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.
Belmont at the Big A
After finishing third at Saratoga Race Course in his first two starts, Jay Em Ess Stable's homebred Full Moon Madness put it all together to come home 5 3/4 lengths in front Oct. 1 for trainer Michelle Nevin at Belmont at the Big A.
The Into Mischief colt is the first foal to race out of grade 1 winner By the Moon, also bred by Samantha Siegel and raced by her family's Jay Em Ess Stable.
Taking on a field of five other 2-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track, Full Moon Madness sprang out of the gate and set fractions of :22.86, :46.01, and 1:10.92 through six furlongs while holding a clear advantage.
After switching leads inside the 3/16th pole, jockey Manuel Franco gave Full Moon Madness mild urging to put even more distance between the colt and the runner-up, finishing in a final time of 1:17.61.
The following day, West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables' Dubyuhnell (pronounced W-H-N-L) scored a 2 1/2-length victory in his second start. The Good Magic colt is a half brother to grade 3 winner Cazadero.
Trained by Danny Gargan, Dubyuhnell finished fourth in his Sept. 3 debut at Saratoga after making a bid but weakening in the late stages. In Sunday's race, Jose Ortiz guided the colt eight wide in the upper stretch, but Dubyhnell made a strong rally to take over the leaders, finishing in 1:38.84 on a sloppy, sealed track.
Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Dubyuhnell is out of the grade 3-winning and grade 1-placed mare Wild Gams (by Forest Wildcat). Dubyuhnell was purchased by Oracle Bloodstock, agent for $400,000 from Eaton Sales' consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2021.
Churchill
NBS Stable's Two Minute Drill scored in her third start for trainer Jason Barkley Sept. 30. The Union Rags filly, out of grade 1 winner Mistical Plan, defeated a field of seven other 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs by 2 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Francisco Arrieta, Two Minute Drill was third as a quarter-mile went in :21.63, moved into second as a half went in :45.71, and took over in the stretch to stop the clock in 1:11.15 on a fast track.
Two Minute Drill had finished fourth in her July 14 debut at Saratoga and second Aug. 26 at Ellis Park before her win.
John Ballantyne bought the filly for his NBS Stable, which he operates with Art Neuhedel and Daryl Shaw, for $210,000 from her breeder, Blue Heaven Farm, who consigned her to Fasig-Tipton's July Sale in 2021, a select yearling sale in Kentucky.
Indianapolis
De Broglio Racing's Beyond Doubt won her debut Sept. 26 for trainer Brad Cox, taking a 7 1/2-furlong turf test for maiden 2-year-old fillies at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Under jockey Emmanuel Esquivel, the Arrogate filly sprang out of the gate in front and held the lead while under pressure from Lead Performer through fractions of :24.15, :48.69, and 1:13.99 for six furlongs. After that rival fell away, she had no other challengers and finished 2 1/2 lengths in front in a final time of 1:32.99 on firm going.
Bred by Payson Stud, Beyond Doubt is out of the A.P. Indy mare Strawberry Sense, who also produced grade 3 winner and grade 1-placed Prime Attraction.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable 2-year-old maiden winners for week of Sept. 26 - Oct. 2 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Starts | Notes |
| 9/26 | IND | 5 | Beyond Doubt | Arrogate | Strawberry Sense | 1 | Half sister to G3 winner Prime Attraction |
| 9/30 | CD | 7 | Two Minute Drill | Union Rags | Mistical Plan | 3 | Dam is a G1 winner |
| 10/1 | BAQ | 5 | Full Moon Madness | Into Mischief | By the Moon | 3 | Dam is a G1 winner |
| 10/1 | WO | 6 | Forever Dixie | Quality Road | Dixie Strike | 4 | Dam is a G3 winner |
| 10/2 | BAQ | 2 | Dubyuhnell | Good Magic | Wild Gams | 2 | Half brother to G3 winner Cazadero; dam is a G3 winner |
| 10/2 | WO | 6 | Hal | Accelerate | Purely a Dream | 1 | Dam is a G3 winner |
