Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Gunfighter, Happy Jack, Peaceful Waters break through

Barely more than 100 days remain until the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1), but recent history has shown that’s sufficient time for talented Thoroughbreds to transform from mere maiden winners into Derby champions.

Let’s highlight a trio of noteworthy three-year-old maiden winners from the penultimate weekend in January:

Gunfighter

Gunfighter wasn’t in any hurry to break his maiden. The son of Ghostzapper lost his first three starts sprinting at Parx Racing and Churchill Downs, even finishing off the board on a couple of occasions.

But he turned things around when stretching out over 1 1/16 miles for a maiden special weight on Saturday at Fair Grounds. After tracking fractions of :24.03, :48.37, and 1:13.07 from third place, Gunfighter unleashed a determined rail rally to get up and win by three-quarters of a length in 1:45.32.

Florent Geroux rode Gunfighter to victory for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox, who conditions the bay colt on behalf of Gary and Mary West. Produced by the Smart Strike mare Gauche, Gunfighter sold for $220,000 as a yearling and is starting to live up to his purchase price.

Happy Jack

Trainer Doug O’Neill has already won the Kentucky Derby with I’ll Have Another (2012) and Nyquist (2016). His quest for a third victory may involve Happy Jack, an impressive debut winner on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Overlooked at 24-1 in a seemingly deep six-furlong maiden special weight, Happy Jack was unhurried early, settling as many as 5 1/2 lengths behind fast fractions of :21.78 and :44.88. But once Happy Jack got going, he was full of run under jockey Abel Cedillo, running down 7-10 favorite Bletchley Park to score by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:11.07.

Owned and bred by Calumet Farm, Happy Jack is a son of Preakness S. (G1) winner Oxbow out of the Tapit mare Tapitstry. This pedigree is geared toward success running long, so Happy Jack is eligible to improve when stretching out over longer distances. He looks like a promising prospect.

Peaceful Waters

The third time was the charm for Peaceful Waters. After finishing second in his first two starts sprinting, the son of Dialed In used his excellent tactical speed to dominate a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

The outcome was never really in doubt. In front by daylight at every call, Peaceful Waters carved out fractions of :23.96, :48.05, and 1:13.32 on his way to a five-length lead passing the eighth pole. Although he failed to switch leads down the homestretch, Peaceful Waters had enough left in the tank to hold off a late-charging rival by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:45.57.

Trained by Al Stall on behalf of Allied Racing Stable, Peaceful Waters was ridden to victory by Colby Hernandez. A foray on the Road to the Kentucky Derby could potentially be in Peaceful Waters’ future.