Last fall, Cherokee Monster picked up his two career wins, and looked good doing so, particularly when he won the $250.000 Bowman Mill at KEE. He would begin his three-year-old campaign by running here in both the Smarty Jones and the Southwest, hitting the board with a come from behind the running style. Then, last month came the Rebel where he got going too late, and while he did make up some ground, it wasn’t nearly enough. That is the type of race I can throw out when others have been positive, but there are going to be others in here potentially looking to employ the same tactic. He’s 40th on the board with 13 points, so will need to get into the top two.

11- Self Love- Scratched

12- Gary (Angelos Stable, ridden by E Esquivel)- This will be the first start for Gary as a three-year-old, following a two-year-old campaign that saw one win in four starts. He would conclude the year by running in ungraded sprint stakes with purses under $100.000 and earned a pair of fourth place checks. Going long is also something that he will do for the first time, though his works do suggest that he’ll be okay with it. This is a tough way to achieve these firsts, but the time is now if you feel the potential is there.

13- Mayor Of Win City- Scratched

Prediction: 1-8-7-10

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES