Three Pioneerof the Nile Progeny Get Off the Mark

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

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots had a great week of racing when it came to the maiden ranks with four Maiden Watch 3-year-olds coming to light. Godolphin's homebred Adventuring was the first to make waves, winning a one-mile-and-70-yard route Feb. 16 that was originally scheduled as a one-mile test on the turf course.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden to a 6 1/2-length score by Marcelino Pedroza, Adventuring raced just behind the pace after going four wide on the first turn. After fractions of :24.10, :47.39, and 1:12.57 for six furlongs, the Pioneerof the Nile filly was four wide again on the far turn when she made a sweeping move to the front and kicked clear to win in a final time of 1:43.34 on a fast track.

Adventuring is out of the 2012 champion 3-year-old filly Questing, a Hard Spun  mare that won the Alabama Stakes (G1) and TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). Questing is also the dam of graded stakes-placed Romantic Pursuit.

Adventuring had placed third in her Nov. 29 debut at Fair Grounds and then returned to finish second Dec. 20 before her win.

Later in the day another Cox runner took a six-furlong maiden test for owner/breeder Twin Creeks Racing Stables. The Constitution  colt named Warrant is a half brother to graded stakes winner Ms Locust Point.

Under Shaun Bridgmohan, Warrant bounced between rivals coming out of the gate but was well-placed in third just behind the leaders as a quarter-mile went in :22.74. Through a half-mile in :46.31, he was in second, a half-length behind Wild for Wycliff. The colt took over in upper stretch, drifted out a bit, and then fought with Wild for Wycliff to win by a neck in a final time of 1:10.76.

Warrant, who is out of the First Samurai  mare Whisper Number, finished third in his Jan. 16 debut at Fair Grounds.

On Feb. 20, T. C. Stable homebred Coeur won on debut for trainer Michelle Lovell at the Louisiana track, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies by a head.

The daughter of Macho Uno rallied to the victory from eighth under jockey Colby Hernandez, winning in a final time of 1:06.44 on the fast track. The race was originally scheduled for about 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Coeur is out of the Saint Ballado mare Wadena, who has also produced graded stakes winner Bobby Abu Dhabi, a son of Macho Uno.

Santa Anita

Kicking off the week at Santa Anita Park, Bob Baffert trainee Hozier broke his maiden in his second start Feb. 15, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden test for 3-year-olds. In doing so, he defeated his stablemate Fenway in what was also his second start.

The Pioneerof the Nile colt was purchased by SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables for $625,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York. Hozier is raced by a partnership that includes the buyers plus Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson.

The same connections campaign Fenway as well, who was a $650,000 purchase from Sequel New York's consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Hozier sat off the pace as Fenway set fractions of :23.92 and :47.87 for a half-mile. Hozier ran down the leader in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths and in a final time of 1:44.64 on a fast track.

In his Jan. 15 debut at the Southern California track, Hozier placed fourth of five while racing six furlongs.

Bred by WinStar Farm, Hozier is out of the graded stakes-winning Henny Hughes mare Merry Meadow.

Gulfstream

Another Pioneerof the Nile colt made his first appearance in the winner's circle Saturday at Gulfstream Park, taking a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-olds by a neck in his third start. Lothenbach Stables' Quantum Leap ran in second or third throughout the test but when asked by rider Miguel Vasquez he fought to the finish.

Quantum Leap completed the distance in 1:51.45 on a fast track.

The Ian Wilkes trainee finished third in his Nov. 22 debut at Churchill Downs and off the board in his season debut Jan. 23 at Gulfstream.

Bred by WinStar Farm out of the Distorted Humor  mare Grand Glory, Quantum Leap is a half brother to graded stakes winner Gloryzapper and graded stakes-placed Banree. His half sister Superstition placed third in the Jan. 9 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) and won the Feb. 15 Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita.