Churchill Downs · Saturday, September 26, 2026 · Race 2 of 11

Starter Allowance

dirt, fastSix FurlongsPurse $76,0007 ranPost 2026-09-26 13:17:00Final time 1:09.90Pool $202,459

Good for all

Result

FinPPHorseJockey / Trainerstart1/41/2stretchfinishMarginOddsFig
12Defending Albert
2wbtw,duel,drft,cleard
F Arrieta12211—3.4791B
E1 109 · LP 128
26Margin of Air
4p,6-7p upr,late gain
W A Rodriguez455521½7.6394B
E1 100 · LP 133
34Cool Cowboy
prmpt 3w,shft in,outkk
L Saez533331¾8.0085B
E1 108 · LP 126
41Gardiner
ins pair,dueld,yielded
T Gaffalione3112424.6898B
E1 110 · LP 123
55Show Time
trk 2p,5-6p upr,no bid
R Bejarano244452¾0.7093B
E1 103 · LP 127
—3Coach CroninJ A Torres————————
—7Shadow CoastE Morales————————

How the race unfolded (position at each call; hover a line to follow one runner)

12345start1/41/2stretchfinish6Margin of Air4Cool Cowboy1Gardiner5Show Time2Defending Albert

Fractional times

Call 122.70
Call 245.70
Call 357.49
Final1:09.90

Payouts

BetWinning numbersPaidPool
win ($2)2$8.94—
place ($2)2$5.08—
show ($2)2$5.64—
exacta ($2)2-6$51.94$125,421
place ($2)6$5.98—
show ($2)6$5—
trifecta ($0.50)2-6-4$64.60$53,432
show ($2)4$6.28—
daily double ($1)3-2$23.92$75,801

Chart notes

DEFENDING ALBERT vied two wide and between horses into and around the turn, dueled with his inner counterpart while floating to the three to four path in upper stretch, forged an advantage leaving the three sixteenths pole then drifted out subtly while driving clear. MARGIN OF AIR trailed along the inside before shifting out to the four path into the turn, fanned out to the six then seven path in upper stretch then rallied with a late gain to reach place in the closing stages. COOL COWBOY prompted outside of the top pair, failed to sustain pressure while being floated to the four path entering the lane, shifted inwardly while sustaining pursuit in the final furlong, issued a rebid for place but got outkicked. GARDINER led narrowly inside of an outer pair into and around the turn, dueled with his most immediate counterpart whlie moving off of the inside in upper stretch, got headed passing the three sixteenths pole then yielded between horses in the final furlong. SHOW TIME tracked from the two path, chased in the five to six path in upper stretch and lacked a bid.