Photo:
Gulfstream Park / Lauren King
This is the sixth installment of a weekly feature on Horse Racing Nation that tracks Kentucky Derby horses all the way through the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs.
It wasn’t very long ago that Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was considered neither a major force on the Kentucky Derby trail nor particularly dangerous with first-time starters. Times are changing.
The native of South Dakota had himself a day on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Less than nine months removed from watching his big horse Sovereignty roll at Churchill Downs, the two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer unveiled a pair of very impressive young colts in Chief Wallabee and Thunderously. Both look like real horses to watch on this year’s road to the first Saturday in May.
Chief Wallabee was first and impressed me the most of the two. A son of Constitution and the Medaglia d’Oro mare A La Lucie, he had been working well in the mornings at Payson Park. In a Gulfstream Park field that included very well-intended first-time starters, he was sent off as the 5-2 choice.
A homebred for Mike and Katherine Ball, Chief Wallabee broke well from the six hole and involved immediately in the seven-furlong race under rider Junior Alvarado. He soon relaxed and watched a strong early pace develop in front of him.
When the race favorite The Puma, a nice-looking son of Essential Quality also making his debut, made his move, Chief Wallabee quickly went into attack mode, and the race was on.
The pair soon distanced themselves from the rest of the field at the head of the lane like good horses. But the two-horse race did not last long as Chief Wallabee exerted his authority with impressive acceleration and put away his rival in deep stretch.
With Alvarado sitting motionless late, the Chief coasted to the wire a very impressive 1 1/2-length debut winner over a talented colt. The Puma was better than nine lengths clear of the third-place finisher on the wire. The final time of 1:23.35 was good over a track not playing particularly fast.
The winner did everything you could ask of a colt in his debut and should have no problem moving right into stakes company. He also gives the impression of a colt who will not mind running longer.
Not only did Chief Wallabee look impressive swooping to the lead and then cantering to the wire, but the horse he beat on Saturday appears to have real talent as well. Keep on eye The Puma in future races, as this could end up being the key maiden race of the early stages of 2026.
There was likely a little less competition to deal with in a maiden field four races later in the afternoon, but regardless another first-time starter for the 72-year-old trainer made an impression.
A $300,000 yearling purchase, Thunderously had a series of good works at Payson Park, and the Wathnan Racing-owned colt was shown respect by bettors in his unveiling.
Sent off as the 7-2 second choice in a field of nine, the son of Gun Runner and the Midshipman mare Princess Warrior came out of the gate with good energy in the 1 1/16-mile maiden race and found solid position heading into the first turn.
With moderate fractions being laid down in front of him, Thunderously waited in mid-pack down the backstretch before making his move under Alvarado. He quickly gained third heading into the far turn and sustained his move into the Gulfstream stretch.
Collaring the leader early in the stretch from the outside, the impressive debut performance continued all the way to the wire, with Thunderously winning off by five lengths in a final time of 1:45.87.
Looking every bit the part of a colt who will love distance above and beyond the 8 1/2 furlongs on Saturday, the athletic chestnut should join Chief Wallabee in stakes racing sooner rather than later.
First-time winners and Kentucky Derby trail horses of real interest; this new look sure looks good on veteran trainer Bill Mott.
In other Kentucky Derby news, pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will open Friday at noon and close Sunday at 6 p.m. EST. The unbeaten Ted Noffey, last seen winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, is listed as the 6-1 favorite among individual horses.
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