Impressive Gamine Heads Notable Maiden Winners

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.

Santa Anita

Bob Baffert unleashed yet another talented 3-year-old March 7 at Santa Anita Park when the $1.8 million purchase Gamine showed she is not just another high-priced filly in his barn. 

The Into Mischief  filly went off as the 1-9 favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong test that drew a field of four. She raced through her debut as might be expected, taking the lead from the start and setting fractions of :22.42, :46.17, and 1:10.21 before setting down in the stretch to pull away under jockey Drayden Van Dyke and win by 6 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:16.59 over a fast track.

Bought by Michael Lund Petersen from the Bobby Dodd consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Gamine is the third foal out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane. Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, she was originally purchased for $220,000 by Grand Oaks from the Summerfield consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The following day at Santa Anita saw two sophomores of note break through the maiden ranks. In the first race A Venneri Racing and Michael Lombardi's Goalie made his breakthrough win by a neck in his fifth start while racing at 1 1/8 miles on the turf in a final time of 1:49.31. He was ridden by Flavien Prat.

The Bodemeister  colt trained by Philip D'Amato had placed second in both of his previous starts this year. Last year he placed second in his Oct. 20 debut and eighth in a Nov. 10 maiden test at Del Mar when he was crowded at the break.

Goalie was bred by Alex Venneri in Kentucky and is out of the Bertrando mare My Tina, making him a three-quarter brother to Midnight Storm , by Pioneerof the Nile. Goalie is the ninth foal of nine to race for his dam, My Tina—all of her foals are winners. She also has a yearling American Pharoah  filly.

Goalie went through the sales ring twice, but was an RNA in both instances.

Later on Santa Anita's Sunday card, Media Blitz broke his maiden in his fourth start for owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Simon Callaghan. The Medgalia d'Oro colt took on seven other 3-year-olds in a 1 1/8-mile turf test. 

After breaking fifth, Media Blitz settled in second under jockey Umberto Rispoli as fractions went in :22.60 and :46.73 for the half-mile. He gained the lead coming into the stretch and won by two lengths in a final time of 1:48.01 over the firm course.

Media Blitz was bought by Shah's KSI for $310,000 from the Wavertree consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Bred by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. in Kentucky, Media Blitz is out of the grade 1-placed Smart Strike mare Communique.

In his three previous starts, Media Blitz finished second and sixth last year before kicking off 2020 with another runner-up finish Jan. 25.

Oaklawn Park

Saturday also brought a big winner for trainer Doug O'Neill, but not at his West Coast base. Liam's Pride found the winner's circle in his fourth start going six furlongs at Oaklawn Park.

The Liam's Map  colt, owned by Tom Mansor, Richard Pushor, Robert Roy, Chadwick Calvert, and Jerry Caroom, stayed with the pace through a quarter-mile in :22.16, but after dueling for the lead had a head in front as a half-mile went in :46.06. He pulled clear by the time the field was in the stretch and led by 2 1/4 lengths at the wire to finish in 1:10.17 on the fast track.

Liam's Pride is out of the A.P. Indy mare Indian Snow, making him a half brother to grade 1 winner and late sire Morning Line. In his three previous starts, he finished third in his Jan. 4 debut at Santa Anita and then shipped to Oaklawn, where he placed eighth Feb. 6 and third Feb. 15.

Fair Grounds

Earlier in the week, Haras Interlagos' Buy Me Candy won in his second start for trainer Ignacio Correas IV, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden test on the grass March 5 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The Candy Ride  colt rated in third, ranged up four wide, and took the lead in the upper stretch. He finished the distance in 1:47.46 and had a 2 1/2-length advantage at the wire on a course rated good.

Buy Me Candy had finished second in a Jan. 19 debut at Tampa Bay Downs where he was bumped at the start and encountered traffic while rallying from far back in the field of 12.

Bred by Michael Perlman in Kentucky, Buy Me Candy is the third foal to race out of the Brazilian group-1 winner Bubbly Jane.