Meet DeVaux's many 2-year-olds running this week at Churchill

If you've been waiting to see more of the talented 2-year-olds in Cherie DeVaux's barn, this is your chance.

DeVaux has 45 2-year-olds in her stable, more than she ever has before, and quite a few are starting this week at Churchill Downs.

"We take our time with them," DeVaux told Horse Racing Nation. "But it just worked out that they're all kind of getting started this weekend. And we've got more coming up."

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DeVaux, who plans to split her time this winter between Kentucky and Fair Grounds, provided updates on nine 2-year-olds running under the twin spires this week, along with a handful of others who are early in their careers.

Atropa. This filly by Into Mischief broke her maiden with a 10-length win last month at Keeneland in her second start, going 1 1/16 miles. She's entered in Saturday's Golden Rod (G2), which offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. "She's doing great," DeVaux said. "She's a filly that's always looked like she was going to relish the two turns, and that translated when we saw her go the two turns in her second start."

Paige Turner. The Army Mule filly broke her maiden at Churchill on Oct. 31 in her second start. She is entered in the listed Fern Creek Stakes, also on Saturday. "Both races she's put in really good efforts. Just makes sense to step her up in the stakes company. And she keeps moving forward, so we're hoping for another step forward in this race."

White Smoke. Sired by Essential Quality, she will debut Saturday in a maiden special weight going seven furlongs. "She's been doing great. She's a filly that's acted very talented each step of the way. She's another one where two turns is going to probably be where she shows her best, but she's been training well for her debut."

Powered by Family. The Quality Road filly will have her first career start in the same race as White Smoke. "She's a nice filly. She's another one, two turns is probably going to be where she shows her best."

Alone Time. The Justify filly will debut Saturday in a maiden special weight going 1 1/16 miles on turf. "It's a tough ask, two turns first time out, but she's been training really well, shown a good bit of speed in the morning."

Core Memories. Sired by Yoshida, she finished fifth in her debut, a one-mile turf race at Keeneland. She'll return Saturday in the same race as Alone Time. "She had a really nice debut at Keeneland, had a nice turn of foot at the end. She made up a ton of ground, was still green, so she should move forward with the racing experience and the fitness."

Supercharger. The Constitution colt will debut Saturday in a maiden special weight going one mile on turf. "He's been a little bit later-developing colt, both physically and mentally. His last couple of works have been his best. So he should have a good showing of himself."

Stirring Words. Also by Constitution, he was eighth in his debut, a six-furlong dirt sprint at Churchill on Sept. 12, and is entered in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on dirt Saturday. "He was quite green in his first start. He, again, is a 2-year-old that it looks like two turns is going to be his best distance. Wouldn't surprise me if we eventually find him on the turf. However, he's been training extremely well on the dirt, so we're going to see if he can handle the dirt two turns. And then if not, we'll regroup with him. But he's been training excellent."

Untethered. This 2-year-old colt by Oasis Dream will have his debut Saturday in a one-mile maiden special weight on turf. "He's a colt that's probably going to need some racing experience. He's a nice colt, but he acts like he's going to just need some racing to put it all together."

Other early runners

Pretty Ribbon. The 2-year-old filly by Bated Breath will have her first start Saturday in a maiden special weight going one mile on turf at Fair Grounds. "She's another filly that's shown to have a lot of ability in the morning. She's been training really well, and she's ready to get started, but she may need the race to ultimately show her best."

Serving Time. This 3-year-old daughter of Without Parole raced four times last year, winning her last two starts, but will be making her first start of 2025 on Saturday in the Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds, going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. "She's just getting back started. She's a nice filly. Her last few, she had won before she had to be put on the shelf."

Fire Moon. The 3-year-old Justify filly is a full sister to Grade 2-placed Justique and a half sister to Grade 1 winner Mo Town. She will have her first career start in a maiden special weight going six furlongs at Churchill on Sunday. "She's just taken some time to get to the races, but she acts very talented."

Englishman. This 2-year-old colt by Maxfield dominated in his debut at Churchill Downs in September, leading at every call and winning by 7 1/4 lengths at seven furlongs. "He just had a minor setback, so he just needed a little bit of time for that." She wasn't sure when he will return. "Not a long time, just a minor setback."

Mesquite. This 2-year-old Union Rags colt broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7 in his second start, going 1 1/16 miles on dirt, "which is always exciting at this time of year. he's a horse that we really have thought a lot of." He'll likely make his next start in the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds on Dec. 20.