The Mecca Kentucky Derby
| Kentucky (KY)Saturday, May 2, 2026 — 2:20:00 PM EST | Race ID : 5008723 |      |
| The Mecca Kentucky Derby | |
| Stakes – Sponsored – Purse : $100,000 | |
| Restricted to 3 Year Olds | Owner Restricted |
| 10 Furlongs | ~2000 Meters | One Mile and One Quarter |
1.Arched Cat
Owner/Trainer:maclr22
3 year old gelding by Arcangelo has a record of 2 wins in 6 starts with lifetime earnings of over $25,000. His best career performance came in a 7f $125,000 2L claiming race where he stalked the early pace, took command around the far turn, and poured it on down the stretch to win by 8 3/4 lengths over a compact field of 4 earning him a career high 92 speed rating for what would be back to back wins after being gelded. He stretches back out around two turns for just the second time and beyond 8f for the first time here but he is by Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo and he could show improvement going longer. His odds are 6/1
2.Neighborhoodwatch
Owner/Trainer:2yopretrain
3 year old son of Bodemeister has a record of 2 wins and 3 thirds in 12 career starts with lifetime earnings of over $50,000. His best career performance came last season in an 8.25f allowance race where he trailed the field early and closed from over 5 lengths off the pace to win by 1 length over a compact field of 4 earning an 85 speed rating for the race. Experienced runner has already made 12 starts in his career with 5 board hits but he has only been in the money 1 time in 7 starts in stakes/graded stakes company. Turkish bred has been facing tougher and he is set to go off at 5/1
3.Massie
Owner/Trainer:mtk2010
3 year old colt by American Pharoah has a record of 1 win, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 5 career starts with lifetime earnings approaching $75,000. His best career performance came in a 9f maiden allowance race where he sat just off the early leader, took command around the turn, and cruised home to an impressive 3 1/2 length victory over a field of 10 earning him a 90 speed rating in his 3 year old debut. Consistent colt has hit the board in 4 of 5(80%) with his only off the board finish coming in his lone stakes try. Talented colt has the right to move forward and should be in the mix as the 9/2 co-second choice.
4. Crimson Catholic
Owner/Trainer:tipperary
3 year old stakes winning colt by Catholic Boy has a record of 2 wins, 1 second, and 3 thirds in 17 career starts with lifetime earnings of nearly $175,000. His most notable career performance came in a 5.5 Mecca sponsored stakes race where he sat near the back of the pack early and rallied down the stretch to win by 1/2 length over a field of 11 earning him a 76 speed rating in his career debut. California bred is the most experienced runner in the field with 17 starts and he is battle tested having made 16 of those starts against stakes/graded stakes competition. He has certainly run races good enough to win here if he can run to some of his better efforts. He is the lone stakes winner and graded stakes placed entrant and he has been installed as the 2/1 morning line favorite.
5. Mercer County
Owner/Trainer:alibi2yos
3 year old colt by Authentic has a record of 2 wins in 4 career starts with lifetime earnings of over $25,000. His most notable career performance came last time out in the 8.5f Gr.3 The Buccaneer Derby where he sat in mid pack early and rallied to finish 4th beaten 2 lengths in a full field of 14 earning him a career high 99 speed rating in his graded stakes debut. He has won 2 of 4(50%) of his starts with his only blemishes coming in his two stakes tries. He has improved his speed ratings in every start and he drops in class here and stretches out in distance which he should appreciate as he is by Kentucky Derby winner Authentic out of a mare by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. He is the 9/2 co-second choice.
6. Lordincorner
Owner/Trainer:maclr6
3 year old colt by Speaker’s Corner has a record of 1 win and 1 second in 5 career starts with lifetime earnings of over $25,000. His best career performance came in a 7f $75,000 maiden claiming race where he trailed the field early and closed impressively down the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths over a field of 7 earning him a 79 speed rating in his career debut. He stretches out beyond 8.5f for the first time here and steps up into stakes company for the first time and he will need to take a step forward to be competitive against this bunch. He will settle back early and look to make one big run late. He is a Longshot at 12/1
7. Taddingham
Owner/Trainer:alibilane2yos
3 year old colt by American Pharoah has a record of 1 win in 3 career starts with lifetime earnings approaching $5,000. His most best career performance came in an 8f hot race maiden allowance where he flanked the early leader, took command around the far turn, and pulled away to win by 4 1/2 lengths over a compact field of 4 earning him an 81 speed rating in his career debut. Lightly raced colt has improved his speed ratings in every race and has the right to take another step forward here dropping in class and stretching out. He is set to go off at 5/1