Twelve go to the post in the ERC Kentucky Derby from virtual Churchill Downs

Kentucky (KY)Saturday, May 2, 2026 — 2:20:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3700781

E R C KENTUCKY DERBY
Stakes – Sponsored – Purse : $100,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds	Owner Restricted
10 Furlongs | ~2000 Meters | One Mile and One Quarter	Fast Dirt

The Elite Racing Club proudly presents its version of the “fastest two minutes in sports”, the E R C Kentucky Derby. A field of twelve club runners, including an upset minded filly will line up in the starting gate at virtual Churchill Downs for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse up for grabs. The winning connections will be feted at the trophy presentation ceremony immediately following the race.

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The handicapper settled on jbcri09‘s JUSTIFICATOR as the favorite on the morning line at 9/2 odds, followed by harrylan’s MORE THIS TIME at 6/1 on the tote. FRONT ROW RIDE from the dontbetonme racing group shares third choice with dunnvilledowns’ THORPEDO QUEEN. Summerset’s SUBTLE STRENGTH rounds out the top five at 8/1 at the betting windows.

There is only one prior stakes winner going to the post, Grade 3 winner MORE THAN A WISH, but that was against two year olds.

Interesting mix of front runners and stretch flyers; handicapper spread is pretty tight, should make for an entertaining event.

Let’s take a closer look at the past performances in entry point order and see if the data can guide us to the winner’s circle.

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MORE THAN A WISH~KY~3M~~amdb
Scratch bred Cody’s Wish canterer (by More Than Ready x Medaglia D’Oro) has yet to find his three year old stride in last three graded stakes tries. Bristling bay colt finished off his freshman campaign with wins in the Spaztown listed stakes at seven furlongs with a 92 SP#, and in the G3 The Los Angeles Prevue, also at seven panels with a 93 SP#. His last outing was a slow starting 10th in the G2 South Bronx Stakes at seven eighths, getting an 89 SP# while showing some non-threatening late foot from last in the pack. Stretches out to a mile and a quarter here, extra ground would appear to help his cause; dangerous trainer dontbetonme has surprised more than his share in these E R C races, could do it again.
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JUSTIFICATOR~~AUS3M~~jbcri09
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Fleet Justify jogger, based on the G1 winning he-mare Explorator (by Tapit x Kingmambo), comes off an impressive wire to wire effort in an open allowance at 9.5 furlongs, smashing a 100 SP# in an easy, four horse outing. Burly bay colt left them gasping for breath in his prior start in a NW2L allowance at a mile and an eighth, smacking a 97 SP# while never threatened. In his previous engagement he was 2nd best in the same conditions at the same distance, stashing a 99 SP# while just failing to hang on to the wire. Runner from the jbcri09 racing group began his career at this venue in two sprints, hitting the board in both from difficult post positions; looks like he’ll be the one to catch – huge threat to leave them all in the dust again.
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THORPEDO QUEEN~~ KY~~3F~~kennyboydowns
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Lithe, light grey filly, our sole distaff contestant at this writing, seeks a third straight victory after a dominating pair of allowance races against her own kind. Most recently she unleashed a powerful stretch run in a runaway score at a mile and an eighth, zapping a 101 SP# in a four horse affair. One back of that this Knicks Go kicker, out of the sim mare Deceitful Queen (by Pioneerof The Nile x Hard Spun) she used the same tactics to take down a NW3L allowance , also at nine furlongs, zinging a 100 SP#. Her prior run was a well beaten 11th in The Radical T listed stakes at eight and a half panels, catching an 88 SP# in her 2025 seasonal finale. She was a distant second in her only try against the boys in an ERC event. Kennyboydowns runner from the dunnvilledowns barn should be in the second flight in the early stages, but can she hold up in tough field in the run to the wire ?
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SUBTLE STRENGTH~KY~3M~~~~summerset22
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Scratch bred, light grey colt was a stalking second last time over in a NW3L allowance at nine and a half furlongs, bashing a 96 SP#. Tapit toughie, by El Prado x Unbridled’s Song, took a NW2L allowance at nine furlongs one before that, banking a 91 SP# from the middle of the pack. One back of that he was second best in his first try against winners in a NW2L allowance at eight and a half panels, bagging a 91 SP# in a four horse affair. His last four performances were all in Germany, two wins and two runners up. Entrant from the summerset22 racing operation should relish the extra distance he gets here; bred to run all day, jockey tactics may come to play an decisive role in this heat.
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ENTICEDTWOBET~~PA~3M~~~~jbcri49
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The second half of the entry from one of our “founding fathers” is this striking chestnut colt, who has come to hand of late, running off with a $150,000 claimer by almost seven lengths, sticking an 89 SP# over an “off track”. Enticed entrant, out of the stakes winning sim mare Da Is U Here (x Speightstown x Dehere), proved best in his prior try in a NW2L allowance, also at 8.5 furlongs, smacking a 95 SP# from the middle of the pack. Commanding chestnut colt got caught late down the lane in a $100,000 mile claimer, settling for 2nd after making all the early fractions. Runner from the jbcri09 racing stable has never raced at this venue and makes initial stakes appearance; has shown some versatility in his running style which may make jockey tactics a key factor in his chances.
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MORE THIS TIME~~KY~~3M~~~~harrylan
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First up for the harrylan conglomerate is this light grey lightning bolt, who exits a wire to wire romp in a NW2L allowance at 9.5 furlongs, pounding a 100 SP# while making every step a winning one. Not This Time nipper, out of the stakes winning sim mare More Than Tapit (by More Than Ready x Tapit) got his first win one back of that in an open maiden at a mile and an eighth, punching a 92 SP# while surviving an early pace duel. He was second best one before that in an open maiden at 8.5 panels, plastering a 91 SP# while getting caught just before the wire. Has shown an affinity for this racing surface and is on the improve. May have other like minded runners to deal with on the front end, but is eligible to leave them all in his dust. Solid contender.
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TINY CHROME~~JPN~3G~~~xtras4
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Chugging chestnut gelding improved sharply in his most recent outing in a NW2L allowance at 9.5 furlongs, crushing a 99 SP# in a stalking trip in his first route race and first try over this racing surface. California Chrome cutup, out of the stakes placed sim mare Tiny Cadet (by Speightstown x Medaglia D’Oro), was an even seventh in his previous start at 6.5 panels, catching an 83 SP#. One back of that he raced back in the pack while making little headway when 8th in a NW2L allowance at seven furlongs, casting an 81 SP#. The second half of the harrylan stable entry may be a true route runner off his last run; classic speed-closer tag team entry may get the job done.

