Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Cannoneer stuns in return

The Stars of Tomorrow II program on Saturday at Churchill Downs yielded a pair of exciting maiden winners with compelling 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) credentials.

Their names are Cannoneer and Liberty National. Both colts hail from the barns of Kentucky Derby-winning trainers, and they naturally lead this week’s edition of Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Cannoneer

Cannoneer sold for $1.75 million as a yearling, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s a son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief (who has sired a record-equaling three winners of the Kentucky Derby) out of the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon. Malibu Moon is the sire of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, while Catch the Moon has already foaled Kentucky Derby starters Girvin and Midnight Bourbon.

Under the care of trainer Brad Cox (who won the 2021 Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun), Cannoneer debuted on June 1 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. After carving out the pace, he tired in the final furlong to finish third behind Comport, who went on to win the Ellis Park Juvenile S. and finish second in the Iroquois (G3).

Cannoneer took time off during the summer and didn’t race again until the Stars of Tomorrow II program. He returned to action in a seven-furlong maiden special weight and demonstrated tremendous improvement. He set fractions of :22.44 and :45.34 while racing inside of a riderless horse, then powered away to dominate by 7 1/4 lengths in the snappy time of 1:21.63.

At this point, there’s no telling how talented Cannoneer might be. Girvin won the 1 1/8-mile Haskell (G1), and Midnight Bourbon finished second in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1), so Cannoneer has the pedigree to improve while stretching out around two turns. He looks ready to make some serious noise on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Liberty National

Whereas Cannoneer starred in a sprint, Liberty National proved his worth in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight, winning in a manner suggesting he has lots of upside and a bright future.

Liberty National is conditioned by Kenny McPeek, who nabbed the 2024 Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan. Like many McPeek trainees, Liberty National performed modestly in his debut, racing off the pace on his way to sixth place in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland.

Stretching out around two turns for his second start triggered a huge step forward. After rating about four lengths behind fractions of :24.08 and :48.57, Liberty National advanced from midfield to third place through six furlongs in 1:12.88. Then he stormed his final five-sixteenths of a mile in the strong time of :30.22 to romp home 4 1/4 lengths in front in 1:43.41.

Liberty National’s final time compared favorably against the 1:43.33 clocking posted by Further Ado in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on the same card. As a son of multiple Grade 1 winner Maxfield out of a mare by Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Awesome Again, Liberty National is bred to improve with distance and maturity, so it’s unlikely we’ve seen his best yet. Look for him to make an impact on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Global Aviator

Away from Churchill Downs, another notable maiden winner from last week is Global Aviator. Sold for $12,000 as a yearling, the son of Global Campaign earned back double his purchase price when debuting victorious in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Frankly, it’s remarkable that Global Aviator managed to win. He broke very slowly and trailed by eight lengths through an opening quarter-mile in :22.41. But then he unleashed a gigantic rally around the turn, advancing to second place through half a mile in :46.30.

At this point, Global Aviator hooked up in a stretch battle with pacesetter Treptow. The outcome could have gone either way, but Global Aviator held a neck advantage at the finish line, which he reached in the respectable time of 1:10.71.

According to the Equibase GPS result chart, Global Aviator blazed his second quarter-mile in :22.93, but still had enough left down the lane to run his final quarter-mile in :24.37. Clearly, Global Aviator is a talented prospect for trainer Rohan Crichton.

Tedder

Last up, we have to mention Tedder, a second-time starter who prevailed in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Thursday at Fair Grounds.

Coming off a fifth-place finish in his debut over the same distance at Churchill Downs, Tedder found the competition more manageable at Fair Grounds. The son of Omaha Beach rated in fourth through splits of :22.06 and :45.62 before wearing down the leaders to score by half a length in 1:12.19.

A Spendthrift Farm homebred, Tedder is trained by Al Stall Jr.

Top maiden winner of the week: Cannoneer

Honorable mention: Liberty National