Grande

Grande won his career debut assignment in a one-mile maiden race for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 11, 2025. He stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in his second start and won an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream by 2 ½ lengths on Feb. 27.

Grande made his third lifetime start in the Grade 2 $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct on April 5 and finished second in a 10-horse field. The Wood Memorial was a maximum points race on the road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, and with his runner-up finish Grande earned 50 qualifying points which likely secured him a spot in the starting gate for the May 3 run for the roses.

On May 2, Grande was scratched by Kentucky state stewards due to a cracked heel, and the colt did not race again until Feb. 14, 2026, when he returned to win a one-mile allowance optional claiming race by three-quarters of a length at Gulfstream Park. He returned to stakes competition in his second start of the year, and won the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 3 Ghostzapper Stakes Presented by FanDuel TV March 28 at Gulfstream by three quarters of a length as the heavy favorite, improving to 4-for-4 lifetime at the track.

Grande is trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Curlin out of the mare Journey Home by War Front.