Known Agenda, Sun Path Win Second Starts

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.

Aqueduct

The 18-day fall meet kicked off at Aqueduct Racetrack on Breeders' Cup weekend, and brought with it a first win for St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda. The 2-year-old Curlin  colt trained by Todd Pletcher impressed Nov. 8 by getting a head in front of Greatest Honour after a long stretch battle that put 21 lengths between the two leaders and the third-placed runner.

Fourth early under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Known Agenda went with Greatest Honour to overtake the leader as six furlongs went in 1:17.35. Coming off the turn the pair were locked in battle, with neither willing to give an inch, until the finish line where Known Agenda was able to edge his foe. He completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.89 on a fast track.

The homebred finished second in his first start Sept. 27 while racing 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park. Known Agenda is the second foal to race out of 2013 Vanity Handicap (G1) winner Byrama, a British-bred mare by Byron who was also campaigned by St. Elias Stable.

The colt was offered during The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York, but went unsold on a final bid of $135,000.

Churchill

Shortly after Known Agenda exited the winner's circle, Juddmonte Farms' homebred Sun Path left her mark at Churchill Downs. The Munnings  filly was favored at odds of 1-2 and awarded her backers with an easy three-length win over Peace Broker, a half sister to last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Donna Veloce.

Trained by Brad Cox, who earned four Breeders' Cup wins over the weekend, Sun Path raced in fifth under Florent Geroux as Naughty Rendezvous went :23.04 in the first quarter. As the half-mile went in :47.04, Sun Path had moved up to third and she took over in the stretch with Peace Broker giving chase. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.27 on a fast track.

The Kentucky-bred filly is a full sister to this year's Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner and Alabama Stakes (G1) runner-up Bonny South. The siblings are out of the Tapit  mare Touch the Star and their fourth dam is the champion Chris Evert.

In her first start, Sun Path finished second Oct. 2, racing six furlongs at Keeneland.

Later in the day, Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Firstlove won on debut at the Louisville track for trainer Mike Maker, taking a one-mile turf test by 3 1/2 lengths.

Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., the Kitten's Joy  colt settled in third along the inside, was guided to the outside as he moved up on the dueling leaders around the turn, and then drew off in the stretch with Juddmonte's Fulsome giving chase to pick up second in his first start.

Out of the unraced Mineshaft mare Money Huntress, Kitten's Firstlove is a full brother to grade 3 winner Noble Beauty.

Woodbine

Sonata Stable's Arzak, a $575,000 2-year-old by Not This Time , was ridden to victory in his second start by Luis Contreras at Woodbine. Arzak, who finished off the board in his debut, broke alertly and went straight to the lead Sunday. The competition never came close; after setting fractions of :22.38,:45.12, and :57.17 through five furlongs he pulled away to win by three lengths to complete the six furlongs on the all-weather track in a final time of 1:09.84.

Bred by John Oxley in Kentucky, Arzak is out of the Tapit mare Delightful Melody, a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Bending Strings, who placed second or third in five grade 1 stakes during her career. Arzak was bought from the consignment of agent Julie Davies at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Davies had originally purchased the colt at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $85,000.

Laurel

After two losses at Delaware Park, Guns Blazing found the winner's circle for the first time in her third start for trainer Michael Trombetta and owner Jet Black. The Firing Line  filly outran seven 2-year-old fillies in a one-mile maiden test Thursday at Laurel Park, winning by 2 3/4 lengths.

Bred by Arnold Zetcher in Kentucky, Guns Blazing is out of the grade 2-winning Free House mare House of Fortune, who was third in the 2003 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1) at 2.

Pressing the pace under jockey Rebecca LaBarre, Guns Blazing shifted to the outside on the turn for home to make a bid for the lead, moved inside, and struck the front in the stretch under a drive to finish in a final time of 1:38.70 on a fast track.

The filly finished fourth in her Sept. 14 debut while going 5 1/2 furlongs and then returned to place second last time out Oct. 7 at six furlongs.