Boston Post Road, Comedy Town Win Maidens at Gulfstream

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.

Gulfstream

Peter Brant's purchase of Boston Post Road for $525,000 from The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York, paid off in her Feb. 7 debut. The Quality Road  filly, trained by Chad Brown, won a six-furlong maiden test against 10 other 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden to victory by Paco Lopez, Boston Post Road pressed the pace a half-length back on the outside as Hitech is Back set fractions of :22.68 and :46.72 for a half-mile. Boston Post Road took over shortly after and widened the margin to three lengths, coming under the wire in a final time of 1:11.68 on a fast track.

Bred by Newtownanner Stud, Boston Post Road is out of the Bernardini  mare Lemon Bay, who has also produced graded stakes-placed Top Quality. The filly was consigned to The Saratoga Sale by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services on behalf of her breeder.

Live Oak Plantation added another homebred winner to their resumé Thursday when Comedy Town won his second start at Gulfstream. The 3-year-old son of Speightstown  defeated a field of seven other 3-year-olds Florida breds while going about 7 1/2 furlongs on firm turf for trainer Michael Trombetta.

Comedy Town popped out of the gate with Jose Ortiz aboard and went on to set fractions of :24.20, :48.73, and 1:13.38 for six furlongs unchallenged. He held a one length lead around the turn and into the stretch and won by the same margin in a final time of 1:30.34.

Comedy Town is out of the graded stakes-winning Distorted Humor  mare Unbridled Humor, who has also produced the stakes-placed Wild Medagliad'oro. In his first race Jan. 16, Comedy Town showed little early speed, but made up ground and after steadying near the eighth pole managed to get up for third.

Tampa Bay

BBN Racing's Core Values won her third start Sunday, taking a one-mile and 40-yard maiden special weight for sophomore fillies at Tampa Bay Downs. The daughter of Honor Code  is a half sister to millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner Are You Kidding Me.

Trained by Victoria Oliver and ridden by Daniel Centeno, Core Values was out of the gate a step slow, but she moved into third while four wide as the first quarter-mile went in :24.07. After the half went in :48.92, Core Values took over the lead and no one could gain on her as she went on to win by 7 1/4 lengths. She finished the distance in 1:42.43 on a fast track.

Bred by John Bates, Ron Kirk, and Michael Riordan, Core Values is out of the Street Cry mare Sweet Awakening. BBN paid $230,000 for the filly at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Denali Stud. In her first two starts Core Values failed to place while racing six furlongs on dirt Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs and 1 1/8 miles on turf Jan. 17 at Tampa Bay.

Fair Grounds

Godolphin's homebred Gershwin made a successful second start for trainer Michael Stidham Saturday when he rolled across the finish line three lengths ahead to win a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test for 3-year-olds at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The son of Distorted Humor is out of the multiple grade 1 winner Music Note, by A. P. Indy.

Saturday's race was originally slated on the turf, but was moved to the main track due to rain in the area. Gershwin bumped with a rival at the start but settled in a tracking position behind the leaders in third. Fourth in the stretch, jockey Adam Beschizza urged Gershwin to the front in the final furlong and then the pair drew clear to win in a final time of 1:04.38 on a muddy, sealed track.

Music Note is also the dam of last year's Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner Mystic Guide, who similarly made his first two starts at Fair Grounds before going on to race at the graded level. In the fall he finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and has not finished off the board in six starts.

While the Maiden Watch column does not usually highlight maiden claiming winners, Lance and Clint Gasaway's Cane Creek Road, a half brother to dual grade 1 winner and multiple graded stakes winner Jeranimo, won his fourth start decisively Feb. 4 at Fair Grounds.

The Bayern  colt trained by Brad Cox was switched to the turf in his third start and finished second. In Thursday's test going about one mile, Cane Creek Road took the lead and never looked back. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan guided him under the wire in a final time of 1:41.58 while 6 1/4 lengths in front.

Bred by Highclere in Kentucky, Cane Creek Road is out of the Jeblar mare Jera.

He was claimed out of Thursday's race for $30,000 by trainer Keith Desormeaux for owner B G Stables.