Royal Prince Wins Maiden on Keeneland's Opening 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.

Keeneland

Opening day at Keeneland supplied a maiden winner of note when Steve Landers Racing's Royal Prince, a half brother to champion and millionaire British Idiom, redeemed himself in his second start Oct. 2 after finishing second in his debut at Ellis Park.

The 2-year-old Cairo Prince  colt, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan in both of his starts, sprang out of the gate and was taken back to settle in fourth as Conquest Rainycity set fractions of :22.66 and :47.68 for the first half-mile. At that point Royal Prince was in third by a head after switching to the outside having fought his rider along the rail.

Royal Prince made a bid for the lead on the turn for home and drew off to win the 1 1/16-mile test by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:43.94 on the turf course labeled good.

Trained by Brad Cox, Royal Prince missed by four lengths in his first start Aug. 8 after ducking in at the start and racing at the back of the field early on.

Steve Landers purchased the colt from Warrendale Sales at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $70,000 last year. Bred by Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, Royal Prince is out of the stakes-winning Mr. Sekiguchi mare Rose and Shine.

Santa Anita

Friday saw another half sibling to a champion win out west. Hot Rod Charlie, an Oxbow  half brother to 2019 champion male sprinter and sire Mitole , won his fourth start at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Doug O'Neill for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, and William Strauss, Hot Rod Charlie raced in second throughout the one-mile maiden test. A head behind in the stretch, the colt closed to out duel Parnelli by a neck at the wire, completing the distance in 1:38 on a fast track.

Hot Rod Charlie debuted July 11 at Del Mar where he raced two more times, placing third in his second start and off the board in the other two.

Dennis O'Neill purchased the colt for $110,000 from Small Batch Sales at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky October Yearlings Sale in 2019. Bred by Edward Cox in Kentucky, Hot Rod Charlie is out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss.

The following day, Run Snappy took his third start by 4 3/4 lengths at the Southern California track. The son of Runhappy  completed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.77 on the fast track.

Trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, Run Snappy finished off the board in his two previous starts at Del Mar. Ridden Saturday by Alexis Centeno, Run Snappy led wire to wire, posting fractions of :21.80, :45.26, and :57.96 through five furlongs.

Bred in Ohio by Langsem Farm, Run Snappy is out of the Forest Wildcat mare Floral Park, who also produced grade 3 winner and grade 2-placed Heavenhasmynikki. He was purchased by Martin Anthony as a yearling at Keeneland September for $230,000 from the breeder's consignment.

On Sunday, Royalty Stable's Ascot Storm won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test at Santa Anita by 4 3/4 lengths on debut for trainer Hector Palma. The Shackleford gelding was bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises and is out of the graded stakes-winning Carson City mare High Button Shoes.

Belmont

Gainesway Stable's Oyster Box won her debut Saturday at Belmont Park. The Tapit  filly dueled late and managed a one-length score under Junior Alvarado for trainer Graham Motion.

Bred by Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky, Oyster Box is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Dynaformer mare Starformer, whose best progeny to date is stakes winner Flavius, a winner of more than $540,000.

Oyster Box raced in fourth before moving up to third in the stretch and then outrunning So Enchanting late. She completed the six furlongs in 1:10.06 on firm turf.

Woodbine

Bruce Lunsford's homebred Designer Ready was ridden to a 2 1/2-length victory by Patrick Husbands Saturday at Woodbine in her first start. The Tapit filly, trained by Barbara Minshall, is out of the graded stakes-winning Smart Strike mare Bel Air Beauty, who also foaled Stacked Deck, a multiple graded stakes winner of more than $600,000.

The juvenile filly raced near the back of the 12-horse field for most of the 1 1/16-mile turf test before rallying to win in a final time of 1:42.37 on a firm course.

Offered during the Keeneland September sale, Designer Ready failed to sell on a final bid of $150,000.

One day later, Sam-Son Farm's homebred Tio Magico won his second start for trainer Gail Cox at the Ontario track.

Racing greenly under jockey Luis Contreras, the Uncle Mo  colt led the nine-horse field at every point of call, but ducked in twice. He completed 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:44.85.

The Ontario-bred is out of the graded stakes-winning More Than Ready  mare Magic Broomstick.