Keeneland, Belmont Have Notable 2-Year-Old 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.

Keeneland

Skychai Racing's Miss Eau de Vie edged clear to win a one-mile turf test Oct. 8 at Keeneland, scoring the second of three victories on the day at the Lexington track for her trainer Mike Maker.

The 2-year-old Commissioner filly stalked the pace under jockey Javier Castellano behind reasonable fractions before making a bid in the lane and closing the deal late to score by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:36.63 on firm turf.

Bred by her owners in partnership with Hot Pink Stable in Kentucky, Miss Eau de Vie is the third foal out of the Secret Romeo mare Brandys Secret. Her Lookin At Lucky  half brother, Fancy Liquor, won the Sept. 5 American Turf Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2T) at Churchill Downs. The colt has not finished worse than third in six starts.

The Keeneland effort was Miss Eau de Vie's third start—she finished sixth Aug. 8 at Ellis Park in her debut and then fourth Sept. 1 at Churchill.

On Sunday, Cousin Larry also broke through the maiden ranks at Keeneland, taking a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by a neck in his second start. The Cairo Prince  colt is a half brother to 2008 champion 3-year-old filly Proud Spell.

Trained by Larry Jones for owner-breeder Brereton Jones, the favored Cousin Larry raced off the pace with Gabriel Saez aboard and was third heading into the stretch. Making a bid along the rail he was able to drive home in a final time of 1:18.95, getting a neck in front at the wire.

Cousin Larry is out of the Langfuhr mare Pacific Spell. In his first start, the colt finished second, 7 3/4 lengths behind Stayin' Out Late over the same distance at Churchill Downs.

Belmont

Racing at Belmont Park produced three 2-year-old maiden winners of note this week. The first came Thursday, when Sterling Racing's Whatmakessammyrun ran off to an 8 3/4-length score in a seven-furlong turf test.

The We Miss Artie  colt was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and he is out of the Touch Gold mare Reggae Rose, who also produced graded stakes winner Shakhimat.

Whatmakessammyrun was forwardly placed under jockey Jose Lezcano as a quarter-mile went in :22.50 and a half went in :46.47. Racing four wide, Whatmakessammyrun caught the leaders with ease and once the colt was in front he galloped to a five-length lead in the stretch under a hand ride. Urged a bit more, he opened up even greater distance and finished in 1:23.39 over the firm turf.

The following day Shadwell Stable's $1.05 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase Malathaat won on debut at the New York oval, taking a seven-furlong test on the main track.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat raced three wide near the front of a tightly packed field, took over to post a half-mile in :47.15, and remained on the lead to score by 1 3/4 lengths. He completed the distance in 1.23.37 over a fast track with John Velazquez in the irons.

Consigned to the Keeneland sale by Denali Stud, the Curlin  colt was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings in Kentucky and is out of the grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia. His dam was also trained by Pletcher and ridden by Velazquez throughout her career, which was topped by a score in the Frizette Stakes (G1). His second dam is dual grade 1 winner Dream Rush.

On Saturday, Michael Shanley's homebred Nova Rags also won on debut for trainer Bill Mott. The Union Rags  colt is out of the graded stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Wishful Splendor, a half sister to grade 1 winner Private Persuasion. Nova Rags, a half brother to grade 2 winner Juanita (by Mineshaft ), went through the Keeneland September sales ring but did not meet his reserve at a final bid of $275,000.

Nova Rags bobbled at the start of the six-furlong test under Junior Alvarado, chased the leaders from the outside, swung five wide coming into the stretch, but closed near the wire to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:10.81.

Woodbine & Presque Isle

Further north, Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse sent out California Lily to a debut victory Thursday at Woodbine. The California Chrome  filly led from the gate under Rafael Hernandez, posting fractions of :22.58, :45.33, and :57.15 through five furlongs and widening to a 5 1/2-length lead at the wire. She covered the 5 1/2-furlong test in 1:03.38 on the all-weather surface.

Bred by Perry and Denise Martin in Kentucky, California Lily is out of the graded stakes-winning D'Wildcat mare Wildcat Lily.

One day prior, Franz Josef earned his first win at Presque Isle Downs in three starts. The Mshawish  colt is a half brother to two stakes winners that were both grade 1-placed—Emotional Kitten and Unspoken Word.

Leading from gate-to-wire, Franz Josef won the one mile test on synthetic by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Addiel Ayala for trainer Glenn Wismer and Novogratz Racing Stables. He's out of the Ghazi mare Silent Emotion.