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RICHIE STRIKER~KY~~3M~~~rucks
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Newer club member bucks saddles this light grey colt off a solid second in an NW2L allowance at nine and a half furlongs, flashing a 94 SP# in a four horse affair. Essential Quality x Dixieland Band x Storm Bird colt got his maiden victory his previous try in a NW2L allowance , also at a mile and three sixteenths, flicking a 95 SP# in an easy win on the grass. He was second best one back of that at nine furlongs in an open maiden in good try on turf, with an 85 SP# from the middle of the pack. Rucks protege has been improving each three year old start, appears to be bred for the distance; further improvement could make things interesting coming down the straight.
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FRONT ROW RIDE~ LA~~3M~~~~dontbetonme18
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Bouncing brown, stretch running Exaggerator colt (by War Front x Candy Ride), ran on for third last time over in a NW2L allowance at a mile and three sixteenth’s, stinging a 96 SP# from well back in the pack. He got his first win one before that in an open maiden at nine and a half panels over this racing surface. smoking a 101 SP# in an easy score. Never out of the money at this venue in five outings with a win and a second and three thirds, and SP’s are competitive with the better ones in this field. Should be on the move from well back in the pack entering the far turn, could prove best for the dontbetonme stable if the speed can’t hold up.
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MY BEST SUBJECT~ENG~3G~~~~downsontherock
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Boisterous bay gelding seeks a fourth consecutive win after taking three claiming races in a row, most recently a romp in a $20,000 number at a mile, plastering a 95 SP# in a four horse event. Subjectivist stepper out of the sim mare Sisson’s Now (by Tiznow x Hennessy) went last to first one before that in a $60,000 claimer, pegging an 86 SP# in a minimal field. He won a $35,000 claimer at 8.25 furlongs in his previous run, pushing an 85 SP# facing three foes. Busy career thus far (14 starts, has hit the board in every race he’s been in. Runner from the downsontherock barn of the newfydowns operation has a nose for the finish line, but faces toughest test yet against initial allowance field.
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RENNEVERATE~~KY~~3M~~newfy2023
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The other half of the newfydowns entry is this striking chestnut colt who comes out of his first stakes appearance with a last of nine effort all the way around the track, eking out a 90 SP# in the Magical Merlin listed stakes at a mile and a sixteenth. Cyberknife canterer, out of the stakes placed sim mare Blessed Express (by Unbridled’s Song x A.P.Indy) broke his maiden in fine fashion in an open maiden allowance at a mile, romping home by more than 5 lengths with an eye opening 98 SP#. Before that he was third four times in five tries at getting his first win. First try against stakes foes was dreadful, but the experience may help him bounce back with a top effort; tough task.
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THORPEDO ABS~KY~~3M~~survivoreh
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Our final entry is this royally bred Candy Ride crusher (x Curlin x Tapit) out of the sim mare Just An American, who has yet to win in his seven and counting starts. Last out he showed some good foot down the stretch in a open maiden at nine and a half furlongs, getting 2nd from well back in the pack, hammering a 92 SP#. One before that he got fourth of twelve in an open maiden at a mile and an eighth with a 90 SP#, trailing the field until approaching the top of the stretch. Burly bay colt ran on for fourth one back of that at eight and a half panels, grabbing an 87 SP# in his 2025 finale. Runner from the survivoreh barn of the dunnvilledowns racing group, should like the extra distance here, but facing seasoned winners is a tall task indeed.
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Good luck everybody, and may they all come home fast, safe and sound.
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My take: top contenders look to be nearly impossible to separate. One of the long shots may step up and surprise, but the winner most likely will be one of the top six. Yeah, I know, not much help.