Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: 4 Triple Crown noms graduate

Six weeks out from the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1), time is running out for lightly raced maiden winners to join the Road to the Kentucky Derby. But there are still opportunities if owners and trainers opt to pursue aggressive paths with impressive winners.

One of the flashiest three-year-olds to graduate last week was Make My Day, a second-time starter from the Hall of Fame barn of Todd Pletcher. The Triple Crown nominee sold for $1.1 million as a yearling and appears to have a bright future.

Make My Day

Make My Day debuted on Feb. 7 in a one-mile and 40-yard maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs. After dropping back to eighth place, he rallied to finish third. He was beaten 14 1/4 lengths, but the winner—Emerging Market—came back to take the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his next start, so it’s safe to say Make My Day faced a tough rival.

The competition proved more manageable in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park last Friday. Showing much-improved early speed, Make My Day dashed to the front through splits of :23.14, :47.05, and 1:11.38, in the process widening his advantage to three lengths. Late-running Stompin Grapes gained ground down the homestretch while pulling 10 lengths clear of the third-place finisher, but Make My Day held him safe by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire, which he reached in the respectable time of 1:42.57.

Make My Day has the pedigree to be a top-notch racehorse. He’s a son of 2017 Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner out of Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) winner Magical Feeling, a daughter of Belmont (G1) hero Empire Maker. Magical Feeling previously foaled multiple Grade 2 winner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up Imagination, Monmouth Oaks (G3) conqueror Occult, and She’s All In S. winner Magical, so Make My Day is a half-sibling to three stakes winners.

Even if Make My Day skips the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness (G1) and/or Belmont (G1) could be viable goals for this promising bay colt.

Growth Equity

Another Triple Crown nominee who caught eyes last week was Growth Equity, a Chad Brown trainee who graduated third-time out in a one-mile maiden special weight on Friday at Aqueduct.

Purchased for $425,000 as a yearling, Growth Equity debuted last July in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga. He finished second by one length, but went to the sidelines shortly afterward and didn’t resume serious training until November.

Growth Equity returned to action on Feb. 7 in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, in which he closed from midfield to finish second by one length.

Growth Equity’s breakthrough triumph at Aqueduct came in his first try running long. After pressing splits of :23.75 and :46.49, he took over the lead and powered clear down the homestretch to score by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:36.71.

A tilt at the Road to the Kentucky Derby seems unlikely for Growth Equity, but he could potentially aim for a race like the May 9 Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct and use it as a springboard to the Belmont.

Marauder

Triple Crown nominee Marauder lost his first three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, but he showed a bit of talent along the way. In a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last fall, he ran second by 1 1/4 lengths against stablemate Chip Honcho, who later won the Gun Runner S. and finished second in the Risen Star (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Marauder finally secured a maiden win of his own on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Facing seven rivals in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight, the son of Gun Runner dueled through fractions of :23.13, :47.86, and 1:12.58 before fighting on gamely to prevail by half a length in 1:43.29.

Not to Worry

We’ll wrap with a mention of Not to Worry, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense who debuted victorious in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

The Cherie DeVaux trainee failed to show early speed, racing ninth through fractions of :22.06 and :45.67. But then he blazed his final quarter-mile in :22.89 to storm home on top by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:09.57.

Not to Worry’s pedigree suggests he’ll relish stretching out around two turns, so the future looks bright for this up-and-coming bay colt.

Top maiden winner of the week: Make My Day

Honorable mention: Not to Worry