Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Amoss saddles two winners

Tom Amoss is one of North America’s leading trainers of Thoroughbred racehorses.

According to stats from industry database Equibase, as of December 2024 horses trained by Amoss have won over 4,000 races and more than $126 million in purse money. By wins, Amoss is the 15th-most successful trainer in the history of U.S. and Canadian Thoroughbred racing; by earnings, he ranks 20th.

Since starting his career in 1987, Amoss has won dozens of graded stakes. In 2019, he saddled Serengeti Empress to win the historic Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Derby (G1), however, has proven to be an elusive target. Amoss has saddled half a dozen horses in the Run for the Roses: Lone Star Sky (15th in 2003), Backtalk (20th in 2010), Mylute (fifth in 2013), War Story (16th in 2015), Mo Tom (eighth in 2016), and Lone Sailor (ninth in 2018). Only Mylute earned a piece of the purse.

Perhaps Amoss’ Derby luck will turn around in 2025. Last Saturday, Amoss saddled a pair of juveniles to win maiden races at major tracks. Perhaps we’ll see one (or both) of these up-and-comers join the Road to the Kentucky Derby and maybe—just maybe—prevail on the first Saturday in May.

I Got Game found himself in tight quarters between rivals at the start and settled in fifth position through an opening quarter-mile in :21.92. But he soon advanced to challenge through half a mile in :46.18, and by midstretch he held a two-length advantage. Early pace player Gateskeeper tried to battle back late, but I Got Game lived up to his name and repelled the challenge to win by a neck in 1:11.22.

So far, I Got Game has competed exclusively in sprints. But his pedigree suggests stretching out around two turns is within reach, so don’t be surprised if I Got Game turns up in a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier this winter.

The other Amoss trainee who found the winner’s circle last Saturday was Seattle Road, a son of Quality Road out of the Tapit mare Seattle Slang. This is a pedigree geared toward success racing 1 1/16 miles or farther, so it wasn’t surprising to see Seattle Road break his maiden in a two-turn route race.

Seattle Road has competed exclusively over 1 1/16 miles so far. He debuted with a 10th-place finish on turf at Saratoga, then switched to dirt to finish sixth at Churchill Downs and second at Fair Grounds.

Seattle Road’s second try at Fair Grounds proved successful. Overlooked at 10-1 odds in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight, Seattle Road rated in the back half of a 10-horse field as the pacesetter carved out solid fractions of :23.80, :47.81, and 1:12.43. As the pace fell apart down the homestretch, Seattle Road gobbled up ground, gaining six lengths through the final furlong alone to prevail by a head in a blanket finish that saw the first five horses across the wire separated by three-quarters of a length.

Purchased for $400,000 as a yearling, Seattle Road is progressing in the right direction and has upside for further improvement. Quality Road was an accomplished three-year-old who peaked at age four, and while he’s sired a couple of champion juveniles, many of his best runners have excelled at ages three and older. If Seattle Road follows that path, his best efforts may still be to come.

Top maiden winner of the week: I Got Game

Honorable mention: Seattle Road