Two Upstart Colts Among Notable Maiden Winners

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

Niall Brennan and Susan Moulton's Uphold the Law made a splash in his March 18 debut, drawing off to a 3 3/4-length win at Gulfstream Park in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden test for state-bred 3-year-olds.

The Upstart  colt, trained by Michael Stidham, stalked the pace from second and third as fractions went in :22.48 and :45.33 for a half-mile. Jockey Edgard Zayas then angled Uphold the Law out to the three path, and the pair rallied to take over near the sixteenth pole. Uphold the Law finished in a final time of 1:16.06 on a fast track.

Bred by Gail Rice in Florida, Uphold the Law is out of the Freud  mare Scribbling Sarah, who is also the dam of last year's Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) winner and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) third, Speech.

The 3-year-old colt, who has been training at Tampa Bay Downs, posted a bullet work in his most recent timed outing March 11, getting four furlongs in :48 2/5 to be the fastest of 15 that day. Uphold the Law also posted a bullet in February, breezing five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 from the gate to be the fastest of 33.

Two days later, another Upstart colt found his way to the winner's circle. Making his fourth start, John Oxley's Wora took a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test for 3-year-olds by 3 1/2 lengths.

Junior Alvarado positioned Wora behind the leader who set early fractions of :22.62 and :45.41 for the half-mile before fading sharply, leaving Wora to inherit the lead with the field close behind. Wora drifted out but was well clear and finished in 1:03.41 on a fast track.

Trained by Mark Casse, Wora finished off the board in his debut at Woodbine last year. He kicked off this year with two runner-up finishes at Gulfstream before putting it all together for the win.

Bred by St. Simon Place and Scott Stephens, Wora is out of the Bellamy Road  mare Joyous Music. He was purchased by Team Casse for $510,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York, where he was consigned by Gainesway.

Turfway

WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's Editor in Chief won in his fourth start, taking a one-mile maiden test for 3-year-olds and up on Turfway Park's synthetic track for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Ridden by Chris Landeros, Editor in Chief broke sharply and sprinted to the lead, setting fractions of :25.46, :48.96, and 1:12.83 through six furlongs. The Curlin  colt then widened his lead in the stretch to finish 3 1/2 lengths ahead in 1:37.30 on a fast track.

A $650,000 yearling purchase, Editor in Chief was bought by WinStar's Maverick Racing from the Bluewater Sales consignment to The Saratoga Sale. In his first start at Del Mar in November he placed second, but in his first two starts of 2021 he finished fifth at Santa Anita Park in January and at Turfway in February.

Bred by co-owner China Horse Club International, Editor in Chief is out of the unraced Tapit  mare Tapas, a half sister to grade 2 winners Chace City and Justwhistledixie. The latter is the dam of grade 1 winner and sire New Year's Day and graded stakes winners Mohaymen , Kingly, and Enforceable.

Golden Gate

Richard Barton's Seahawk Cody took a one-mile maiden special weight for state-bred or -sired 3-year-olds after testing the waters in two maiden claiming events earlier this year.

The Champ Pegasus gelding trained by D. Wayne Baker bobbled at the start and settled into fourth under jockey Julien Couton. Still fourth in the stretch, he surged late to post a one-length win in 1:41.12 on the fast synthetic track.

The Kentucky homebred is a half brother to grade 2 winner Spectator, who won the 2017 Sorrento Stakes (G2) and then placed third in that year's Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) and second in the 2018 Santa Anita Oaks (G1).

Daughter of Champion La Verdad Wins

La Kara Mia, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  filly out of 2015 champion female sprinter La Verdad, won in her fourth start March 21 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The one-mile state-bred maiden test was her second start of the year and went off with a field of five.

La Kara Mia settled into third under Manuel Franco before being asked to pick up the pace around the turn for home. The Linda Rice trainee moved into the stretch with good momentum and gained a clear lead to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:41.48 on the fast track.

Bred and raced by Lady Sheila Stable, La Kara Mia was offered at The Saratoga Sale through Eaton Sales but failed to meet her reserve on a final bid of $775,000. The filly raced twice at Belmont Park last summer, but after finishing second July 2, she did not race again until Feb. 5, when she placed fourth at Aqueduct.