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.
Keeneland
Dornoch may not look like his Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning full brother, but he demonstrated Oct. 14 that he may have inherited the same talent as his brother Mage with his dynamic maiden romp during the Keeneland fall meet.
Although he hung stubbornly to his left lead for much of the stretch run, the imposing Good Magic colt, standing a good deal taller than Mage, trumped his rivals by 6 1/2 lengths Saturday afternoon. The breakthrough victory was the third start for Dornoch, who faced a jackhammer in Seize the Grey in his Saratoga Race Course debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs and was just beaten late in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park by subsequent Bourbon Stakes (G2T) runner-up Noted .
The third time was the charm for Dornoch, who faced eight other 2-year-old males in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight. As the field reached the gate, a drizzle of rain and fog left the track in misty haze, but it was clear enough to see Dornoch leading the fray in the entire lap around the Lexington oval.
Popping out of the gates on top and galloping to the front under Luis Saez, Dornoch wasn’t able to catch much of a breather, as his rivals hounded him through a :23.50 first quarter and :47.70 half-mile. Repelling his foes at the top of the lane, the colt scooted clear, opening up three lengths at the eighth pole before doubling his advantage under the wire.
Dornoch, trained by Danny Gargan, was timed in 1:45 over a track labeled as fast.
Mage, interestingly enough, also broke his maiden in front-running fashion despite his reputation as a late-running closer, courtesy of his Kentucky Derby victory this past spring. Both Mage and Dornoch have veins flowing with two-turn stamina, and it wouldn’t be a surprise in the least to see Dornoch stretch out even farther in his races when Derby fever sets in. The Derby blood runs strong in this family, after all. Their sire Good Magic was second in the 2018 Kentucky Derby as a 3-year-old after being crowned the 2017 champion 2-year-old male and their broodmare sire Big Brown nearly swept the Triple Crown in 2008 before being pulled up in the stretch of the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Bred by Grandview Equine in Kentucky, Dornoch was purchased by Oracle Bloodstock on behalf of his current owners at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale. He is campaigned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables.
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| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable 2YO maiden winners for week of Oct. 9-Oct. 15 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch eligibility criteria |
| 10/9 | SA | 5 | Thermal | Nyquist | Full Tap | 3 | $625K Yearling |
| 10/10 | IND | 6 | Livi Me Dreaming | Always Dreaming | Livi Makenzie | 3 | Half Sibling to G3SW Tawny Port |
| 10/11 | DEL | 4 | K’s Storm Ready | More Than Ready | Stormy Pursuer | 2 | Half Sibling to G1SW Hat Puntano |
| 10/11 | IND | 1 | L. A. Woman | City of Light | Teammate | 1 | Dam is a G2SW |
| 10/11 | IND | 10 | Cats by Five | Audible | Catticus | 3 | $575K Yearling; Half Sibling is G3SW Bob’s Edge |
| 10/11 | KEE | 4 | Killshave Beauty | Noble Mission | Figure of Beauty | 1 | Full Sibling to G3SW Vergara |
| 10/12 | IND | 6 | Life’s Joy | Mitole | Beholden | 3 | Half Sibling to G3SW Brazen Persuasion |
| 10/12 | KEE | 7 | Frontline Warrior | War Front | Shamrock Rose | 3 | Dam is a G1SW |
| 10/14 | CTD | 1 | Skipper’s Pride | Klimt | Zaphia | 2 | Half Sibling to G3SWs Hazelbrook and Zuzanna |
| 10/14 | KEE | 6 | Dornoch | Good Magic | Puca | 3 | Full Sibling to G1SW Mage |
| 10/14 | SA | 5 | Iscreamuscream | Twirling Candy | Silver Screamer | 1 | Dam is a G3SW |
