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Right To Party runs on the track during the morning training for the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 30, 2026.

The 2026 Kentucky Derby suffered a significant late change Friday morning when Right to Party was scratched by state regulatory veterinarians, ending one of the week’s most compelling underdog storylines and opening the door for Robusta to enter the field.

Right to Party, the runner-up in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, had been expected to make his first start beneath the Twin Spires after earning enough qualifying points on the Derby trail. Instead, the colt was removed from the race on veterinary advice, a decision that drew a sharp public response from trainer Kenny McPeek.

McPeek said he was frustrated not only by the scratch itself, but by the timing and what he described as an increasing pattern of regulatory removals in Kentucky racing. The veteran horseman questioned why the determination was not made earlier in the week and defended the colt’s overall soundness, saying the horse was not at risk of catastrophic injury.

The trainer also noted that Right to Party had undergone additional imaging earlier in the week, including X-rays and a PET scan. According to McPeek, the findings referenced bilateral remodeling of the medial palmar condyles, but reportedly stated there was no contraindication to racing based on the scans alone.

McPeek Voices Wider Industry Concerns

McPeek’s comments extended beyond his own horse, arguing that the current balance between regulators and horsemen has become strained. He cited multiple scratch-heavy race days at Keeneland Race Course and suggested horsemen feel increasingly at odds with officials rather than aligned in promoting safety.

The trainer, who captured the 2024 Derby with Mystik Dan, said his disappointment was more for owner Chester Broman than for himself. McPeek added that while he can move forward professionally, he worries about the long-term health of the sport and the relationship between trainers and regulators.

For their part, officials with the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission said they could not comment on an individual scratch, but reiterated that horse welfare and rider safety remain central to all decisions.

Robusta Gets His Opportunity

With Right to Party out, Robusta moves into the Derby field and will break from the also-eligible list into one of racing’s biggest stages. The colt, a Calumet Farm homebred by Accelerate, is trained by Doug O’Neill.

Robusta was last seen finishing seventh in the GI Santa Anita Derby, but connections now receive an unexpected second chance in the sport’s most prestigious race. He will wear saddle towel No. 23 and picks up Cristian Torres for Saturday’s run.

The addition also gives O’Neill two Derby starters, alongside Pavlovian. While Robusta enters under the radar, late additions to the Derby have historically used the chaos of a 20-horse field to outrun expectations.

Chris Elliott’s Derby Dream Put On Hold

Perhaps the biggest human-interest angle impacted by the scratch belongs to Chris Elliott, who had been slated to ride Right to Party and become the youngest jockey in the Derby since 2007.

Elliott, who turned 20 last week, has been one of the sport’s rising young riders and was set for a milestone moment by following in the footsteps of his father, Stewart Elliott. Stewart famously guided Smarty Jones to victory in the 2004 Derby for none other than McPeek.

That connection made the story even richer: the same trainer who teamed with Stewart Elliott for Derby glory was now giving Stewart’s son his first mount in America’s biggest race. McPeek had praised Chris Elliott’s maturity, work ethic, and familiarity with Right to Party, saying the young rider “got us here.”

Chris had already shown confidence in the colt, noting after an earlier ride that once Right to Party stretched out in distance, he believed the horse would begin winning. That prediction proved accurate as the colt advanced through the prep season.