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
Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbred's Collaborate made himself known to the Gulfstream Park crowd when he romped to a 12 1/2-length victory in a one-mile maiden race for 3-year-olds Feb. 27.
The Into Mischief colt, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., placed fifth in his Feb. 6 debut on a sloppy track.
Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, Collaborate is out of the grade 2-winning Quiet American mare Quiet Temper. He was offered by Denali Stud at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig Tipton's select yearling sale in New York, where agent Mike Ryan paid $600,000 for the colt. His fourth dam is Blitey, who produced grade 1 winners Furlough, Dancing Spree, and Fantastic Find. She is responsible for a handful of daughters that also produced grade 1 winners.
The following day at Gulfstream, Aviano put a neck in front of Alexander Valley to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-olds on the turf after finishing second or third in his first three starts.
The Medaglia d'Oro colt was purchased for $775,000 by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at The Saratoga Sale. Aviano is campaigned by his buyers in partnership with William Freeman and Michael Valdes, and trained by Todd Pletcher.
Irad Ortiz Jr. kept Aviano near the rear of the 10-horse field, advanced to stalk a group near the lead at the top of stretch, and then began picking off horses. He bumped several rivals in the process, causing He'spuregold to steady. As he continued with his forward momentum he split the leaders late and bumped a game Alexander Valley several times approaching the wire to finish in a final time of 1:41.76 on the firm turf.
Bred by Timber Town Stable and Jane Winegardner, Aviano is out of the Rockport Harbor mare Bryan's Jewel, winner of the 2013 Obeah Stakes (G3). His third dam was also the dam of 2002 champion older horse Left Bank.
Aviano finished second in his Nov. 14 debut while racing the same distance on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack. He was then third Jan. 1 at Tampa Bay Downs before placing second Jan. 31 at Gulfstream.
Saturday's first race at Gulfstream featured Pass the Champagne, who won her second start by 2 1/2 lengths for trainer George Weaver. The Flatter filly, ridden by John Velazquez, completed seven furlongs in 1:23.18 on a fast track in her second start.
Preston Madden bred Pass the Champagne, who is out of the Distorted Humor mare Champagne Taste, the dam of grade 3 winner Miss Kentucky.
Santa Anita
Soothsay made an impressive debut for trainer Richard Mandella and owners Claiborne Farm, Perry and Ramona Bass, and Adele Dilschneider, taking a six-furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies Friday at Santa Anita Park.
The Distorted Humor filly, out of grade 2 winner Spellbound (by Bernardini), rallied from sixth under jockey Flavien Prat to make up 7 1/2 lengths in the stretch. She posted a final time of 1:11.19 on a fast track.
Soothsay was bred by Raydelz Stable and was purchased privately.
Turfway
Friday also marked the first win for SF Racing's Spritz, who took a 1 1/16-mile maiden test for 3-year-old fillies on the all-weather track at Turfway Park.
Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Spritz had raced four other times, finishing off the board in her first three at three different tracks. The daughter of Awesome Again then finished second Jan. 2 at Turfway.
Ridden by Chris Landeros, Spritz set fractions of :24.02, :47.80, and 1:12.49 for six furlongs while being pressed by Polka Polenta. She then outran a challenge by Sundial to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:46.22.
Bred by Tony Holmes and SF Bloodstock, Spritz is out of the Holy Bull mare Holy Blitz, who also produced 2014 champion female sprinter Judy the Beauty.
Others
Five others made the Maiden Watch list this week. Kobla Mas, a half brother to grade 3 winner Bitumen, and Lovely Ride, out of the grade 2-winning Tiznow mare Lovely Lil, both broke their maidens at Sam Houston Race Park; while Code Duello, a half brother to graded stakes winners Mo Tom and Red Ruby, and Taptime, a half sister to graded stakes winner Solidify, both won at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. On Sunday, Ashley's Valentine, a gelded half brother to graded stakes winner Ashleyluvssugar, took a maiden special weight for California-breds at Golden Gate Fields.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | ||||||
| Notable 3yo maiden winners for week of Feb. 22 - 28 | ||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Notes |
| 2/24 | Hou | 2 | Kobla Mas | More Than Ready | Kobla Cat | Half brother to G3 winner Bitumen |
| 2/25 | Hou | 6 | Lovely Ride | Candy Ride | Lovely Lil | Dam is a G2 winner |
| 2/26 | SA | 6 | Soothsay | Distorted Humor | Spellbound | Dam is a G2 winner |
| 2/26 | TP | 6 | Spritz | Awesome Again | Holy Blitz | Half sister to champion Judy the Beauty |
| 2/27 | FG | 3 | Code Duello | Honor Code | Caroni | Half brother to GSWs Red Ruby and Mo Tom |
| 2/27 | GP | 1 | Pass the Champagne | Flatter | Champagne Taste | Half sister to G3 winner Miss Kentucky |
| 2/27 | GP | 5 | Collaborate | Into Mischief | Quiet Temper | $600K yearling; dam is a G2 winner |
| 2/28 | FG | 2 | Taptime | Tapiture | Elaborate | Half sister to G3 winner Solidify |
| 2/28 | GP | 8 | Aviano | Medaglia d’Oro | Bryan’s Jewel | $775K yearling; dam is a G3 winner |
| 2/28 | GG | 6 | Ashley’s Valentine | Vronsky | Ashley’s Folly | Half brother to G2 winner Ashleyluvssugar |
