Seven Maiden Watchers Draw Into 2025 Derby Field

Of the 20 horses stepping into the starting gate for this year's Kentucky Derby (G1), seven (potentially eight if Baeza draws in) of those in the field are graduates of BloodHorse's weekly Maiden Watch. While good racehorses can come from anywhere, it's hard to argue with the old adage: "if you breed the best to the best, you get the best," which rings true for several of this year's Derby Maiden Watch alumni.

Journalism, arguably one of the strongest Kentucky Derby (G1) favorites in years, leads the list. A strapping $825,000 son of Curlin , Journalism was a second-time-out maiden winner during the fall Del Mar meet. While he got off to a later start than fellow Maiden Watchers Sandman and Citizen Bull, the Michael McCarthy trainee still earned a nod as an Eclipse Award finalist with a resounding season-ending victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). From there, Journalism, the first foal out of the grade 2-winning Uncle Mo mare Mopotism, has been an untouchable force on this year's Derby trail with wins in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1).

A standout from the start, courtesy of his unicorn-like appearance and $1.2 million price tag at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Sandman was the earliest of the Maiden Watchers to break his maiden. Fifth in his debut at Churchill Downs, the colt graduated Aug. 10 in a salty seven-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Mark Casse. The leggy Tapit  colt wouldn't win again until capping the year with a score in a one-mile Oaklawn Park allowance optional claimer. Off that confidence booster, Sandman continued to improve with each race, collecting Road to the Kentucky Derby points with placings in the Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2) stakes before taking the Arkansas Derby (G1) with his trademark closing kick.

The most recent Derby Maiden Watchers arrived on the radar in January and February of this year. Rodriguez started 2025 off with a bang, delivering one of the most impressive maiden wins of the year thus far with an eye-popping seven-length victory in a one-mile maiden special weight Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park. Three starts and an equipment change later, the son of Authentic  showcased his brilliant early speed with a front-running romp in the April 5 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, sealing his slot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. He is one of two entrants for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who will also saddle 2024 champion 2-year-old male Citizen Bull.

The late-blooming Grande and Baeza followed suit. Grande captured his debut by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths for owner Repole Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher Jan. 11 at Gulfstream Park in a one-mile maiden special weight. The Curlin colt passed his next test with ease, cruising to an allowance win before taking on stakes company for the first time in the Wood Memorial, where he rallied to get up for second.

Baeza, undoubtedly, would be the best-bred horse in the Derby should he draw into the field. The only also-eligible entered in the Derby, the $1.2 million Good Magic  colt is out of the 2024 Broodmare of the Year Puca, the dam of 2023 Derby hero Mage  as well as 2024 Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) stakes winner Dornoch . Baeza took three tries to break his maiden, but finally did so with a 4 3/4-length tally at Santa Anita Feb. 14. Making his stakes debut in the Santa Anita Derby, the colt put on an admirable performance to finish a hard-trying second to Journalism, causing many to clamor for his presence in the Run for the Roses. If there is a "hype horse" in this year's Derby, it's Baeza, and he hasn't even made the field yet.