This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are grade/group winners, or have dams that are grade/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners in particular who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.
Gulfstream Park West
Two fillies with direct ties to top-level winners broke their maidens Oct. 25, with the first coming at Gulfstream Park West. Dede McGehee's Gladys, a full sister to 2009 Horse of the Year and five-time grade 1 winner Rachel Alexandra, took a one-mile maiden test for 2-year-old fillies by three lengths in her second start for trainer Kelsey Danner.
Ridden by Angel Arroyo, Gladys raced in fourth behind leaders that set a leisurely pace, going :24.01 and :48.06 for the first half-mile. Angled wide at the three-eighths pole, the Medaglio d'Oro filly began to close and pulled clear after the eighth pole, driving to the finish in a final time of 1:38.80 on a sloppy, sealed track.
In her first start, Gladys finished off the board after hitting the gate hard at the start of a Sept. 18 maiden race at Gulfstream Park.
Bred by McGehee's Heaven Trees Farm in Kentucky, Gladys is out of the Roar mare Lotta Kim, who aside from her famous offspring, has produced graded stakes-placed Dolphus and stakes-placed Wooderson. Rachel Alexandra, who defeated males in the 2009 BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1), Haskell Invitational (G1), and Woodward Stakes (G1), earned more than $3.5 million.
Churchill
Stonestreet Stables' homebred Clairiere was the second filly with high-profile ties to make her mark Sunday. The daughter of Curlin is the first foal out of the three-time grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Cavorting.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Clairiere outran the favored Super Quick to win a 1 1/16-mile test at Churchill Downs by a half-length. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., Clairiere settled last of nine early on, began making progress around the turn for home, and then ground away at the leaders through the lane to get up late for the win in a final time of 1:44.85 on the fast track.
Santa Anita
Two juveniles trained by Bob Baffert found the winner's circle this week at Santa Anita Park. Classier, a $775,000 yearling, won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden test Saturday, while racing on the front end.
Ridden to a four-length victory in his debut by Abel Cedillo, Classier posted fractions of :22.25, :45.68, and 1:10.39 through six furlongs before winning in a final time of 1:16.94 on a fast track. The Empire Maker colt outran eight other 2-year-olds with mild urging from Cedillo.
Bred by Mary Sullivan in Kentucky, Classier is out of the Bernardini mare Class Will Tell and his sale page included the likes of multiple group/graded stakes winner Homerique, who placed in top-level races three times; undefeated group 1 winner White Moonstone; and 1995 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Desert Stormer. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson, the colt was purchased from Lantern Hill Farm during last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
One day prior, Baoma Corporation's homebred Beautiful Gift won a one-mile test for 2-year-old fillies at the Southern California track. Baffert's charge had finished third in her Sept. 5 debut at Del Mar and posted a half-length victory Friday under Cedillo.
The Medaglia d'Oro filly raced off the pace in the four-horse field, chased the leader through the stretch putting 18 lengths between herself and the third-place runner, and then edged forward to win in a final time of 1:38.26 on a fast track.
Beautiful Gift is out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift, who also produced 2014 Sunland Derby (G3) winner and Malibu Stakes (G1) third, Chitu.
Keeneland
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Mandaloun won a six-furlong maiden special weight on debut Saturday at Keeneland. The Into Mischief colt trained by Brad Cox is the second runner and winner out of the group 2-winning Empire Maker mare Brooch.
Under Florent Geroux, Mandaloun broke sharply but raced near the back of the 11-horse field through the first half-mile, which went in :45.97. The pair surged late to post a half-length win in a final time of 1:11.76 on a track labeled good.
In the last month, Mandaloun posted two bullet works—he finished five furlongs from the gate Sept. 27 at Ellis Park in 1:00 1/5 to be the fastest of 53 at the distance, and then Oct. 10 he had another five-furlong move from the gate at Keeneland in :59 to be the fastest of 40 that worked the distance that day.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | ||||||
| Notable 2yo maiden winners for week of Oct. 19-25 | ||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Notes |
| 10/23 | SA | 2 | Beautiful Gift | Medaglia d'Oro | Sea Gift | Half sister to G1-placed Chitu |
| 10/24 | SA | 9 | Classier | Empire Maker | Class Will Tell | $775K Keeneland September yearling purchase |
| 10/24 | Kee | 10 | Mandaloun | Into Mischief | Brooch | Dam is a group 2 winner |
| 10/25 | GPW | 5 | Gladys | Medaglia d'Oro | Lotta Kim | Full sister to champion Rachel Alexandra |
| 10/25 | CD | 6 | Clairiere | Curlin | Cavorting | Dam is a three-time grade 1 winner |
