One of the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby has scratched from the race
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Puma has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby on the morning of the race.
- The Puma is trained by Gustavo Delgado and was to be ridden by Javier Castellano.
- Only 19 horses will run in the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
There’s been a major change to the Kentucky Derby field.
On Saturday morning, The Puma — one of the trendy picks to win this year’s Grade 1, $5 million Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville — scratched out of the race. The Puma, who is trained by Gustavo Delgado and was to be ridden by Javier Castellano, is out of the race due to a swollen pastern left front and skin infection.
The news of The Puma’s scratch from the Kentucky Derby was first reported by David Grening of the Daily Racing Form. The Kentucky Derby’s official social media accounts confirmed The Puma’s scratch.
This means only 19 horses will run in this year’s race.
The Puma was set to be Delgado’s fourth Derby starter and Castellano’s 18th Derby mount. The duo, who are both from Venezuela, teamed up in 2023 to win the Kentucky Derby with Mage.
The Puma is owned by OGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch, High Step Racing LLC, TCC Stables LLC, Bruce Zoldan. The horse was bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn.
The Puma had 8-1 live odds to win the Derby, prior to his scratch.
A son of 2021 Kentucky Derby runner Essential Quality, The Puma’s dam is Eve of War, who was by Declaration of War. Essential Quality also won the 2021 Belmont Stakes.
The Puma was to begin the Derby from post position No. 8. He qualified for the Derby field after winning the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby and finishing second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
The scratch deadline for horses to move into the Derby field off the also-eligible list was 9 a.m. Friday. This year, three of the four horses on the also-eligible list drew into the starting gate for the Derby before that deadline.
Great White, Ocelli and Robusta all made their way into the starting gate. Corona De Oro was the only also-eligible horse that didn’t make the Derby field ahead of the scratch deadline.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby has a post time of 6:57 p.m Saturday at Churchill Downs.
This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 8:22 AM.
