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Six Speed: Early Speedster's Derby Gamble
30 Apr
Summary
- Six Speed shows early speed but must prove stamina for the Kentucky Derby.
- Bred in Kentucky, the colt began his career in Dubai before U.S. ownership.
- He faces a tough draw from post 17, with no horse ever winning from this position.
Six Speed, an appropriately named contender, brings notable early speed to the 2026 Kentucky Derby, a quality rare among the field. His ability to lead early is evident, but his capacity to maintain that advantage through the final stretch remains the key question. This 50-1 longshot, bred in Kentucky, began his racing career in Dubai, achieving two wins in his first three starts.
American buyers acquired an interest in January, aiming for the Derby and keeping him under trainer Bhupat Seemar. Six Speed secured the UAE 2000 Guineas but faltered in the UAE Derby, raising concerns about his distance capability. Despite the lack of Beyer Speed Figures for his last prep, Thoro-graph data suggests the race's pace was comparable to the Florida Derby.
Veteran jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., a past Derby winner, is set to ride Six Speed. The colt draws post position 17, a historically winless spot. However, his early speed from this outside draw could influence the race dynamics, potentially setting an uncontested pace. His best chance lies in leveraging his speed, hoping rivals underestimate him, and finding stamina in the final quarter mile.
