Will Walden is a young trainer on the rise in North America. He has started his fifth season training with successful meets this year at Gulfstream Park (seven for 38) and Turfway Park (eight for 24). He’ll have a sizeable string at Keeneland in the weeks ahead.

MOVIE NIGHT

(19.46, Friday)

This three-year-old filly is a half-sister to Grade 3 stakes winner Stellify. While that one was a marathon turf horse, Movie Night, by Speightstown, will debut on dirt going 6 1-2 furlongs.

“She’s been working very well in the morning,” Walden said. “Her breeze three back was good, her breeze two back was very good and her last work was exceptional. She’s ready to rock. I think she’s a filly that can win first out at Keeneland.”

WEST END KID

This three-year-old son of Twirling Candy finished a late-running fourth, beaten 1 1-4 lengths, at 19-1 in a one-mile turf maiden race at Gulfstream Park on February 8. He had to steady in upper stretch before making a belated bid under John Velazquez.

“First time out, he got shuffled back to last at the quarter pole, and was super green,” Walden said. “I told Johnny greenness might get him beat. But he made up a ton of ground in the stretch once he figured out what the deal was.”

Look for him in a turf maiden race for three-year-olds.

SARGENT SULLY

This four-year-old son of Instagrand came off a nine-month layoff to win a six-furlong maiden race by 3 3-4 lengths at Fair Grounds in his third career start. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie.

Sargent Sully ran twice as a three-year-old in 2025 but was sidelined due to bone bruising and then got pneumonia.

Walden said he’ll be looking for an allowance race for four-year-olds at this meet.

KEEWAYDIN

This son of Instagrand began his career in the barn of Chad Brown, winning one of four starts, that being a maiden race at seven furlongs. He’s made three starts for Walden, most recently taking a first-level allowance at Colonial Downs off a seven-month layoff.

In his last start of 2025, last August at Saratoga, he got stuck down inside and he caught a lot of dirt.

“We decided to hit the reset button,” Walden said. “I thought he wintered well and could win right off the bench. Granted, a Colonial entry-level allowance to a Keeneland second-level allowance is a big jump but he came out of the race well and looking forward to running him.”

RHETORICAL

(Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile, April 10)

 A five-year-old New York-bred gelding by Not This Time, he has won five races from seven starts including the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile last fall. He then finished fourth, beaten just two lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.

“He’s a top-class, top-level horse,” Walden said. “It’ll be interesting this year; instead of working his way into stakes company he gets thrown in the deep end of the pool right away. He’s got to step his game up and come out firing. He gives us no reason to think he won’t.”

LA RASCASSE

An unraced three-year-old filly by Authentic, has been training with a purpose over a synthetic track at Turfway Park.

“I’m excited to get her on dirt at Keeneland, the way her action is, the way she moves and her pedigree supports that excitement. She’s been breezing extremely well at Turfway.”

STARSHIP GODIVA

A daughter of Tapit who sold at auction for just $15,000, making her eligible for a maiden race that is restricted to horses who sold for under $65,000 or didn’t reach their reserve at that price point.

“She’s breezed with a couple of horses that have run in maiden special weight races and done well,” Walden said. “But the auction races (for three-year-olds) don’t come up as salty as the ones for two-year-olds.”

MINARET STATION

(Allowance, April 16)

A four-year-old son of Instilled Regard is three for four lifetime, but has made just one start - winning a stakes last June - since he won the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland as a 2-year-old.

“He’s been a tough horse to keep on the court, just niggling little stuff,” Walden said. “He might be a work or two short but it’ll be good jumping off point. I think he’s a nine/ten/eleven-furlong type of horse but he couldn’t be doing any better.”

SPEED SHOPPER

(Grade 3 Bewitch, April 24)

A solid winner of the Grade 3 Christophe Clement Stakes at Gulfstream in January, this one was earmarked for the Bewitch shortly thereafter. 

Because of how well she came out of that race, Walden ran her in the Grade 3 Orchid on March 28 at Gulfstream where she encountered a little traffic, lost position and rallied to finish third beaten one length.

AUSSIE GIRL

(Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, April 10)

This Irish-bred mare of Starspangledbanner has won stakes in two of her last three starts including a front-running victory in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs last out. Walden feels she’s earned the opportunity to run the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley.

“It’s a tough ask but she’s worked very good since winning the Endeavour,” Walden said.