Ottothelegend, Half to Twirling Candy, Breaks Maiden

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.

Oaklawn

A 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-olds March 6 at Oaklawn Park marked the first win for Ottothelegend, a half brother to grade 1 winner and sire Twirling Candy .

Trained by Steve Asmussen for his owner/breeder Three Chimneys Farm, Ottothelegend made his debut Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where the son of Uncle Mo  finished fourth while racing six furlongs.

Ridden Saturday by Francisco Arrieta, Ottothelegend broke a bit slow and raced four wide in sixth as fractions of :23.51 and :48.37 were posted for the first half-mile. The colt moved into fifth near the six-furlong mark and continued to make steady progress, but once he entered the stretch he rallied to pass the four remaining leaders to win by two lengths in a final time of 1:45.24 on a fast track.

Ottothelegend is out of the Chester House mare House of Danzing, who has also produced grade 2 winner Ethnic Dance  and grade 3 winner Dubai Sky.

Two days earlier, WSS Racing's Joyful Cadence broke her maiden at Oaklawn, romping to an 8 3/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden test for fillies and mares in her second start for trainer John Ortiz.

Away in second under jockey Joshua Morales, Joyful Cadence trailed Music App through a quarter-mile in :22.43. Soon after Joyful Cadence took over the lead and set fractions of :45.76 through a half-mile and :57.70 through five furlongs. In the stretch, the daughter of Runhappy  opened a 4 1/2-length lead and continued to widen the margin to the wire, finishing in a final time of 1:09.95 over a fast track.

The filly had placed seventh in her debut Jan. 15 at Turfway Park while racing 6 1/2 furlongs.

Bred by Scott and Debbie Pierce, Joyful Cadence is out of the Forestry mare Arabian Song, who also produced last year's Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner Country Grammer.

Tampa Bay

Team Valor's Untreated also romped to a 8 3/4-length win in his second start Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, taking a one-mile and 40-yard maiden race for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Nyquist  colt rallied from eighth under Luis Saez and took the lead near upper stretch to post a six-furlong fractional time of 1:12.17. Saez gave the colt a firm hand ride to the wire to finish in 1:39.17 on a fast track.

Bred by Ashview Farm and Old Oak Farm, Untreated is out of the graded stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Fully Living. The colt was initially purchased by agent Bradley Thoroughbreds for $550,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where he was consigned by Ashview Farm. Early this year he was purchased by agent Steven Young for $300,000 from the complete dispersal of the Estate of Paul P. Pompa Jr., through consignor Lane's End, at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Prior to the Keeneland January Sale, Untreated finished off the board in his first start Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

Turfway

Augustin Stable's Be Here won on debut Thursday at Turfway Park, taking a one-mile maiden test for 3-year-olds on the all weather track.

The Ghostzapper  colt, trained by Jonathan Thomas, raced in fourth early under jockey Chris Landeros and began to pass horses on the turn. He took the lead at the top of the stretch and then pulled clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:39.30.

Bred by Augustin owner George Strawbridge, Be Here is out of the grade 1-winning Monarchos mare Informed Decision, who won the 2009 Vinery Madison Stakes (G1), Humana Distaff (G1), and Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) among other graded stakes to become that year's champion female sprinter.

Fair Grounds

Godolphin's homebred Colonel Bowman found the winner's circle in his third start at Fair Grounds, taking a six-furlong maiden test by 1 1/2 lengths.

The Curlin  colt out of grade 1 winner Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again) was unveiled by trainer Brad Cox Jan. 2 when he finished second over the same course and distance. He returned Jan. 30 to finish fourth while also racing six furlongs on the main track.

In Thursday's test, Colonel Bowman was first out of the gate under jockey Marcelino Pedroza, but bumped with K C Rocket and took up second behind Shadow Matter as a quarter-mile went in :22.60. He vied for the lead again and took over to get a head in front of Shadow Matter at the half-mile mark. He maintained the head margin through five furlongs and pulled clear to finish in 1:10.07 on a fast track.

One race earlier, Gary and Mary West's Office Party broke her maiden in her third start at Fair Grounds as well. The Distorted Humor  filly trained by Wayne Catalano took an about 1 1/16-mile maiden test on the turf for 3-year-old fillies in a final time of 1:46.73 on a course labeled good.

Office Party is the third foal out of the More Than Ready  mare Room Service, who won the 2014 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) and American Oaks (G1T).

Sam Houston

On Wednesday at Sam Houston Race Park, Midyear, a Midshipman  half sister to three-time grade 2 winner Yearly Report, won a five-furlong turf test for 3-year-old fillies by a nose. The following day Rebel Posse, a son of Caleb's Posse  and 2009 Beaumont Stakes (G2) winner War Kill (War Chant), won his third start, taking a five-furlong maiden special weight on firm turf.

Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, Miss Peaky Blinder broke her maiden in her fifth start for trainer Neil Drysdale. The Candy Ride  filly is a half sister to graded stakes winner Cherokee Queen.