Six weeks after finally breaking through for his maiden success, Falcon Jet will step into far deeper company on Saturday when he lines up in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes at Laurel Park as part of the Preakness Stakes undercard.
The Sir Barton Stakes 2026.
Named after the first Triple Crown winner in 1919, the 1 1/16-mile dirt contest for 3-year-olds is traditionally one of the notable supporting races on Maryland’s biggest racing afternoon. This year’s renewal has drawn a compact but accomplished field of seven, featuring lightly raced prospects, graded stakes form and several runners trying to establish themselves beyond regional company.
Falcon Jet arrives with intrigue surrounding his untapped potential. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify began his career under Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in California after being purchased for $750,000. Although he managed multiple placed efforts during his juvenile campaign, victory continued to evade him through five starts.
That changed on April 4 when he debuted for Maryland-based trainer Brittany Russell and powered clear by four lengths under jockey Sheldon Russell. The performance encouraged connections to test him over two turns for the first time.
“Sheldon thinks there’s a stretch-out in him,” Brittany Russell said. “He’s a real cool, laid-back horse. He just kind of does what he has to do, but he’s been working with some good horses in the morning.”
Falcon Jet will break from Post 5 with Sheldon Russell retaining the ride as the stable seeks another important result on one of the biggest race days of the American season.
Among the principal challengers is Reagan’s Honor from the barn of Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux. The colt was most recently seen finishing sixth in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland after entering the race with growing momentum following a maiden victory at Fair Grounds and an emphatic allowance success against older rivals.
Jockey Jose Ortiz again takes the mount aboard Reagan’s Honor, who is expected to be prominent early.
New York-bred runner Minorinconvenience also brings notable stakes experience into the Sir Barton Stakes 2026. Owned and trained by Amelia Green, the gelding endured a troubled trip in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct after being bumped at the start and never threatening thereafter.
Prior to that setback, Minorinconvenience had compiled an encouraging résumé that included an 11½-length maiden victory and success in the Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the ride from the rail draw.
Maryland trainer Gary Capuano saddles two runners in the field with Big Cuddle and Let’s Go Lando both seeking breakthrough stakes victories. Let’s Go Lando has already proven competitive in local stakes company this season, finishing runner-up in the Miracle Wood before placing in both the Private Terms and Federico Tesio.
Another runner attracting attention is Final Story, the homebred colt for owners Gary and Mary West. Trained by Brad Cox, the son of Candy Ride arrives after a dominant six-length maiden success at Gulfstream Park in April. Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount from Post 4.
The field is completed by Pont Aven, a Maryland-bred trained by Michael Trombetta. After enduring difficult trips earlier in his career, the son of Blofeld has found improved form since stretching out in distance and enters Saturday seeking a third consecutive victory at Laurel Park.
With several lightly raced runners still open to improvement, the Sir Barton Stakes 2026 shapes as a meaningful stepping stone for emerging sophomores hoping to establish themselves on the national stage beyond the shadow of the Preakness itself.
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