Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: U. S. S. Valor stuns at Saratoga
U. S. S. Valor breaks his maiden at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)
September 8th, 2026
Did the 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner compete at Saratoga last Saturday? It’s possible, if the spectacular performance of U. S. S. Valor in a seven-furlong maiden special weight is any indication.
U. S. S. Valor looks like a serious stakes horse in the making after winning his second start by daylight in a fast time. Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey (winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby with Orb), U. S. S. Valor naturally leads this week’s Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.
U. S. S. Valor
A homebred racing for Team Valor International, U. S. S. Valor debuted on Aug. 8 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga. Although he failed to win, he closed ground nicely from sixth place to finish third, beaten only three-quarters of a length.
It’s safe to say U. S. S. Valor took a tremendous step forward in his second start. Favored at 4-5, the bay colt showed much-improved tactical speed, dueling through an opening quarter-mile in :23.10 and claiming a one-length advantage through half a mile in :45.53.
From there, U. S. S. Valor blew the race apart. He widened his advantage to seven lengths through six furlongs in 1:09.60, then clocked his final furlong in a sharp :12.44 to win by 13 1/4 lengths.
U. S. S. Valor’s winning time of 1:22.04 was the fastest of four seven-furlong dirt sprints on the card. An identical seven-furlong maiden special weight later in the afternoon elapsed in 1:23.02, nearly a full second slower, while two-year-old fillies in the prestigious Spinaway (G1) clocked 1:22.72.
The New York Racing Association reports the Oct. 3 Champagne (G1), a one-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, is next on the agenda for U. S. S. Valor. The son of 2019 Preakness (G1) winner War of Will is arguably the most exciting two-year-old male in the country right now, and the way he’s finished down the homestretch in his first two starts, longer distances should suit him well.
Pharocity
The winner of the other seven-furlong maiden special weight on Saturday at Saratoga was Pharocity, a first-time starter from the barn of Steve Asmussen.
The son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah dashed to the lead through splits of :22.91 and :46.09 and pulled away down the homestretch to triumph by 5 3/4 lengths. His winning time of 1:23.02, while modest compared to U. S. S. Valor, was on the quick side overall, suggesting Pharocity has a bright future against stakes competition.
Inalienable
On Sunday, Inalienable proved much the best in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds at Saratoga.
The Chad Brown trainee overcame a bump at the start to secure a 1 1/2-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in :22.65. He widened his advantage at every call thereafter, clocking half a mile in :46.63 before dashing to the finish line six lengths clear in 1:05.17.
Dargham
The Labor Day card at Saratoga yielded an impressive two-year-old winner when Dargham, a $500,000 auction acquisition, decisively conquered 11 rivals in a six-furlong maiden special weight.
Setting fractions of :22.50 and :46.06 did little to tire the son of Army Mule. To the contrary, Dargham clocked his final two furlongs in the swift times of :11.90 and :12.25 to triumph by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:10.21.
Dargham’s pedigree is geared toward speed, so it’s possible he’ll wind up best as a sprinter. Either way, he looks like a talented prospect for trainer Linda Rice.
Imperial Honor
Six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert unveiled another promising two-year-old when Imperial Honor trounced a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Labor Day at Del Mar.
Purchased for $725,000 as a two-year-old in training, Imperial Honor started as the 7-5 favorite and ran to expectations. He dueled through an opening quarter-mile in :22.23, edged away through half a mile in :45.72, and finished up nicely (running his final three-sixteenths of a mile in :18.87) to score by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:04.19.
Imperial Honor is a son of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Honor A. P. out of a mare by 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, so he has the pedigree to appreciate stretching out around two turns. Look for him to improve when tackling longer distances down the road.
Earth Song
As a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Earth Song has the potential to shine racing one mile or farther. Nevertheless, he was sharp enough to dominate his debut, sprinting six furlongs in a Monmouth Park maiden special weight on Labor Day.
Earth Song broke slowest in a three-horse field, but soon vied for command through fractions of :22.51 and :45.60. The Jorge Delgado trainee then sprinted away from his rivals, clocking his final quarter-mile in :24.83 to hit the wire 11 1/4 lengths clear in 1:10.43.
