By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
It is that point of yr
once more! With the Breeders’ Cup full, our consideration can flip to the 2025
Kentucky Derby (G1), which is about six months away.
I have been watching out for up-and-coming
Derby contenders who have not joined the stakes ranks but. Listed below are 5 maiden
winners value following because the 2024-25 Highway to the Kentucky Derby heats up:
Disco Time
Juddmonte… Brad Cox… Florent
Geroux… the connections behind 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun are again
with Disco Time, a promising son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Not
This Time.
Whereas most bettors have been
targeted on the Breeders’ Cup Friday motion at Del Mar, Disco Time was successful
his debut in a seven-furlong maiden particular weight at Churchill Downs. By no means
greater than a size behind fractions of :23.01 and :46.68, Disco Time completed
up properly when referred to as up, taking on and clocking his last furlong in :12.59
to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:23.88.
Disco Time has upside and
could make some noise on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby this winter.
Keewaydin
Keewaydin debuted on Aug. 24
in an extremely deep six-furlong maiden particular weight at Saratoga. He
completed third by a head and a nostril to future Champagne (G1) runner-up Tip Prime
Thomas and subsequent maiden winner Rookie Card. Coming dwelling three lengths
behind Keewaydin in fourth place was future Avenue Sense (G3) winner
Sovereignty, whereas others within the subject included next-out maiden winner C Ok
Marvel.
Unsurprisingly, Keewaydin
had little problem successful his second begin in a seven-furlong maiden
particular weight at Aqueduct. After vying for command by means of fast fractions of
:22.67 and :45.70, he kicked clear and sprinted his last three furlongs in a
robust :36.39 to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Volt, who in flip pulled 10 lengths
away from the remainder.
Keewaydin reached the end
line in a quick 1:22.09. The Chad Brown-trained teenager is bred like a
sprinter/miler, however there’s clearly vital expertise right here.
Mitty’s Griddy
I will be the primary to concede
that Mitty’s Griddy benefited from a good tempo setup when rallying to win
his debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs. The early fractions have been
scorching—:21.35 and :44.48—and the tempo decelerated down the homestretch with a
last furlong in :13.29.
However in closing from lifeless
final, a dozen lengths off the tempo, Mitty’s Griddy clocked severely quick
closing fractions. He was 10 lengths behind with a quarter-mile remaining and 6
3/4 lengths again with a furlong left to run. To shut these margins, Mitty’s
Griddy ran his last quarter-mile in :23.58 per the Equibase GPS consequence chart.
A son of champion sprinter
Mitole out of a mare by Songandaprayer, Mitty’s Griddy is bred to excel over
quick distances. However the ending kick he displayed on debut bodes properly for
the probabilities of this Cox trainee stretching out in distance.
Praetor
Praetor is likely to be a 1-for-2
maiden winner, however he is already confirmed he can maintain his personal towards Highway to the
Kentucky Derby-caliber competitors.
Bought for $725,000 as a
yearling, Praetor debuted in a six-furlong maiden particular weight on Aug. 3 at
Saratoga. He received bumped and pinched initially, dropping again to final place
by a transparent margin. But he fought his approach again into competition down the
homestretch and completed third behind runaway winner Ferocious, who has since
positioned within the Hopeful (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
Praetor subsequently led
from begin to end to win a one-mile maiden particular weight at Aqueduct. His
lead was shrinking down the homestretch, going from 3 1/2 lengths on the eighth
pole to a neck on the wire. However do not choose him harshly: the fast-closing
runner-up, Sovereignty, returned to win the Avenue Sense (G3) in his subsequent
begin.
Praetor reached the end
line within the fast time of 1:36.14, incomes a 90 Beyer Pace Determine. The
fantastically bred son of Into Mischief out of a Curlin mare has a pedigree
combining pace with stamina, and success over basic distances must be
inside attain. Maybe Praetor can provide coach Chad Brown a Kentucky Derby win
after the near-miss of Sierra Leone this yr.
Uncaged
Uncaged, a $450,000 yearling
acquisition, has solely run as soon as and hasn’t posted a timed labored since
scratching from final month’s Champagne (G1). But when this Todd Pletcher-trained
juvenile will get again to motion in time for the Highway to the Kentucky Derby, he
might be a pressure to reckon with.
A stoutly bred son of Curlin
out of a mare by Pioneerof the Nile, Uncaged is bred to relish racing 1 1/8
miles or farther. So it was noteworthy to see him win his debut sprinting a
mere six furlongs at Saratoga. Ignored because the fifth alternative amongst seven
starters in a maiden particular weight, Uncaged settled midfield by means of splits of
:22.12 and :45.33, then launched a large cost to take command and rating by 1
3/4 lengths in 1:10.55.
One of the best is unquestionably nonetheless to
come from Uncaged, who figures to enhance with distance and maturity. I am
excited for his future.
Now it is your flip! Which
up-and-coming Kentucky Derby contenders do you could have your eyes on?
*****
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J. Keeler Johnson (also referred to as “Keelerman”) is a author, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing fanatic. A terrific fan of racing historical past, he considers Dr. Fager to be the best racehorse ever produced in America, however counts Zenyatta as his all-time favourite.