Sonneteer the rare maiden in Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With two defections one week before the Kentucky Derby changing the makeup of the field, Sonneteer will seek to become the first maiden to win the Run for the Roses since Brokers Tip in 1933.

After finishing second in the Rebel Stakes and fourth in the Arkansas Derby, Sonneteer sat 22nd on the Derby points list, behind Lookin At Lee on the bubble of the 20-horse field. Trainer Todd Pletcher declared Malagacy and Battalion Runner out of the race last Saturday, letting Sonneteer and Lookin At Lee into the main body of the field.

“It’s nice to know we’re in the field,” said Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux. “We can make plans now. We also have the chance to draw a better post rather than drawing in and getting stuck in No. 20.”

Up to four also-eligibles may be listed for the Derby when entries are taken Wednesday, and if a horse in the main body of the field withdraws before scratch time on Friday morning, all horses to the outside of the scratched horse move in one gate, with the starting also-eligible placed in the outside post.

Three maidens have won the Kentucky Derby – Buchanan in 1884; Sir Barton, who went on to sweep the first Triple Crown, in 1919; and Brokers Tip in the infamous “fighting finish.”

Since 1937, as far back as complete records on the subject go at Churchill Downs, 10 maidens have started in the Derby, with the best finish among them an eighth by On The Mark in 1950. Last year, Trojan Nation finished 16th as the first maiden to start in the Derby in 18 years.

Sonneteer is “a big, scopey colt who’s still maturing – hopefully at the right time,” Clark said.