Kentucky Derby 2026: These are the horses that have scratched from the race

Only 19 horses – one less than the limit – will run in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby after a trendy favorite scratched out of the race hours before post time.

The Puma, a popular pick to win this year’s Grade 1, $5 million Derby scratched out of the race Saturday morning. The horse was trained by Gustavo Delgado and was to be ridden by Javier Castellano, but is out of the race due to a swollen pastern left front and skin infection.

The Puma will not be replaced, and is the fourth to scratch in the lead-up to this year’s run for the roses.

3 earlier scratches for the 152nd Kentucky Derby

Lameness in his right front leg moved Right to Party out, and Robusta in.

Robusta will be ridden by Cristian Torres and is trained by Doug O’Neill – a two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer with I’ll Have Another in 2012 and with Nyquist in 2016. Robusta, a Calumet Farm homebred, will be O’Neill’s ninth all-time starter in the Derby.

A day after the announcement of the first horse to drop out of the race, Fulleffort was scratched from the lineup due to a chip in his left hind ankle.

He was replaced by Ocelli, who has shown low odds of winning. The 3-year-old who was foaled at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville is yet to win in six career starts.

Due to a bruised foot, Silent Tactic became the first horse to be ruled out from the Derby program Wednesday, and was replaced by Great White.

The 3-year-old gelding was named the first also-eligible horse for the Derby during Saturday afternoon’s post-position draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The 3-year-old gelding, who will be ridden by jockey Alex Achard, is No. 21 in the Derby program.

This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 9:37 AM.