Kentucky Derby 2026 Who’s Who: Chief Wallabee

(13) Potente, Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert, 20-1

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - APRIL 27: Bill Mott, trainer of Chief Wallabee, looks on during morning workouts ahead of the running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 27, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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The senior Mott, pictured above during morning workouts on April 27, has much to consider tactically in order to slip his hearty, but very lightly raced dark bay colt, with just three races in 2026 in his short track life, into the serious running with the big boys. Of Chief Wallabee’s three races, in two of them — February’s Fountain of Youth and March’s Florida Derby — he has faced Commandment quite commendably. In the Fountain of Youth, he ran a very close place by a neck to Commandment. In the Florida Derby, the race that took them both to Churchill, Chief Wallabee handily showed a half-length behind The Puma, who was just a nose behind the victor Commandment. Young as he is, he can get into the mix in the last furlongs, or put differently, he knows he’s in a race and he likes being with the chargers. He’s 8-1 in Nick Tammaro’s Churchill morning line because he’s just so darn game.

Silent Tactic’s scratch will bring Baffert’s Potente to the stall immediately outside Chief Wallabee’s 12-hole. More or less, at the break these horses in the Churchill gate’s long middle will experience what it’s like to be on a rail in an 8-to-ten horse field, with another 8-to-10 horses inside them. Wallabee’s task, a task he will share with all nineteen of his competitors, will be to get away and find his spot and then start to work.

In addition to his obvious ability, Mott senior’s colt has shown surprising focus in striving to get up front late in the race. Every Kentucky Derby presents every one of its contenders with a most sophisticated chess game — tactics in the moment are paramount. We just don’t know how coolly tactical Chief Wallabee can be just yet — with Mott’s champion Sovereignty last year, we knew it. But that’s what the Hall of Fame trainer will be working toward and looking for in this colt on Saturday.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com