With the 2026 Preakness Stakes field now finalized, one more Kentucky Derby runner is officially headed to Maryland. Incredibolt, who turned heads with a late-running sixth-place finish in Louisville, has been added to Saturdayâs lineup after Silent Tactic was confirmed to not be participating in the race due to a lingering hoof injury.
This year’s 14-horse field is the largest Preakness group since 2011, when Shackleford famously held off Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in a thrilling stretch duel.
Incredibolt Brings Derby Experience Into Baltimore
Incredibolt joins fellow Derby runners Ocelli and Robusta in what suddenly looks like a fascinating blend of proven graded-stakes horses and emerging late-season contenders.
Trained by Riley Mott, Incredibolt has quietly developed into one of the more consistent runners in this crop. The colt captured the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes as a juvenile before beginning his 3-year-old campaign with a disappointing effort in the Holy Bull Stakes, where he finished last behind Nearly.
But that setback quickly became a distant memory after a strong rebound in the Virginia Derby on March 14.
The dark bay colt, foaled April 4, 2023, is a son of Bolt dâOro out of Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again. Bred in Kentucky by Deann Baer and Greg Baer, DVM, Incredibolt races for Pin Oak Stud LLC after being consigned by Burleson Farms.
Despite only six lifetime starts, he has already built an impressive resume with three victories and nearly $500,000 in career earnings, including more than $300,000.
At Churchill Downs, Incredibolt was largely overlooked by bettors at nearly 24-1 odds. Settling toward the back of the field early, he encountered traffic entering the stretch and had to angle around a wall of horses before finding clear running room.
Once free, he continued grinding forward under jockey Jaime Torres and ultimately crossed the wire sixth, finishing four lengths behind winner Golden Tempo.
Mott indicated Monday that the colt exited the Derby in excellent condition and earned the opportunity to run back quickly.
âThe horse is doing extremely well,â Mott said. According to connections, Incredibolt will train Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs before shipping to Maryland later in the week.
Torres will once again have the mount, continuing a partnership that has remained intact through all six of the coltâs career starts. The jockey already owns recent Preakness success after winning the 2024 edition aboard Seize the Grey.
Ocelli and Robusta Add More Derby Storylines
While Incredibolt arrives with momentum, the other Kentucky Derby returnees bring intriguing angles of their own.
Ocelli was one of the biggest surprises in Louisville after rallying from far back to finish third at massive odds. The colt entered the Derby as the fieldâs longest shot and still managed to produce one of the stronger closing kicks of the race.
He also rallied for third in the Wood Memorial earlier this spring, suggesting his deep-closing style may be becoming more reliable as distances increase.
Robusta, meanwhile, never truly got the chance to run his preferred race in the Derby. After being bumped shortly after the start, the pace-oriented colt failed to establish early position and faded badly to finish 14th.
The rest of the projected field also includes several newcomers hoping to capitalize on fresher legs. Pretty Boy Miah enters off back-to-back wins in New York and will make his stakes debut in the Preakness. Corona de Oro, who narrowly missed making the Kentucky Derby field, also secured a spot after a series of weekend defections opened additional room in the gate.
Silent Tacticâs Absence Still Looms Large
Silent Tactic was officially withdrawn Monday morning after ongoing concerns tied to the same hoof injury that previously forced him to miss the Kentucky Derby. The talented colt had originally been viewed as one of the stronger contenders on the Triple Crown trail earlier this spring.
Trainer Mark Casse said he was not 100% happy with the Tacitus colt’s hoof recovery, thus pulling him from the race. According to Horse Racing Nation, jockey Irad Ortiz was scheduled to ride Silent Tactic, but will now ride Talkin for trainer Danny Gargan.
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