Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Another winner from a key race

Just how many Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders will emerge from a six-furlong maiden special weight contested on Aug. 24 at Saratoga?

Already the tally is impressive. The victorious Tip Top Thomas returned to finish second in the Champagne (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Fourth-place finisher Sovereignty won the Street Sense (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby last week. Third-place Keewaydin and sixth-place C K Wonder have both returned to win maiden special weights.

Now Rookie Card has done the same. Beaten a head when second on Aug. 24, Rookie Card recorded another runner-up finish in a 6 1/2-furlong contest on Sept. 21, then graduated with ease in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct last Saturday.

Favored at 1-2 while facing half a dozen rivals, Rookie Card dueled for the lead through fractions of :22.35 and :45.86, then kicked away from his rivals to dominate by five lengths in 1:10.69. The son of Adios Charlie ran his final quarter-mile in a respectable :24.83 and finished with a flourish, jumping over the shadow of the finish marker. He looks ready to step up in class for trainer Danny Gargan, who won the 2024 Belmont (G1) with Dornoch, and if the Road to the Kentucky Derby doesn’t pan out, perhaps Rookie Card should give steeplechase racing a try.

Nine other two-year-old maiden winners caught the eye last week. Any and all could have Road to the Kentucky Derby potential. Let’s quickly recount their victories:

Bestfriend Rocket: The third time was the charm for this stoutly bred son of Curlin. He struggled in his first two starts running long on turf and sprinting on dirt, finishing ninth and sixth. Switching to a dirt route at Laurel Park proved far more suitable as he tracked splits of :23.74, :48.04, and 1:12.79 on his way to winning a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 8 3/4 lengths in 1:45.62. Brittany Russell trains the chestnut colt.

Kenny Be: Runner-up in his debut, Kenny Be proved much the best when making his second start in a six-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds at Aqueduct. Setting fractions of :22.85 and :46.52 did nothing to tire the David Duggan-trained son of Complexity, as Kenny Be powered clear down the homestretch to score by 8 1/2 lengths in 1:10.29.

Lil Muggs: Second-time starter Lil Muggs improved off his second-place debut to take a six-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. The Greg Foley trainee dropped as far behind as seventh place against fractions of :21.65 and :45.23, but gobbled up ground down the homestretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.26. The son of Upstart ran his final furlong in a solid :12.22, suggesting he has potential for stretching out in distance.

Moral: A son of versatile Travers (G1) and Belmont Derby (G1) winner Catholic Boy, Moral was beaten a nose in his debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs. Stretching out for a one-mile maiden special weight over the same track made all the difference as the Tom Drury Jr. trainee raced prominently against splits of :23.04, :46.30, and 1:11.37 before edging clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:37.12.

Render Judgment: As a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Blame out of a mare by Belmont (G1) runner-up Commissioner, Render Judgment is bred to shine running long. So after rallying to finish second in his debut sprinting at Keeneland, it was unsurprising to see Render Judgment graduate in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. Never more than 1 1/2 lengths behind fractions of :24.02, :48.87, and 1:14.06, Render Judgment clocked his final furlong in a swift :12.06 to win by half a length in 1:44.83. This $310,000 yearling acquisition appears to have talent and upside for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek.

Smooth Cruisein: Despite starting as a 21-1 longshot against four rivals, Smooth Cruisein prevailed on debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anta. Settling behind splits of :22.21 and :44.91 set up the son of Girvin to rally down the homestretch and prevail by half a length for trainer Karen Headley, completing the race in 1:10.71.

Solo Venturi: Purchased for $1.3 million as a yearling, Solo Venturi took a step toward earning back his purchase price when prevailing on debut in a one-mile maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The well-bred son of Constitution rated in fifth through fractions of :25.05 and :49.22, advanced to third through six furlongs in 1:14.34, and then kicked away down the homestretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:39.80. William Walden trains the bay colt.

Touchy: A son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Touchy started his career against stakes competition, finishing second in the Tremont S. and fourth in the Saratoga Special (G2). Dropping down in class for a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland allowed Touchy to secure his first win. The Wesley Ward trainee closed from as many as 3 1/2 lengths behind splits of :22.20 and :45.58 to draw off and dominate by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:17.66.

Voila Magic: Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen picked up a Kentucky Derby contender when Voila Magic trounced his debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland. A son of Asmussen’s Grade 1-winning sprinter Volatile, Voila Magic showed speed much like his sire, pressing and setting fractions of :22.51 and :46.03 before pulling away with authority to win by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:17.50.

Top maiden winner of the week: Render Judgment

Honorable mention: Rookie Card