Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Yacht Master wins at Churchill
Yacht Master wins his debut at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
A handful of notable maiden winners at Churchill Downs last week could potentially develop into 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders.
The winners include Yacht Master, who displayed unwavering tenacity to prevail for six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
Yacht Master
Expectations have surely been high for Yacht Master, who sold as a yearling for $525,000. After all, heโs a son of seven-time leading North American sire Into Mischief (the sire of three Kentucky Derby winners) out of Pathetique, a daughter of Uncle Mo, produced by Pocahontas (G2) winner and Alcibiades (G1) runner-up Dothraki Queen.
After a lengthy series of workouts at Del Mar and Churchill Downs (many of them from the starting gate), Yacht Master debuted as the 5-2 third choice in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Sunday at Churchill Downs. After breaking sharply, he rated along the inside, 1 1/2 lengths behind splits of :22.24 and :45.51. Turning for home, he rallied nicely up the rail to challenge for the lead and outkicked Hazy Horizon in a fierce stretch battle to score by a head in 1:04.28.
Yacht Masterโs pedigree suggests heโll appreciate stretching out around two turns in the future, so he has upside for improvement and warrants watching through autumn and winter.
Staunch
On Saturday at Churchill, second-time starter Staunch relished stretching out over 7 1/2 furlongs for a maiden special weight, charging from off the pace to trounce seven rivals.
Sold for $300,000 as a two-year-old in training, Staunch debuted on Aug. 21 in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park. The distance proved too short, as the Brendan Walsh trainee closed only belatedly from eighth place to finish third, beaten only two lengths after gaining 3 1/2 lengths through the final furlong.
The longer distance at Churchill proved more suitable. In his second start, Staunch rated in sixth place behind splits of :22.69 and :46.23 before seizing command in the final furlong to win by four lengths in 1:30.00. In the process, he displayed solid finishing speed, clocking his final quarter-mile in :24.66 per the Equibase GPS result chart.
Staunch is a son of Breedersโ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liamโs Map out of the Malibu Moon mare Future Show. Liamโs Map is the sire of 2026 Preakness (G1) winner Napoleon Solo, and Malibu Moonโs son Orb won the 2013 Kentucky Derby, so thereโs potential for Staunch to excel in the spring classics.
My Boy Gary
Purchased for only $35,000 as a yearling, My Boy Gary looks like a bargain after breaking his maiden in eye-catching fashion on Wednesday at Churchill Downs.
The son of Girvin debuted for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek in a one-mile $50,000 maiden optional claimer on July 25 at Colonial Downs. After rating off the pace in fifth place, he passed a couple of rivals to finish third.
Switching to dirt at Churchill Downs triggered a big step forward. Sent off at 3-1 in a one-mile maiden special weight for horses who brought a final bid of $65,000 or less at their most recent auction, My Boy Gary stayed within 1 1/2 lengths of :23.66, :47.12, and 1:12.13 pace fractions before seizing command to dominate by four lengths in 1:37.17.
With $57,740 in winnings, My Boy Gary has already earned back his purchase price. If he keeps improving, heโll add plenty of additional dollars to his tally.
Big Handsome
Weโll wrap up with a mention of Big Handsome, who trounced a seven-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds on Friday at Belmont Park.
Third in his debut against similar competition sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga, Big Handsome took a nice step forward in his second start. The son of City of Light settled a couple of lengths behind a :22.88 opening quarter-mile before moving up and taking over to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:24.00. Jorge Abreu conditions the Flying P Stable homebred.
