First-time Kentucky Derby sires are out in full force
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Four Kentucky Derby entrants are from the first crops of their respective sires, which could give a big leg up to young stallions still building their résumés.
The four, all in the main body of the field, from the inside of the gate out, are Albus, by Yaupon (who stands at Spendthrift Farm); Danon Bourbon, by Maxfield (Darley); The Puma, by Essential Quality (Darley); and Silent Tactic, by Tacitus (Taylor Made Farm).
Yaupon won six of eight career starts, highlighted by the Grade 1 Forego Stakes in 2021. His progeny have inherited speed, and he was this class’s leading freshman sire by earnings in 2025 for Spendthrift Farm. Yaupon is the sire of 10 individual stakes winners, including Albus, who earned his Derby spot by winning the Grade 2 Wood Memorial.
“He’s got off to an unbelievable start,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. “Getting all kinds of winners, and getting real quality horses, too. . . . Proud to put one in there. It really bodes well for his future, so really excited about that.”
Maxfield and Essential Quality, both Grade 1 winners around two turns as juveniles, were second and third, respectively, on the 2025 freshman sire list. Both have been prominent performers since, as their offspring were expected to improve with experience and distance. Essential Quality, who counted the 2021 Belmont Stakes among his multiple Grade 1 victories, came on with a vengeance late in 2025, with several new individual winners between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31. Since Jan. 1, he has an additional seven new individual winners, including The Puma, who was unraced at 2.
Maxfield is also starting to hit his stride, with three individual stakes winners in North America, and several promising runners looking for a breakthrough. On Saturday, before Kentucky-bred but Japanese-based Danon Bourbon goes in the Kentucky Derby, Maxfield’s well-regarded Englishman makes his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile.
Maxfield was represented by a new winner last Thursday at Keeneland, as Mashallah posted a Beyer Speed Figure of 106 in her debut. It was the highest figure for a first-time starter in 14 years.
“He’s starting to shake it up now, Maxfield,” said Brendan Walsh, who trained the stallion and who now trains Mashallah.
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