Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: 4 Triple Crown nominees triumph
Racing at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
April 6th, 2026
Less than four weeks out from the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1), the Road to the Kentucky Derby is nearly complete, and time has run out for recent maiden winners to earn qualifying points.
However, in the event fewer than 20 horses enter the Kentucky Derby—or if scratches allow also-eligible entrants into the field—even a horse with zero points has a chance to make the Derby starting gate.
This possibility is worth keeping in mind, since a bevy of Triple Crown nominees posted notable maiden victories during the first week of April. Leading the charge is Memory, an exciting colt from the barn of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
Memory
Memory debuted on March 7 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita. Favored at 3-1, he ran far below expectations, finishing seventh by 12 3/4 lengths. However, the caliber of competition was deep—the victorious Crude Velocity returned to dominate a $50,000 allowance optional claimer in his next start, while runner-up Civil Liberty ran third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) last year.
Suffice to say, Memory improved dramatically in his second start, which came last Thursday in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita. With Juan Hernandez in the saddle, the son of Uncle Mo saved ground while sticking close to pace fractions of :22.79, :46.64, and 1:10.48, then launched a determined challenge between rivals to take command and prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:35.98.
Memory sold for $775,000 as a yearling and looks ready to start earning back significant portions of his purchase price. Even if he skips the Kentucky Derby, he could have a bright future against stakes competition, with the Preakness (G1) and/or Belmont (G1) being possible targets if his connections pursue an aggressive racing strategy.
Gilded Bandit
Gilded Bandit, who sold for $550,000 as a yearling, is another Triple Crown nominee who caught eyes last week.
Conditioned by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bill Mott, Gilded Bandit showed some ability when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park. Despite breaking slowly and dropping back to ninth place in the early stages, he rallied late to finish fourth, beaten only 3 1/4 lengths.
Gilded Bandit’s second start came on Saturday in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland. He broke slowly again, but recovered to show more early speed, sticking within two lengths of :22.30 and :46.12 pace fractions even after steadying briefly in traffic.
In the homestretch, Gilded Bandit had plenty of work to do, as frontrunning Deep Flame wasn’t stopping. But Gilded Bandit gradually wore down the leader to triumph by half a length in 1:10.13. Deep Flame pulled 13 1/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher, so it’s safe to say the top two both ran well.
(7) Gilded Bandit gets a head in front to win race 2 for Junior Alvarado! (4) Deep Flame a close second and (1) Buntus Foclora follows in third. pic.twitter.com/L7mOlEPOEV
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 4, 2026
Mo Koko
When offered for sale as a yearling, Mo Koko brought a final bid of $8,000 and failed to meet his reserve. He’s doubtlessly worth more than $8,000 following his debut victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Overlooked at 9-1 odds, the Librado Barocio trainee rated behind fractions of :22.18 and :44.19 before launching a determined homestretch rally. He gained 3 1/2 lengths through the final furlong to cross the wire in front by a nose in a three-horse photo finish, completing the race in 1:10.14.
Falcon Jet
In his sixth run under colors, $750,000 yearling acquisition Falcon Jet graduated on Saturday in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Laurel Park, which marked his first start since transferring to the care of trainer Brittany Russell.
Falcon Jet spent his first five starts competing for Bob Baffert in California. He finished second or third in all five of those tries while facing talented rivals like Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Litmus Test and Hopeful (G1) runner-up Buetane.
At Laurel, Falcon Jet started as the 2-5 favorite and easily defeated five foes. He tracked the pace in second place through splits of :22.67 and :46.06 before taking over in the homestretch to triumph by four lengths in 1:11.79.
Out of the Woods
Out of the Woods isn’t currently nominated to the Triple Crown, but perhaps that will change following his breakthrough triumph in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Friday at Oaklawn.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Out of the Woods failed to crack the trifecta in his first five starts against maiden special weight competition in California. However, he repeatedly knocked heads with tough rivals in those races—for example, he twice finished behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Mr. A. P.
Out of the Woods found the competition at Oaklawn more manageable. The gelded son of Constitution set fractions of :23.61, :47.61, and 1:12.96 before drawing away in the final furlong to triumph by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:45.81.
