LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 3, 2026) – Springboard Mile winner Express Kid, a recent $800,000 purchase, is one of six California-breds among the early nominations for the Triple Crown, Churchill Downs announced on Tuesday.
Dark Omen is by Om, out of the Luckdy Pulpit mare Halo Darlin, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Aggie Ordonez. He won his lone start Jan. 10 and has earnings of $42,000.
Express Kid is by Bodexpress, out of the Street Sense mare Sensationalize, was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Brad Kleven and trained by Justin Evans. A winner of three of five starts and $236,902 with trainer Wade Rarick, Express Kid was originally purchased for $2,000 by Steve Haahr and sold last month for $800,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Digital Flash Sale.
The graded-stakes Pavlovian is by Pavel, out of the Bellamy Road mare Mandy’s Grace, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. He has one win in eight starts, earnings of $116,450 and he was second in the Aug. 9 Grade III Best Pal Stakes.
Romantic Ride is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Black Seventeen mare I Love Romance, was bred by Steve Moger, is owned by David & Holly Wilson and trained by Vladimir Cerin. He is a maiden with two starts and earnings of $23,900.
King Glorious Stakes winner Smoovin Saturday is by I’ll Have Another, out of the Square Eddie mare Smoove It, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Michael McCarthy. He has two wins in three starts and earnings of $101,250.
Maiden stakes winner Start the Ride is by Upstart, out of the Tiznow mare Elusive Ride, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Dan Blacker. He broke his maiden in his first official start, winning the recent California Chrome Cal Cup Derby.