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Chief Wallabee Is In
Edition No. 10 · Sunday, April 19, 2026 · 13 Days to Post
🏇 Ottinho Out, Wallabee In
It’s official. Chad Brown confirmed Saturday that Ottinho will bypass the Derby in favor of the Preakness or Peter Pan. Brown and Three Chimneys’ Goncalo Torrealba agreed the colt’s development is “a bit behind those on the top rung of the Derby picture at this stage,” per Equibase. Ottinho worked a half in :48.40 at Keeneland Saturday morning — nothing negative, just not where he needs to be.
That means Bill Mott’s Chief Wallabee moves into the main body of 20 — and the Hall of Fame trainer who won the Derby last year with Sovereignty will have a chance to go back to back. Wallabee visited the Churchill Downs paddock Saturday and had a routine gallop. He’s on the grounds, he’s got blinkers added, and he’s got a trainer who knows exactly what it takes to win this race.
It also sets up a rare father-son Derby matchup — Bill Mott sends out Chief Wallabee while his son Riley Mott saddles both Albus and Incredibolt. Three Motts, three shots at the roses.
🔄 The 20 Takes Shape
The field is crystallizing. Here’s where things stand.
Saturday works at Churchill Downs:
Albus (Riley Mott): 4F in :49.00 — “That’s the move you’re looking for in the first work back from a race.” Right to Party (Kenny McPeek): 5F in 1:00.80 — Robby Albarado aboard, “clipping along in :12s.”
Saturday works elsewhere:
The Puma: 5F in 1:00.60 at Gulfstream with Javier Castellano — vans to Churchill Monday. Incredibolt: 4F in :49 and change at Palm Meadows — arrives Churchill Monday. Emerging Market: bullet half in :48.40 at Payson Park — per BloodHorse, ships to Churchill Sunday.
Shipping this week:
Silent Tactic arrived at Churchill from Oaklawn on Saturday. The Puma and Incredibolt arrive Monday. So Happy ships from Santa Anita Monday. Danon Bourbon arrives in America Monday, April 21. All contenders must be on the grounds by Saturday, April 25.
Also: Wonder Dean schooled in the starting gate at Churchill Saturday.
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Still TBD:
Iron Honor — Brown experimenting without blinkers after the rough Wood Memorial trip, may take the full two weeks to decide. Preakness is a real option. Stark Contrast — McCarthy expects American Turf, not Derby. If both skip, Chip Honcho (49 pts) and Intrepido (38 pts) move into the gate.
🎙️ Morning Works Show & Chip Honcho Deep Dive
The Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show presented by TwinSpires runs daily through April 30 on kentuckyderby.com/works, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube — hosted by Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Benson, Tony Calo, and Kevin Kilroy with appearances from Travis Stone, Rosie Napravnik, Nick Tammaro, and more. Derby and Oaks contenders get an exclusive training window from 7:15-7:30 AM ET — look for the yellow saddle towels.
Speaking of Kilroy — he’ll be joining us on ITM early this week for a deep dive on Chip Honcho, the Asmussen-trained speed horse sitting first on the also-eligible list with 49 points. If Iron Honor and Stark Contrast both skip, Chip Honcho is in.
🏁 The Old Horse Got Them
White Abarrio upset Sovereignty and Journalism in last night’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap, rolling past both in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:47.49 — the fastest running of the race since 1996.
The 7-year-old paid $9.20 under Irad Ortiz Jr., who adapted brilliantly when Sovereignty unexpectedly took the lead. “I went to Plan B. I waited, I tracked them, I followed them,” Ortiz told America’s Best Racing. “When he got the position, he gave me a good kick on the end.”
Sovereignty held second after leading most of the way. Mott said he was surprised to see his colt on the lead and noted the layoff may have caught up with both 4-year-olds, per ABR. Journalism was third — never a serious threat.
Our friend Darin Zoccali of TwinSpires.com noted on Twitter that the Oaklawn Handicap was run 3.5 seconds faster than the Boathouse Row earlier on the card — about 35 Beyer points faster — projecting a Beyer in the 114-118 range. If that holds, White Abarrio just ran a new top at age 7.
For the Derby picture: no direct impact on the 3-year-olds, but Irad Ortiz is sharp and ready for Renegade.
📄 Free Derby PPs
In case you missed it yesterday — Bris has released their Ultimate Past Performances for the Kentucky Derby, and they’re free. Every horse, every figure, every running line. Download them, print them, and start your homework.
👉 Download Free Bris Derby PPs (PDF)
📣 See PTF and JK Live in Lexington & Louisville
Wednesday, April 29 · 6:30–9:00 PM
Final Answers: The ITM Oaks & Derby Handicapping Event
The Manchester Hotel · Lexington, KY
Presented by Medallion Racing. Premium open bar, buffet, and a live taping of the Final Answers show with JK (Fox Sports 1), PTF, Phillip Shelton (Medallion Racing), and Maggie Wolfendale-Morley (Fox Sports/NYRA). Your ticket includes Friday and Saturday PPs. $155 — tickets won’t be available for long. Get yours here.
Thursday, April 30 · 5:30 PM
Derby Inquiries with PTF and JK
The Galt House Lobby · Louisville, KY
The questions we need to answer before the Run for the Roses. Free and open to the public. Book your Derby week stay at The Galt House and save $500/night.
📋 ICYMI
👉 Yesterday’s D2D: The Best Kentucky Derby Story You’ll Hear This Year
👉 Golden Tempo Monster Pod with Frank McGoey
👉 Marshall Gramm joined PTF last week for the Chief Wallabee Monster Pod
👉 Free Kentucky Derby PPs via Equibase
👉 Derby OddsWatch
❓ Today’s Open Question
What happens when White Abarrio and Sovereignty meet again?
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📚 Previous Editions
Edition 9 · April 18, 2026 — The Best Kentucky Derby Story You’ll Hear This Year
Edition 8 · April 17, 2026 — “A Bit Average”
Edition 7 · April 16, 2026 — Renegade Looks As Expected
