Kentucky Derby Betting: Contenders in the Beginning

Only one runner since 1908 broke his maiden in the Kentucky Derby, meaning that the majority of all Derby runners have at least graduated to the winners’ class and made it to stakes company. In 2020, Authentic became the fourth Derby winner to have broken his maiden at Del Mar. Mandaloun, the eventual winner of the 2021 Derby, broke his maiden in his debut at Keeneland, and the 2022 winner, Rich Strike, broke his maiden at Churchill Downs and was claimed that day for $30,000. Mage in 2023 broke his maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park, and Mystik Dan was victorious for the first time under the Twin Spires as a juvenile, where he’d return to capture the Run for the Roses just a few months later.

Some tracks still send out more Derby winners than others.

Belmont leads all tracks with 16.

Following is a list of Tracks where Derby winners broke their Maidens (since 1914), in Alphabetical Order.

• Aqueduct: 9 
• Arlington Park: 5 
• Belmont Park: 16 
• Calder: 2 
• Churchill Downs: 6 
• Del Mar: 4 
• Delaware Park: 3 
• Fort Erie: 1 
• Gulfstream Park: 4 
• Hialeah: 7 
• Hollywood Park: 5 
• Keeneland: 3
• Pimlico: 1 
• Santa Anita: 9 
• Saratoga: 10 
• Tampa Bay Downs 1 
• Turfway Park: 2 
• Woodbine: 3 

Last Winner to have Broken their Maiden at each track:

• Aqueduct: 2013 winner Orb 
• Arlington Park: 2007 winner Street Sense 
• Belmont Park: 2010 winner Super Saver 
• Calder: 1992 winner Lil E. Tee 
• Churchill Downs: 2024 winner Mystik Dan 
• *Del Mar (dirt): 2020 winner, Authentic 
• Delaware Park: 2006 winner Barbaro 
• Fort Erie: 1964 winner Northern Dancer
• El Commandante: 1976, Bold Forbes 
• Gulfstream Park: 2023 winner Mage 
• Hialeah: 1975 winner Foolish Pleasure 
• *Hollywood Park (dirt): 1998 winner Charismatic 
• Keeneland: 2021 winner Mandaloun 
• La Rinconada, 1971 winner Canonero II
• The Meadowlands: 1981 winner Pleasant Colony 
• Parx Racing: 2004 winner Smarty Jones 
• Pimlico: 1979 winner Spectacular Bid 
• Santa Anita: 2018 winner Justify 
• *Saratoga (dirt): 1988 winner Winning Colors 
• Tampa Bay Downs: 2017 winner Always Dreaming 
• Turfway Park: 1987 winner Alysheba 
• *Woodbine (dirt): 1983 winner Sunny's Halo

Other Surfaces:

**On Synthetic: 2011 winner Animal Kingdom (Keeneland synthetic), 2009 winner Mine That Bird (Woodbine synthetic), 2012 winner I’ll Have Another (Hollywood Park synthetic), 2014 winner California Chrome (Hollywood Park synthetic) & 2015 winner American Pharoah (Del Mar synthetic)
*On Turf: 2008 winner Big Brown (Saratoga turf)

How Many Starts did it take for Derby Winners to Break their Maiden?

• Derby winners who broke their maiden in their first start: 47 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in their second start: 28 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in first or second start: 71 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in their third start: 16
• Derby winners who broke maiden in 4+ starts: 17
• Derby winners who broke maiden on turf: 3 
• Derby winners who broke maiden on synthetic: 4 
• Derby winners who broke maiden on turf (since 1914): Sea Hero (1993), Barbaro (2006) & Big Brown (2008) 
• Derby winners who broke maiden on a synthetic surface (since 1914): Mine That Bird (2009), Animal Kingdom (2011), I’ll Have Another (2012), California Chrome (2014) & American Pharoah (2015) 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in a maiden claiming race (since 1914): Charismatic (1999), Mine That Bird (2009), and Rich Strike (2022).

Months for Maiden Winners (since 1929) 

• Derby winners who broke their maiden in April: 8 
• Derby winners who broke maiden in May: 6 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in June: 11 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in July: 10 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in August: 11 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in September: 12 
• Derby winners who broke maiden in October: 10 (including 9 of last 25) 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in November: 9
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in December: 0 
• Derby winners who broke maiden in January: 9
• Derby winners who broke maiden in February: 1 (latest February 18, except 1933) 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in March: 0 
• Derby winners who broke their maiden in April: 0 
• Derby winners who broke maiden prior to December: 77 (81.1%)

More than two-thirds of the Derby winners broke their maiden in their first or second start, including 21 of the last 25 years.

Twelve maidens have run in the Kentucky Derby since 1937 – Bodexpress, 2019, 13th; Sonneteer, 2017, 16th; Trojan Nation, 2016, 16th; Nationalore, 1998, 9th; Pendleton Ridge, 1990, 13th; Great Redeemer, 1979, 10th; Fourulla, 1971, 19th; The Chosen One,1959, 14th; Flamingo, 1958; 13th; On The Mark, 1950, 8th; Senecas Coin, 1949, 14th; and Bert G., 1945, 14th

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.