Three Notable Maidens Have Breakthrough Scores

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.

Gulfstream Park

OXO Equine's $1.8 million purchase, Vintage Print, scored going one mile on the turf Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Chad Brown.

The Curlin  colt edged to the lead in the final furlong and won the $43,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds by three-quarters of a length. Racing in fourth early on, he moved up on the outside under jockey Javier Castellano and stopped the clock in 1:35.47.

Vintage Print, who was purchased from the Summerfield consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, had finished off the board in his two previous starts as a 2-year-old when he was racing in New York.

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, he is the first foal out of the Ghostzapper  mare Molly Morgan, who won the 2015 La Troienne Stakes (G1), among other graded tests. The colt's fourth dam is the multi-graded stakes producing mare Battle Creek Girl, who produced grade 2 winner and sire Tricky Creek among eight black-type performing winners.

Earlier on the card at the same track, Liam's Point broke his maiden on debut for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners St. Elias Stable and Brereton Jones of Airdrie Stud.

The Liam's Map  colt out of the grade 1-producing Include mare Kittery Point had twice been a $185,000 RNA while consigned by Jones, who is also his breeder, to the Keeneland September sale and the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale the year prior as a weanling. 

Finishing three-quarters of a length in front on Saturday, Liam's Point had raced a bit greenly under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. but got the job done, completing the seven furlongs in 1:24.21.

Sam Houston

Clearsky Farms' Jade d'Oro was among the week's notable maiden winners, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight Feb. 21 at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  filly had finished third in her Jan. 10 debut for trainer Steve Asmussen at Delta Downs, and came back to score by 4 3/4 lengths after stalking the pace and saving ground under David Cabrera.

Out of the Seeking the Gold mare African Jade, Jade d'Oro is a half sister to grade 1-winning sprinter and Spendthrift Farm stallion Lord Nelson .