Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Sorcerer’s Silver romps for Romans

Trainer Dale Romans has enjoyed resounding success through the years. He won the 2012 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer. He won the 2011 Preakness (G1) with Shackleford. He’s trained the winners of over 130 graded stakes and $120 million in purse money.

One target that has proven elusive for Romans is the Kentucky Derby (G1). He’s finished third twice with Paddy O’Prado (2010) and Dullahan (2012), but none of his dozen starters in the Run for the Roses have taken first prize.

Perhaps that will change in 2025. At Gulfstream Park last Saturday, Romans sent out an unraced three-year-old named Sorcerer’s Silver to crush a seven-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds. The performance was strong enough to suggest qualifying to the Kentucky Derby isn’t out of the question for Sorcerer’s Silver.

Facing only four rivals, Sorcerer’s Silver left no doubt about his superiority. With five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, Sorcerer’s Silver dashed to the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :22.66 and maintained his advantage even as a rival cranked up the pressure through half a mile in :45.56.

In the homestretch, Sorcerer’s Silver kicked away from his pursuers. None could keep pace as he opened up a four-length lead passing the eighth pole, and by the time he reached the finish line in 1:23.26 he was clear by 8 1/4 lengths.

Purchased for $130,000 as a two-year-old in training, Sorcerer’s Silver is a son of 2017 champion two-year-old male and 2018 Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic. This is meaningful since Good Magic has already sired 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage.

Mage didn’t debut until Jan. 28, so Sorcerer’s Silver’s Feb. 1 start date isn’t much later on the calendar. If all goes well, there’s still time for Sorcerer’s Silver to squeeze in an easy second start—perhaps an allowance—before tackling the Road to the Kentucky Derby in late March or April. Or, he can take the Mage approach and head straight from his maiden win to the Road to the Kentucky Derby—Mage made his second start in the Fountain of Youth (G2).

Another notable maiden winner from last week is The Warden, a son of 2019 Preakness winner War of Will. Unlike Sorcerer’s Silver, The Warden has lots of experience under his belt, having made five starts since his debut last September.

The Warden’s early efforts yielded mixed results. Competing exclusively in maiden special weights, he finished second in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint at Laurel Park, sixth in a 1 1/16-mile turf route at Aqueduct, second racing a one-turn mile on dirt at Churchill Downs, and fifth racing a two-turn dirt mile at Oaklawn Park.

The Warden’s breakthrough victory came in another two-turn dirt mile at Oaklawn last Sunday. Facing four rivals, The Warden carved out fractions of :23.84, :48.03, and 1:13.18, got passed in the homestretch, and then battled back tenaciously to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:39.73.

That performance marked a nice rebound for The Warden. It was much more akin to his runner-up finish at Churchill Downs, in which he was beaten a neck by Burning Glory while pulling 11 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Burning Glory has since finished third in the Holy Bull (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Acquired for $170,000 as a two-year-old in training, The Warden hails from the barn of Ron Moquett, who has saddled three previous Kentucky Derby starters: Far Right (15th in 2015), Whitmore (19th in 2016), and King Russell (15th in 2023). Whitmore went on to become a champion sprinter.

Having finally secured his maiden triumph, The Warden has options for future starts. His fine try against Burning Glory last fall indicates a foray on the Road to the Kentucky Derby isn’t out of the question, perhaps in the March 22 Louisiana Derby (G2) or March 29 Arkansas Derby (G1).

Top maiden winner of the week: Sorcerer’s Silver

Honorable mention: The Warden