Thirteen Derby, Oaks Horses Identified by Maiden Watch

The first weekend of May at Churchill Downs is a rite of passage for top 3-year-olds around the country, and while 2020 was a bit different, 2021 will mark the return of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) to their traditional place on the calendar.

This year, Maiden Watch identified 13 horses that will compete for their spot in Derby and Oaks history; eight in the Derby and five in the Oaks. Each horse met Maiden Watch criteria by achieving their first win within their first five starts. They are also either out of a graded stakes winner or graded stakes producer, or they brought more than $500,000 at a public sale.

KENTUCKY DERBY

#2 Hot Rod Charlie - Half to 2019 champion male sprinter Mitole

Second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, Hot Rod Charlie  made his first start as a 2-year-old July 11 at Del Mar where he finished fourth, just missing third by a nose, after bumping the gate at the start. The Oxbow   colt out of Indian Miss, raced twice more at Del Mar before winning his fourth start Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

Under Abel Cedillo, who had ridden him in two of his three previous starts, Hot Rod Charlie scored by a neck in the one-mile test. The colt returned a month later to place second to Essential Quality  in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) under Tyler Gaffalione at odds of 94-1. He earned eight points for the effort.

Joel Rosario took over riding Hot Rod Charlie in 2021 and the pair earned 102 additional points in two races, the majority coming with a victory in the March 20 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2).

#5 Known Agenda - Out of grade 1 winner Byrama

After finishing second to fellow Derby entrant Highly Motivated  in his debut as a 2-year-old Sept. 27 at Belmont Park, Known Agenda  defeated eight rivals in his second start Nov. 8 under Kendrick Carmouche at Aqueduct Racetrack.

John Velazquez took over riding Dec. 5, when Known Agenda earned two points with a third-place finish in the Remsen Stakes (G2). After finishing fifth in the Sam F. Davis (G3), Irad Ortiz Jr. guided the Curlin   colt to an 11-length victory in a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, securing his mount in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1).

Known Agenda and Ortiz scored a 2 3/4-length win over Soup and Sandwich  in the March 27 test. The son of 2013 Vanity Handicap (G1) winner Byrama enters the Derby with a total of 102 points.

#6 Rock Your World - $650,000 yearling

Rock Your World  seemed to come onto the Derby trail from out of nowhere, winning his debut Jan. 1 and scoring twice more since at his home base of Santa Anita.

After posting a 1 3/4-length win on turf in his six-furlong debut with Joel Rosario aboard, the Candy Ride   colt boosted his stock on grass when he won his next start Feb. 27, taking the one-mile Pasadena Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths.

Taking a major jump in class, Rock Your World's connections decided to go for grade 1 glory on dirt in the April 3 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the $650,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase did not disappoint. Umberto Rispoli guided the colt to the lead and dictated the pace, and when the field began to close on him, Rispoli signaled Rock Your World and he easily opened up on the field. He outran Medina Spirit  and Dream Shake  to win by 4 1/4 lengths and earned 100 points toward a Derby start, which placed him sixth on the leaderboard.

#7 Bourbonic - Out of grade 2 winner Dancing Afleet

Bourbonic  had a slow start, finishing off the board in his first two starts as a 2-year-old at New York tracks. A drop in class got him into the winner's circle Dec. 6 in his third start, a one-mile maiden claiming race at Aqueduct.

While the Bernardini   colt was ridden by Rosario in that 4 3/4-length victory, Carmouche was aboard for his next start Jan. 17, a starter optional claiming race over the same track and distance, which he won by a neck. He then placed second Feb. 23 in a similar allowance-level test at Parx Racing under another rider.

Back at Aqueduct two months later with Carmouche aboard, Bourbonic came from last to win the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) by a head over Dynamic One , earning 100 points.

#9 Midnight Bourbon - $525,000 yearling and half to grade 1 winner Girvin

With seven races under his belt, Midnight Bourbon  has only won twice, but has shown consistency by earning Derby points from placings in major stakes.

The son of Tiznow , a half brother to 2017 betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) winner Girvin   and a $525,000 Keeneland September purchase, was third in his July 25 debut at Ellis Park but returned a month later to score a 5 1/2-length win in a one-mile test at the same track.

While Joe Talamo became Midnight Bourbon's regular rider in 2021, the colt had three different riders in his four starts as a 2-year-old. He placed second in the Iroquois Stakes Presented by Ford (G3) and third in the Champagne Stakes (G1), earning 14 total points.

Midnight Bourbon kicked off 2021 with a win in the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte Stakes (G3) under Talamo, but the colt was defeated by Mandaloun  in the Feb. 13 Risen Star Presented by Lemarque Ford (G2). He then again turned the tables on that rival in the Louisiana Derby while finishing second to Hot Rod Charlie. His efforts have earned him a total of 66 points.

#10 Mandaloun - Out of grade 2 winner Brooch

From the deep pedigrees of Juddmonte Farms, Mandaloun came onto the 2-year-old scene with two wins in his first two starts, taking a six-furlong maiden test Oct. 24 at Keeneland and then a seven-furlong test Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

The Into Mischief   colt, who has been ridden exclusively by Florent Geroux, finished third behind Midnight Bourbon in the Jan. 16 Lecomte, won the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star, and then finished sixth in the Louisiana Derby as the 6-5 favorite. He has earned 52 points in all.

