Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Potente delivers for Baffert

The final weekend in January isn’t too late for a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner to debut.

On Jan. 28, 2023, an unheralded colt named Mage debuted victorious in a seven-furlong maiden special weight. Barely more than three months later, he upset the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

Perhaps Potente can follow the same trajectory. Purchased for $2.4 million as a yearling, the beautifully bred colt won his debut on Saturday at Santa Anita, and if all goes well, we could see him join the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Potente

Potente is a son of perennial leading North American sire Into Mischief, who has sired a record-equaling three winners of the Kentucky Derby: Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025). Potente’s dam, Sweet Sting, placed against stakes competition on turf and is a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Awesome Again.

This pedigree mixes speed with stamina, which is often a winning recipe for the Kentucky Derby. It’s doubtlessly one reason why Potente brought a multimillion-dollar price tag at auction.

Under the care of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, Potente turned in a flashy series of fast workouts in preparation for his debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight. He started as the 3-5 favorite against five rivals, but had to work harder than expected to secure the win.

Breaking on top under jockey Kazushi Kimura, Potente engaged experienced rival Captain Shreve in a duel for the lead through fractions of :22.77 and :45.62. They were always at least three lengths ahead of the rest, and down the homestretch a tight battle unfolded. Captain Shreve was a worthy challenger, but Potente always held a slight advantage and widened it down the lane to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Potente reached the finish line in 1:10.65 after running his final quarter-mile in :25.03. He’ll have to run a bit faster to factor on the Kentucky Derby trail, but stretching out in distance offers potential for improvement, so keep a close eye on Potente this winter.

Wall Street

Did a possible Kentucky Derby contender change barns last Saturday? Only time will tell what the future holds for Wall Street, but after breaking his maiden in hard-fought fashion on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, he’s progressing in a positive direction.

A son of Into Mischief out of stakes winner Well Humored, Wall Street is a full-brother to Patch Adams, winner of the Woody Stephens (G1) and H. Allen Jerkens (G1) sprinting seven furlongs last year. But after debuting with an uninspiring sixth-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last fall, trainer Brad Cox and owners WinStar Farm and First Go Racing opted to enter the bay colt in a $50,000 maiden optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.

Wall Street appreciated facing easier competition. He made the lead through slow fractions of :23.13 and :47.03, then held off a challenge from pace-pressing rival Pike to win by a neck in 1:17.48. Pike, in turn, pulled 6 3/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

Trainer Mary Lightner claimed Wall Street for $50,000. His new owners are Holly Wilson and David Wilson. It’s possible Wall Street will follow Patch Adams’ example and develop into a sprinter for his new connections, but given Into Mischief’s history of siring Kentucky Derby winners, there’s at least a small chance we’ll see Wall Street tackle the Derby trail.

Bird the Legend

One maiden winner staying in Brad Cox’s barn is Bird the Legend. He was available to claim for $50,000 when debuting in a six-furlong maiden optional claimer on Thursday at Fair Grounds, but there were no takers.

Bird the Legend sold for $90,000 as a yearling. The son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liam’s Map started at 5-2 against half a dozen rivals at Fair Grounds and rewarded his backers with an exciting performance. After dropping around 10 lengths behind fractions of :21.97 and :45.25, he gobbled up ground into decelerating pace fractions to prevail by a neck in 1:11.89.

Having broken his maiden sprinting, the next step for Bird the Legend may be to stretch out around two turns. If he handles more distance with aplomb, the Road to the Kentucky Derby could beckon.

Top maiden winner of the week: Potente

Honorable mention: Wall Street