This column highlights the performances of 3-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 who are graded/group winners, or have dams who 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.
Make My Day did just that for his connections March 20, breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park in his second career start.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 3-year-old son of Gun Runner broke alertly and set the pace. Down the backstretch, under jockey Luis Saez, he continued to lead the field a length in front, setting fractions of :23.14, :47.05, 1:11.38, and 1:36.23. As he moved into the far turn, his lead began to widen, opening up 3 lengths. He hit the stretch drive in front; his only challenger was Stompin Grapes, who could not get to him in time. Make My Day won by 1 1/2 lengths on the wire. The 1 1/16-mile race on a sloppy (sealed) track was completed in a final time of 1:42.57, and he paid $7 to win. He earned an 81 Equibase Speed Figure and a 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his gate-to-wire victory.
Owned by Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable, Make My Day earned the victory in his second start. His first start came Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, where he finished third to subsequent Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market and Powershift.
Make My Day is out of the Empire Maker mare Magical Feeling, winner of the 2012 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2). She is the dam of four stakes winners, including Imagination, winner of the Feb. 14 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) and the 2024 San Felipe Stakes (G2), and second in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). She has also produced Occult, who won the 2023 Monmouth Park Oaks (G3); Exulting, winner of the 2019 Oaklawn Mile Stakes; and Magical, who scored in the 2019 She's All In Stakes. Repole Stable and Spendthrift went to $1.1 million to secure the colt at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Bridie Harrison.
Video
Weekend Princess Scores on Debut
The same day at Santa Anita Park, Weekend Princess made her first start a winning one.
The 3-year-old Vekoma filly broke cleanly under jockey Florent Geroux and settled behind the leader, Confidentiality, who led through an opening quarter of :22.06. Weekend Princess, trained by Bob Baffert, took over through a half-mile in :45.47 and entered the stretch as the new leader, putting Confidentiality, the post-time favorite, away. She drew off with no competitors in sight and was under a hand ride approaching the wire. She took the 5 1/2-furlong maiden race by 6 1/4 lengths, in a final time of 1:04.22, paying $4.80 for the win.
Weekend Princess is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who purchased her for $625,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She is out of the Congrats dam, Alemia, who has had two foals to race, and they are both winners.
Weekend Princess earned a 97 ESF and a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for her win.
Video: Race 5 (MSW) at SA on 3/20/26
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable 3-year-old maiden winners for the week of March 16-22 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch Eligibility Criteria |
| 3/20 | GP | 5 | Make My Day | Gun Runner | Magical Feeling | 2 | Out of a G2W, half brother to G2W Imagination, $1.1M yearling |
| 3/20 | SA | 5 | Weekend Princess | Vekoma | Alemia | 1 | $625,000 yearling purchase |
| 3/21 | FG | 3 | Marauder | Gun Runner | Dream Pauline | 4 | Out of a G3W |
| 3/21 | TP | 3 | Celtic Flame | Hard Spun | Celtic Cross | 3 | Half brother to G3W Fahan Mura |
| 3/21 | TP | 5 | Volendam | Vekoma | Love Those Legs | 1 | $600,000 yearling purchase |
| 3/21 | TP | 13 | Cactus Cairo | Cairo Prince | Cactus Kris | 1 | Out of a G3W |
| 3/22 | SUN | 1 | Bye Bye Palmer | Uncle Mo | My Wandy's Girl | 1 | Out of a G2W, half sister to G3W My Prankster |
