Madaket Road - Kentucky Derby Context

Runner-up in the Rebel S. (G2), Madaket Road will try to bounce back from a weakening fourth in the Florida Derby (G1). The gray colt has raced on the lead in his last two starts, but Madaket Road rallied from off the pace to break his maiden and may benefit from reverting to stalking tactics in a projected speed-laden Kentucky Derby (G1).

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OWNER: Madaket Road is campaigned by Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf), Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin), SF Racing (Gavin Murphy), Diane Bashor, Determined Stables (Matt Dorman), Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital (W. Gregg Slager), and Catherine Donovan. Starlight and Kumin (through multiple nom de courses) were involved in partnerships that campaigned Kentucky Derby winners Justify (2018) and Authentic (2020). These same connections also have Citizen Bull and Rodriguez in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field.

TRAINER: Tied with Ben Jones for the most wins, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert returns to the Kentucky Derby after a three-year suspension by Churchill Downs following the post-race disqualification of Medina Spirit. His six Kentucky Derby victories include Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018). Baffert has also compiled three seconds and three thirds from 34 starts. His first appearance came in 1996, with Cavonnier finishing second by a nose, and the 72-year-old Arizona native won the following two editions with Hall of Famer Silver Charm and Real Quiet. Along with winning the Preakness (G1) a record eight times, Baffert owns the most Triple Crown race wins (17). Baffert also sends out Citizen Bull and Rodriguez as part of the 2025 Kentucky Derby field.

JOCKEY: TBA

BREEDER: Madaket Road was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock, who retained an ownership share in the Kentucky-bred after he sold as a yearling for $650,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August sale. The gray colt will be the second Kentucky Derby starter bred by SF Bloodstock, who were represented by Society Man (16th) last year.

SIRE: A leading contender for the 2009 Kentucky Derby after convincing wins in the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2), Quality Road was forced to miss the Triple Crown, but he came back to add the Met Mile (G1), Woodward (G1), and Donn (G1) as a four-year-old. By Elusive Quality, sire of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) winner Smarty Jones, Quality Road was represented by his first Triple Crown race winner in 2023, Preakness victor National Treasure, and he’s also responsible for 2020 Belmont runner-up Dr Post.

DAM: A half-brother to multiple sprint stakes winner Bode’s Dream, Madaket Road is out of the Smoke Glacken mare Frolic’s Dream, who counted the seven-furlong Forward Gal (G2) among her three stakes victories and never raced at two turns. Smoke Glacken was named champion sprinter in 1997 but proved more versatile at stud, producing multiple Grade 1-winning dirt routers. And his top earner as a broodmare sire, multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Get Smokin, excelled at 1 1/2-mile distances. Madaket Road owns a nice mix of speed and stamina in his female family.

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