Pair of High-Priced Curlin Fillies Score on Debut

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

Peter Brant's $925,000 purchase American West took her first step toward proving her worth when she won on debut Sept. 26, taking a one-mile maiden special weight by three-quarters of a length at Belmont Park.

The daughter of Curlin  was bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables and was sold to Brant's White Birch Farm during last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Mill Ridge Sales. The 2-year-old filly is the second foal out of the Congrats  mare Jacaranda, a half sister to grade 1 winner and leading second-crop sire Constitution  and to Bet365 Superlative Stakes (G2) winner Boynton.

Jacaranda also won on debut and followed with a score in the Tempted Stakes (G3). However the mare did not win again in four more starts before being retired. American West's third dam is Surf Club, a half sister to grade 1 winner Awesome Humor and the dam of grade 1 winner Emcee and group 2 winner Surfer.

Ridden under a hand ride by Jose Ortiz for trainer Chad Brown in Saturday's test, American West rated in third before moving up to second in the stretch and then closing late to outrun a pair of rivals near the wire to finish the mile in 1:39.43 on a fast track.

Woodbine

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational, another 2-year-old filly by Curlin, also won on debut Saturday when she took a seven-furlong test on the all-weather track at Woodbine.

Racing in fourth among a competitive field of eight other fillies, Souper Sensational was ridden in fourth by Patrick Husbands through four furlongs but was moved up to take the lead heading into the stretch. The Mark Casse trainee opened a 2 1/4-length lead at the wire, completing the distance in a final time of 1:23.54.

Bred by Newtownanner Stud in Kentucky, Souper Sensational is the third foal out of the Indian Charlie mare Kateri, a half sister to grade 1 winner Tiz Miz Sue and 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin. Souper Sensational was purchased by Live Oak during The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York, for $725,000 from Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services.

Just behind the winner, Speightstown Shirl, a full sister to Marine Stakes (G3) winner Shirl's Speight out of the 2011 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) winner Perfect Shirl, finished 9 3/4 lengths in front of Diamond Ore, a Tapit  half sister to the late champion Arrogate.

On Sunday, Casse had another maiden winner with D. J. Stable's Helium, who raced to a 3 1/4-length victory on debut, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.45 on the Ontario track's all-weather surface.

A 2-year-old son of Ironicus , Helium was bred by Teneri Farm and Bernardo Alvarez Calderon in Kenutcky. He is out of the group 1-placed Thunder Gulch mare Thundering Emilia.

Churchill

West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, William Freeman, and Michael Valdes' Lady Traveler won her second start, going gate to wire Sunday at Churchill Downs in a six-furlong maiden test in 1:11.52 on a fast track.

The juvenile Quality Road  filly was first out of the gate and set a pressured pace under jockey Joe Talamo, clicking off fractions of :21.56, :45.23, and :57.90 through five furlongs.

Trained by Dale Romans, Lady Traveler made her debut at the Louisville track Sept. 4 and finished third, just a neck behind the winner Salty as Can Be—a half sister to grade 1 winner Salty—while traveling the same distance.

Bred by Hidden Brook Farm, Candy Meadows, and Chris Swann in Kentucky, Lady Traveler is a half sister to Canadian champion and grade 1 turf star Heart to Heart .

Two races later, Jackie Rojas' Lookin for Loki broke his maiden in his fourth start, taking a five-furlong turf test at odds of 23-1. The 2-year-old Into Mischief  gelding trained by Chris Hartman is a half brother to 2012 champion sprinter Trinniberg.

Lookin for Loki had a forward position racing up the backside under Mitchell Murrill and took over the lead on the turn for home, dueling to the wire and winning by a neck in a final time of :57.62 on firm turf. He was chased home by a pair of closers. Lookin for Loki outran Foliage, a half brother to Claiborne stallion Lea .

Others with notable pedigrees to break through the maiden ranks this week include Caught On You who won on debut, as well as Lizard King and Carpe Luna, who both won their second start.