This column highlights the performance of young women who have had no more than five starts and sold for more than $500,000 in public auction, have a sibling who is a grade/group winner, or has a grade/group level winners. BloodHorse’s research shows that particular maiden winners who meet these criteria are more likely to become scored bets winners.
Santa Anita
May 7 is not only Derby day, many new faces have also entered the starting door. Some of them are expensive Ballet who successfully made a second attempt for trainer Simon Callaghan and her team of partners including Westerberg Limited and the familiar Coolmore relationships of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
Ballet finished third on her October 15 debut walking a mile on grass at the age of 2 in Santa Anita . Park, but didn’t see action again until Saturday when Drayden Van Dyke entered the race with the same route and distance. In the long haul, she made a powerful rally from afar in the field to win by 3/4 of the length in a final time of 1:35.74 on solid court.
Ben McElroy bought Medaglia d’Oro filly for $800,000 for MV Magnier from Ashview Farm shipment at the September 2020 Sale at Keeneland. Ballet Dancing was bred by her delivery man in partnership with Old Oak Farm, she is not a level 2 deposit Unbridled’s Song mare Live fully . Her third dam was also that of the 2003 champion, the 2-year-old. Halfbridged .
A race later, Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables and SF Racing celebrated the victory by hopper a 3-year-old son of Declaration of war and Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) winner in 2006 Metallic luster .
Coached by Sean McCarthy, Hopper finished in his debut on February 25 while racing six grass extensions at Santa Anita. To return, he raced seven bobby pins across the ground and found it to his liking, winning 2 1/4 of the length.
The colt, ridden by Juan Hernandez, finished third early as four horses scrambled for the lead, but took the lead to go half a mile with a record: 44.95. He then extended the lead and finished the distance with a score of 1:23.60 on the fast track.
Bred by Green Lantern Stables, Hopper was sold once at public auction, bringing in the much-anticipated $90,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale, where he was consigned by Paramount Sales.
Churchill
After the shock of the Kentucky Derby presented by the nasty Woodford Reserve (G1), it was Flicker who ended the day at Churchill Downs in the final race. As a hybrid of Godolphin, Into Mischief Colt made his debut in the three-year-old six-feather test against trainer Brad Cox.
Discarded by Florent Geroux, Strobe was far from the gate and quickly took the lead to establish the fractions: 21.37, :45.34, and :56.93 before retreating out. Bourbon Heist to finish ahead 4 and a half segments in a final time of 1:08.71 on the fast track.
Strobe is the fifth pony to race against the 2009 Godolphin Trial Stake (G1) and the Gazelle Stock (G1) winner Flicker .