Trainer Brad Cox went on the record to state he would draw a line through that last effort and connections agreed the Derby was still on the table for the son of the Empire Maker mare Brooch, who won four straight races in Ireland, topped by the Lanwades Stud Ridgewood Pearl Stakes (G2).

#12 Helium - Out of group 3 winner Thundering Emilia

Undefeated in three starts, Helium  made his debut Sept. 27 on the all-weather track at Woodbine while going seven furlongs under Emma-Jayne Wilson. The Ironicus   colt repeated at the distance in the Oct. 18 Display Stakes with the same rider.

While Helium won both of those races by open lengths as a 2-year-old, he needed to prove he could handle dirt, a longer distance, and return as a 3-year-old in the same form. On March 6 he did just that, taking the 1 1/16-mile Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) under Jose Ferrer, winning by three-quarter lengths over Hidden Stash .

Helium is out of the Saint Ballado mare Thundering Emilia, who was a group 3 winner in South America.

#18 King Fury - $950,000 yearling out of grade 1 winner Taris

With the defection of Hozier  and Dream Shake  last week, King Fury  moved into the Kentucky Derby field. The son of Curlin, who brought $950,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling auction, is the first foal out of the grade 1-winning Flatter   mare Taris.

King Fury won his Sept. 3 debut while going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs under Brian Hernandez, but a jump up to grade 1 company and a rider change proved futile when he finished eighth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

Back with Hernandez at Churchill, King Fury then won the Oct. 25 Street Sense Overnight Stakes over Super Stock , who is third on the Derby leaderboard. He had two more losses in Derby points races before landing 20 points in the April 10  Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3).

*Maiden claiming race

KENTUCKY OAKS

#2 Travel Column - $850,000 yearling and half to grade 1-placed Neolithic

Geroux' other mount, Travel Column  came out running from the start. The Frosted   filly is second on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard and has boosted her sire to the top of the second-crop sires list. Purchased for $850,000 during The Saratoga Sale, Travel Column is a half sister to Neolithic  , who finished third in both the 2017 Pegasus World Cup (G1) and that year's Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

Travel Column easily won her Sept. 4 debut over six furlongs at Churchill Downs and went straight to top-level competition, but finished third in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) a month later. She earned her first stakes win Nov. 28, when she defeated Clairiere  by a length in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) to earn 10 points.

Clairiere turned the tables on Travel Column in their next start in the Feb. 13 Rachel Alexandra Presented by Fasig-Tipton Stakes (G2), but that rivalry deepened when Travel Column outran Clairiere March 20 to post a 2 3/4-length win in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). Travel Column has earned a total of 132 points in the four graded stakes--all run at 1 1/16 miles.

#4 Pauline's Pearl - Out of grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick

Pauline's Pearl  debuted Dec. 19 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, but the daughter of Tapit   and 2009 Spinaway Stakes (G1) winner Hot Dixie Chick did not win until her third start, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden test Feb. 12 at the Louisiana track.

She didn't make her stakes debut until the March 6 Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park, where she finished runner-up to Will's Secret . Ricardo Santana Jr., who rode the filly in her debut, returned April 3 to guide Pauline's Pearl to a length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy Stakes (G3) over Ava's Grace  and Coach .

Those two graded stakes performances earned the filly 120 points toward the Oaks.

#5 Malathaat - $1.05 million yearling out of grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia

Undefeated in four starts, Malathaat  debuted Oct. 9 at Belmont Park, taking a seven-furlong test by 1 3/4 lengths under Velazquez.

The Curlin filly returned Nov. 6 to post a 7 3/4-length romp in the one-mile Tempted Stakes under Carmouche at Aqueduct, then took the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) a month later with Velazquez back aboard.

Malathaat made sure everyone was taking her seriously when she defeated Pass the Champagne  and Will's Secret in the April 3 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in her first race outside of New York.

A $1.05 million Keeneland September purchase out of 2012 Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Dreaming of Julia, Malathaat earned 110 points in the two graded stakes.

#6 Clairiere - Out of multiple grade 1 winner Cavorting

Clairiere's first start Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs revealed the Curlin filly's turn of foot when she rallied from last to post a half-length win in a 1 1/16-mile race. Fellow Oaks contender Will's Secret finished third in that maiden test, which was her third start.

With Santana back aboard in the Golden Rod in her second start, she finished second to Travel Column who ran her down in late stretch. With Talamo aboard for the Rachel Alexandra, she came back to win over the same rival by a neck after hitting the gate at the start. Clairiere didn't really have an excuse when Travel Column outran her in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

The daughter of the Bernardini mare Cavorting, who won eight of her 13 starts including three grade 1 tests, has not finished worse than second and earned 94 points toward the Oaks.

Pass the Champagne - Half to grade 3 winner Miss Kentucky

A filly that's only won her maiden, Pass the Champagne has had three different riders in three starts. The Flatter filly debuted in January at Gulfstream Park, finishing second under Luis Saez and then returned to win a seven-furlong test at the Florida track under Velazquez.

Pass the Champagne made a good impression and scored 40 points when she took the lead in the stretch of the Ashland, but was run down by Malathaat who won by a head. Pass the Champagne is a half sister to Miss Kentucky, who scored a graded victory in the 2018 Winning Colors Stakes (G3).