Graeme Six and Daughter Have Debut Winners on Same Day

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.

Belmont

New York racing has moved over to Belmont Park and several notable 2-year-olds won for the first time there during the past week. Shadwell Stable's Zainalarab won in the first race at Belmont in her Sept. 18 debut, the same day as her granddam Graeme Six was represented by Stayin' Out Late, who also won on debut at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Chad Brown, Zainalarab was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano in a six-furlong test while facing five other foes. The War Front  filly raced in third for the first quarter-mile as Exact led the field in :23.18. Zainalarab moved up to second as Exact went through a half-mile in :46.71. Behind in the stretch, Castellano asked his mount for more and the pair edged away to a 1 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:12.01 on a fast track.

Bred by International Equities Holding in Kentucky, Zainalarab is the first foal out of the Tapit  mare Delightful Joy, a graded stakes-winning daughter of the Graeme Hall mare Graeme Six that was also trained by Brown. Graeme Six's son by Tapit, Stayin' Out Late, trained by Steve Asmussen for Three Chimneys Farm and Harrell Ventures, crushed the competition in Race 7 at Churchill Downs by 7 3/4 lengths. Graeme Six is also the dam of graded stakes winner Cali Star and stakes winner Seymourdini.

Later in the day, Christophe Clement-trained Space Launch won on debut in Belmont's sixth race. The Bernardini  colt is out of the grade 2-winning Awesome Again mare Spacy Tracy, who is the dam of grade 2 winner and 2017 Acorn Stakes (G1) third Benner Island as well as this year's Vagrancy (G3) winner and Ballerina (G1) third-place finisher Victim of Love.

Ridden by Manny Franco, Space Launch came from fourth to win the one-mile race that drew a field of eight by 1 1/2 lengths on firm turf. A homebred for Daniel Burke, the colt is owned in partnership with Athlone Racing and Jane Burke.

On Sept. 20, Gambling Cat won a one-mile turf test in her debut for Repole Stable and trainer Mike Maker by a neck. The daughter of Kitten's Joy  is a full sister to grade 1-placed Banned who won the 2011 Del Mar Derby (G2T) and the American Turf Stakes (G2T).

Bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey in Kentucky, Gambling Cat was an $80,000 purchase by Repole Stable from the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Arlington

Godolphin homebred Javanica scored her first win in her second start for trainer Eoin Harty at Arlington International Race Course Friday afternoon, taking a one-mile maiden special weight on the grass by three-quarters of a length.

The Medaglia d'Oro  filly is out of the Elusive Quality mare Shuruq, a group 2 winner in Dubai and the dam of grade 1-placed Antoinette who added another top-level placing in the Sept. 19 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T).

Under Jareth Loveberry, Javanica raced off the pace, moved up to third in the stretch, and closed to win in a final time of 1:38.90 on a course labeled good. In her Sept. 4 debut, Javanica finished fourth after racing greenly.

Churchill

Aside from Stayin' Out Late's impressive win in Friday's 6 1/2-furlong test under Ricardo Santana Jr., Rockpaperscissors took a one-mile test the following day in her second start.

Owned by WinStar Stablemates Racing and trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Rockpaperscissors raced in second through six furlongs before taking over the lead heading into the stretch and opening up to finish 3 1/2 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:37.93 on a fast track.

Bred by WinStar Farm, Rockpaperscissors is out of the Personal Flag mare Rockcide, who is the dam of grade 1-placed millionaire Rule, third in the 2010 Florida Derby (G1) and 2011 Donn Handicap (G1).

Indiana

Earlier in the week, Saturday Night won in her third start at Indiana Grand. Trained by Brad Cox for LNJ Foxwoods and Michael Hui, who are breeders the Tapit filly, Saturday Night raced through five furlongs on the turf, finishing 2 1/2 lengths in front of her rivals in a final time of :58.44 on firm turf.

Saturday Night is a half sister to 2015 Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Nickname. She debuted July 18 at Ellis Park, finishing third, then returned Aug. 21 at the same track to finish second. Fernando De La Cruz rode her to victory Sept. 15.