After losing his original Kentucky Derby (G1) mount when Silent Tactic scratched earlier in the week, jockey Cristian Torres gets a surprise call from trainer Doug O'Neill to ride Robusta—the rider's first Derby mount.
Cool temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s will greet fans when they arrive for Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs for the eight-hour, 13-race card that kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET.
As the breeder of three-year-old colt Commandment, Lee Pokoik is riding high in 2026. Owned by Wathnan Racing, Commandment has won four straight starts.
In addition to proving himself as a top contender on the Derby trail, The Puma has the advantage of a team surrounding him that knows what it's like to win a Kentucky Derby (G1).