Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Smash It finally breaks through

The wait is over. After a series of frustrating defeats to start his career, two-year-old gelding Smash It broke his maiden on closing weekend at Del Mar. He did so in a manner suggesting the Road to the Kentucky Derby is in his future.

It’s been clear for some time that Smash It has talent. The Todd Fincher-trained youngster debuted on June 14 in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita, where he raced in second place at every call to finish six lengths behind Midland Money, a Bob Baffert trainee favored at 1-5.

Then Smash It took his game to Del Mar. In another five-furlong maiden special weight on July 20, he stumbled at the start, but recovered to race in second place throughout and secure runner-up honors behind Getaway Car, a Baffert runner who returned to win the Best Pal (G3).

Smash It took on a pair of Baffert runners in his third start, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Aug. 17. This time Smash It set the pace, and while he defeated one of the Bafferts (Kalea Bay) by seven lengths, he lost a tough homestretch battle to the other (Citizen Bull) by three-quarters of a length. Citizen Bull subsequently placed third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1).

These strong showings against graded stakes-caliber foes stamped Smash It as an 8-5 favorite to win his fourth start, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Sept. 7 at Del Mar. His third start over the track was the charm, as Smash It conquered all comers, including two from the Baffert barn. One of them, Into Midnight, pressed Smash It every step of the way through intense fractions of :21.36 and :44.26. But Smash It proved resolute down the homestretch and turned back Into Midnight to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the fast time of 1:03.14.

A son of Louisiana-bred sensation Star Guitar, who won 22 stakes during a phenomenal career, Smash It is a Louisiana-bred eligible to compete in Louisiana-bred stakes in his home state. But instead, he’s holding his own against fierce competition in California, a state that annually produces some of the best two-year-old and three-year-old dirt horses in the country. Having broken his maiden, Smash It can now take the next step on his journey, which may well include the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Another notable winner on dirt last week was Trew Violence, a son of two-year-old Grade 1 winner Violence, the sire of 2023 champion juvenile and 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Fierceness.

Trew Violence was beaten in his first two starts sprinting on dirt at Ellis Park, finishing fifth and second. Shipping to Horseshoe Indianapolis for a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Wednesday proved more suitable, as the Rodolphe Brisset trainee dueled through fractions of :22.27 and :46.27 before kicking away to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:05.79. It wasn’t a particularly fast race on the clock, but securing a maiden victory is a step in the right direction for Trew Violence.

We must also give a shout-out to Golden Afternoon, a two-year-old gelding who delivered a debut victory over the European-style turf course at Kentucky Downs on Sunday.

Trained by Carlo Vaccarezza, Golden Afternoon started as the 5-2 second choice in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight and showed talent from start to finish. He raced in second place while never more than half a length behind fractions of :22.22 and :45.35 before taking over and pulling away to win by 2 3/4 lengths in the sharp time of 1:15.76.

As a son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents (the sire of 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan) out of a mare by Street Cry (the sire of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense), Golden Afternoon has the pedigree to handle dirt. Successfully switching surfaces for a Road to the Kentucky Derby foray isn’t out of the question.

Top maiden winner of the week: Smash It

Honorable mention: Golden Afternoon