Nine Graduates of Maiden Watch Enter Derby Field

Nine of the horses that will step into the starting gate May 2 in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs are graduates of BloodHorse's Maiden Watch.

The 4-1 morning-line favorite, Renegade , leads the way. The Todd Pletcher trainee did not earn his first victory in a traditional maiden special weight. While he did cross the line first in front of Paladin  in a maiden race in October, he was disqualified to second for interference in the stretch run. This still gave his connections enough confidence to run him in stakes company, and he earned his maiden victory Feb. 7 in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The son of Into Mischief   is out of grade 3 winner Spice Is Nice , and was purchased at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $975,000 by Repole Stable, which co-owns the colt with his breeders Robert and Lawana Low. 

The Brad Cox trainee Further Ado  broke his maiden in runaway fashion. After losing his first two starts, the son of Gun Runner   entered the gate Oct. 10 at Keeneland and demolished the field by 20 lengths. He is a half brother to grade 2 winner Kimbear , and was purchased at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $550,000 by his owner Spendthrift Farm. He is the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), a race in which he once again opened up on the field, and is expected to be a top-three betting choice come Derby time. 

Cox's other two entries, Commandment  and Fulleffort , also met BloodHorse's Maiden Watch criteria. 

Commandment broke his maiden in his second start, scoring by 5 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. Owned by Wathnan Racing, he is by perennial leading sire Into Mischief and is out of the grade 1 winner Sippican Harbor . The Florida Derby (G1) winner, a $500,000 yearling purchase, is expected to be among the favorites in the betting pool by the time the Kentucky Derby goes off. 

A son of Liam's Map  , Fulleffort earned his maiden victory Sep. 10 at Kentucky Downs. The half brother to the grade 1-winning Power Squeeze  will be making his first start on dirt in the Kentucky Derby. He is owned by St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing.

The "late bloomer" of the bunch is Pin Oak Stud's Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Albus , who broke his maiden Feb. 27 at Tampa Bay Downs. The Riley Mott-trained colt is a half brother to grade 3 winner Song of Spring . He is one of two entered for owner Pin Oak Stud, which also will send Incredibolt  into the starting gate.