Godolphin's Proxy, Ghostlighter Shine at Fair Grounds

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.

Fair Grounds

Racing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots returned Nov. 26, and the track saw a bit of 2-year-old potential shine when Godolphin's homebred Proxy had his first win in his second start at the Louisiana track on opening day.

The Tapit  colt is out of the dual grade 1-winning Include  mare Panty Raid, who also produced Micheline, runner up in the Oct. 10 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana (G1T). Agent John Ferguson went to $2.5 million to purchase Panty Raid as a broodmare for Godolphin at Fasig-Tipton's 2008 The November Sale.

The Michael Stidham trainee led a field of eight through slow fractions of :25.14 and :49.28 through a half mile and continued on to outrun another well-bred colt, Afwan, and win by two lengths. Proxy completed the one-mile and 70 yard maiden test in 1:44.37 on a fast track under Angel Suarez.

In his Oct. 24 debut, Proxy raced off the pace and closed to get second at Monmouth Park.

Saturday saw another Godolphin homebred win at Fair Grounds. Ghostlighter, a juvenile son of Ghostzapper  won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race in his second start for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Ghostlighter, out of the multiple grade 2 winner Skylighter, by Sky Mesa , raced in fifth on the outside early on under the guidance of Adam Beschizza. After a half-mile went in :47.83, Ghostlighter was urged into third while five- and then four-wide on the turn for home. In the stretch he rallied to the lead, turning away two foes, and then outran a fast-closing Beniah to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:46.68 on a sealed track labeled good.

In his first race Oct. 28 at Churchill Downs, Ghostlighter raced far behind early and then made up ground but got caught in traffic and managed to get fourth place.

Churchill

Les Wagner's Lock Up broke through the maiden ranks Nov. 27 when he took a 5 1/2-furlong test for 2-year-olds in his fifth start.

Bred by Jeff, Teresa, Marilyn, and Conrad Little, the Maclean's Music  colt is a half brother to 2006 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sinister Minister, who raced in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in his next start but finished 16th. The siblings are out of the stakes-winning mare Sweet Minister.

Wagner paid $300,000 for Lock Up when he purchased the colt from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Ridden by Jon Court in Friday's race, Lock Up led from gate to wire, setting fractions of :21.94, :45.07, and :57.56 through five furlongs. He was ridden out to a 2 3/4-length win in a final time of 1:04.17 on a fast track.

Lock Up finished off the board in three of his previous starts, which came at Churchill and Ellis Park. In his Aug. 16 second start he placed second at Ellis.

The day prior, G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s Hindsight scored in his second start for trainer Victoria Oliver at the Louisville track. The Pioneerof the Nile colt raced just behind the pace in third before getting up in the final sixteenth to score by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano, Hindsight completed the seven furlongs in a final time of 1:24.35 on the fast track.

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Hindsight is out of the grade 3-winning Dixie Union mare Devious Intent.

Three Diamonds Farm's Amalfi Princess made her own breakthrough Sunday when she took a six-furlong maiden special weight in her fourth start for trainer Mike Maker.

The Temple City  filly was close in her previous three starts, and placed fourth in the Matron Stakes (G3) in her second start. She has now raced at four different tracks. She completed Sunday's six-furlong test in 1:10.53, winning by 2 1/4 lengths with Tyler Gaffalione aboard.

Bred by Monticule, Amalfi Princess is out of the Danzig mare Polish Flower, who previously produced grade 3 winner Joe Vann.

Others of Note

CRK Stable's Parnelli broke his maiden in his fourth start Saturday at Del Mar after placing second in his three previous races.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the son of Quality Road  ran off to an impressive 5 3/4-length win under a hand ride by Drayden Van Dyke, defeating a well-bred field of six other 2-year-olds. After stalking the pace in third early, he took over near the five-sixteenths pole, and completed the mile on a fast track in 1:38.58.

Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Parnelli was purchased as a yearling for $500,000 by Mayberry Farm from the breeders' consignment to the Keeneland September sale. He is out of the unraced Bernardini mare Sip Sip.

On the opposite coast, Alpha Delta Stables' homebred Salt Plage won on debut Nov. 23 at Parx Racing for trainer Linda Rice. The Quality Road colt is out of the French Deputy mare French Satin, who has produced two other graded stakes performers in Long Haul Bay and Midnight Transfer.

Racing under Angel Castillo through six furlongs, the colt came from off the pace to win in a final time of 1:12.58 on a fast track.

Lucky Seven Stable's Joe Man Joe also won Nov. 27 at Tampa Bay Downs. The Uncle Mo  colt is out of the grade 1-placed Peaks and Valleys mare Chamrousse, who was a grade 2 winner. Trained by David Fisher and ridden by Huber Villa-Gomez, Joe Man Joe got a head in front at the wire to post a final time of 1:41.23 over a fast track for the mile and 40-yard maiden special weight race.