Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Fools Rush In steps forward
Fools Rush In breaks his maiden at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
In 2021, trainer Brad Cox won the Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun. Can Cox repeat the feat in 2027 with Fools Rush In or Lord Mischief?
Last Sunday, during the “Stars of Tomorrow I” program at Churchill Downs, Cox sent out Fools Rush In and Lord Mischief—two expensive sons of Into Mischief—to score promising maiden wins. Unsurprisingly, they lead this week’s Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.
Fools Rush In
Purchased for $525,000 as a yearling, Fools Rush In showed potential when debuting on Sept. 10 in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. He raced evenly to finish third, beaten four lengths while gaining a couple of lengths through the final furlong.
On Sunday, Fools Rush In stretched out in distance to a one-mile maiden special weight. Evidently, he relished the longer distance. Showing improved tactical speed, Fools Rush In stayed within half a length of :23.29 and :46.46 pace fractions, seized the lead through six furlongs in 1:11.53, and then powered away to prevail by 4 1/4 lengths.
Fools Rush In ran his final quarter-mile in :24.76 to hit the wire in 1:36.29. His dam, Fool’s Paradise, won the one-mile Lone Star Park Turf S. and is a daughter of 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, so it’s easy to understand why Fools Rush In improved while stretching out in distance. His pedigree suggests he’ll handle racing 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May, so keep a close eye on how Fools Rush In progresses this winter.
Lord Mischief
About 2 1/2 hours before Fools Rush In reached the winner’s circle, Lord Mischief debuted triumphantly in a six-furlong maiden special weight.
Lord Mischief boasts a strong pedigree. His dam, Lady Kate, finished second in the La Troienne (G1). His dam sire, Bernardini, was a champion racehorse and successful sire. Bernardini's daughters have foaled Kentucky Derby winners Golden Tempo and Sovereignty; the latter, like Lord Mischief, is a son of Into Mischief.
Lord Mischief brought a price of $3 million when sold at auction as a yearling. Bettors weren’t convinced his lofty price tag would equate to a debut victory, as Lord Mischief started as the 4-1 third choice at Churchill. But after rating two lengths behind fractions of :22.43 and :45.64, he launched a steady homestretch rally to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.73.
Lord Mischief’s pedigree offers plenty of potential for success over longerr distances, so look for him to improve when stretching out around two turns in the future. The Road to the Kentucky Derby surely beckons.
Karajan
Another sharp winner during the Stars of Tomorrow I card was Karajan, who trounced a six-furlong maiden special weight for horses who brought a final bid of $65,000 or less at their most recent auction.
Returning from a four-month layoff in his second career start, Karajan took a big step forward for trainer Dale Romans. The son of Hard Spun dashed to the front and carved out splits of :22.64 and :46.13 before drawing off through a :24.40 final quarter-mile to win by six lengths in 1:10.53—a fifth of a second faster than Lord Mischief.
Social Deception
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen saddled a couple of juveniles to win maiden special weights at Keeneland last week.
In a 1 1/16-mile contest on Oct. 21, Social Deception dropped nearly a dozen lengths off the early pace but gradually gained ground into fractions of :23.39, :47.46, and 1:12.50. The son of Charlatan then surged through the final furlong to get up and win by half a length in 1:45.51.
Social Deception finished second in his first two starts, running long on dirt and turf.
T V Time Out
T V Time Out lost his first three starts, but the Asmussen trainee got the job done in his fourth attempt, decisively winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Friday at Keeneland.
A son of champion male sprinter Jackie’s Warrior, T V Time Out settled two lengths behind an opening quarter-mile in :22.33 before advancing and taking command to beat 10 rivals by 2 3/4 lengths. He hit the wire in 1:05.14.
