Pricey Half Brother to Dennis' Moment Breaks Maiden

This column highlights the performances of 2-year-old 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 graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. During a week when relatively few juveniles turned heads with speedy times or large margins of victory, two well-bred 2-year-olds served notice of their staying ability with maiden victories at 1 1/16 miles. Woodbine Souper Caliber—a Gun Runner colt outrun in his first three races, particularly in his last two on dirt—elevated his game with the addition of blinkers and a move to a synthetic surface for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the first race at Woodbine Nov. 14. Sent north to race on Woodbine's synthetic surface and equipped with blinkers for the first time, he showed more interest from the start. Stalking the pace in second, he went after front-running Court on the second turn following fractions of :24.76, :49.24, and 1:13.24, reeled in that retreating rival, and drew off under Patrick Husbands to prevail by 6 1/4 lengths. He earned an 85 Equibase Speed Figure and a 68 Beyer Speed Figure—both modest for the level. Souper Caliber's victory came in his fourth outing following two rear-half finishes on dirt at Keeneland and Saratoga Race Course and a close fifth-place finish on grass in his debut at Saratoga in August. All but one of his previous races have come in routes. He paid $4.90 to win, a low payoff partially reflective of a short field and limited accomplishments of the other maidens. Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Lynch Bages, Souper Caliber is out of the Elusive Quality mare Transplendid, making him a half brother to 2019 Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner Dennis' Moment (Tiznow). He was a $500,000 purchase by owner Live Oak Plantation from the Indian Creek consignment to Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in New York last year. Gun Runner, a Hall of Fame racehorse and the 2017 Horse of the Year, is currently the third-leading sire of 2025 in North America, trailing only Into Mischief and Not This Time by progeny earnings. While Dennis' Moment and Gun Runner were dirt racehorses, Souper Caliber appears more of a synthetic or turf performer, as reflected in his race record and suggested by his high action. Grass was the lone surface on which Transplendid won a race when she broke her maiden over a mile trip. With divisions across North America, Casse has options of where to spot Souper Caliber this winter, including racing him over the Tapeta surfaces at Gulfstream Park and Turfway Park. The latter track has a series of route stakes races that lead to the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 21, 2026. Churchill Downs The connections who raced Dennis' Moment—Albaugh Family Stables and trainer Dale Romans—were represented by a maiden winner when Project Ace rallied from last to score by a head victory under a ground-saving Corey Lanerie in a restricted maiden special weight race that kicked off the Nov. 15 program at Churchill Downs. Saturday's race was softer than a typical maiden special weight at Churchill, as it was limited to horses that either sold for $65,000 or less or fell short of their reserves for that price or below in their most recent public auction. The competition will be much deeper next time out in an allowance or stakes race when Project Ace faces winners, including some who scored in maiden races without such a restriction. Project Ace's win came in his third start after an earlier third-place finish when sprinting and a runner-up finish in his first route. He paid $5.16 to win as the narrow second choice. Project Ace was timed in 1:45.28, which earned him an 84 Equibase Speed Figure and a 73 Beyer Speed Figure. The bay juvenile—a son of 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will, who was recently relocated from Claiborne Farm in Kentucky to Rockridge Stud in New York for the 2026 breeding season, fetched only $40,000 at auction, even though he is a half brother to millionaire and five-time grade 3 winner Mr. Money (Goldencents). Albaugh Family Stables acquired him last year from the Hidden Brook consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Besides Project Ace, the runner-up in the Saturday opener at Churchill Downs, Claiborne Farm's Quarry, is also by War of Will. Bred by Spruce Lane Farm in Kentucky, Project Ace is out of the Tiznow mare Plenty O'Toole, a winner of two routes.