Saratoga Maidens, Presented by KeenelandAdmiralty (Midshipman), off at a well-backed 5-2 in his unveiling for trainer Ken McPeek, ran to the money with a hard-fought victory in a blanket finish at the Spa Saturday.Traveling nicely beneath Jose Ortiz into fourth following an opening quarter in :21.85, he set his sights on the top two approaching the quarter pole. Three deep at the top of the stretch, Admiralty came with a sustained rally down the center to eke out a head victory over slightly favored pacesetter and $600,000 Keeneland September graduate Mystrix (Good Magic). It was another head back to Implied Open (Instilled Regard) in third.The final time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.24.McPeek also saddled Coach Pope (Tapit) to a promising debut second in the opener.“Both him and Coach Pope in Race 1 had trained together and both of them acted like they had high- level talent,” McPeek said on Saratoga Live.“I still think this horse was about 80 percent fit today, which is kinda my style. Get a good run under him and let him move forward. I think the future's bright. I'm really proud of the team. Hard work pays off.”Sales history: $170,000 yrl '25 KEESEP.Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0.O-David A. Bernsen LLC, Vasseur Racing, LLC and MXM Stables; B-Two Hearts Farm II LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeekfends off MYSTRIX and IMPLIED OPEN and wins by a nose in R2 at Saratoga.The 2y/o colt wins on debut for jockey @jose93_ortiz and trainer Kenneth McPeek. pic.twitter.com/OwHvQuWkex— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 8, 2026The post Midshipman Colt Admiralty Surges Late to Win Debut at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.