With Kentucky Derby prep season in fullswing, several trainers are making plans to get their runners into the 20-horse starting gate under the Churchill Downs’ twin spires on May 2.

G3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7, 50-25-15-10-5 points

According to Daily Racing Form, eight-length debut winner Canaletto will make his stakes debut in the Tampa Bay Derby at 1 1/16 miles. An Into Mischief half-brother to Sandman, Canaletto was purchased by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for $1 million at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

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“I think the horse can benefit from just one more week,” trainer Chad Brown told DRF. The Tampa Bay Derby is six weeks after Canaletto’s one-mile debut score on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

The Puma, a two-start maiden for 2023 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Gustavo Delgado, targets the Tampa Bay Derby off a third-place finish in the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 7, according to DRF.

The chestnut son of Essential Quality was second on debut, beaten a length and a half by this weekend’s G2 Fountain of Youth entrant Chief Wallabee.

G2 Louisiana Derby on March 21, 100-50-25-15-10 points

Emerging Market, a Brown-trained debut winner at Tampa Bay Downs, heads west for the G2 Louisiana Derby at 1 3/16 miles, according to DRF. Owned by Klaravich Stables, the son of Candy Ride earned a 96 Beyer for his three-quarters of a length win on the Sam F. Davis undercard.

“He ran like a horse with experience first time out,” Brown told DRF.

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Thoroughbred Daily News reports that G3 Lecomte winner Golden Tempo will work in blinkers this weekend in preparation for the Louisiana Derby, per trainer Cherie DeVaux. Golden Tempo was third in the G2 Risen Star on Feb. 14.

G1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 4, 100-50-25-15-10 points

DeVaux trainee Reagan’s Honor put himself into the 1 ⅛-mile Blue Grass Stakes picture after two gate-to-wire scores at Fair Grounds, reports TDN. The son of Honor A.P. earned a 96 Beyer when defeating older horses by 6 ¾ lengths in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on Feb. 19. The final time of 1:42.02 was one hundredth of a second off the track record of 1:42.01 set by Olympiad in the 2022 G3 Mineshaft.

“We want to give him time to get over that race because he ran such a fast number,” DeVaux told TDN.

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After finishing 14th in the 2024 Kentucky Derby with Turfway Park stakes winner Epic Ride, trainer John Ennis is back on the Derby trail with John Battaglia Memorial winner Great White, DRF reports.

Ennis told DRF that the gelded son of Volatile could make his dirt debut in the Blue Grass in six weeks, or stay at Turfway for the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks.

“He’s probably better with a longer break between,” Ennis told DRF.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.