In Italian, Offaly Fast Earn Easy Maiden Wins

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.

Belmont

This week's maiden winners were highlighted by Peter Brant's In Italian , who scored a 3 1/2-length win in a 1 1/16-mile turf test for fillies and mares May 8 at Belmont Park for trainer Chad Brown.

The British-bred daughter of Dubawi  was bought by Brant's White Birch Farm for US$609,434 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. In Italian is out of the Redoute's Choice (AUS) mare Florentina (AUS), who was a group 3 winner in Australia where she also is group 2 placed.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., In Italian led shortly after the break and set fractions of :24.03, :49.39, and 1:14.03 through six furlongs. She maintained a clear advantage and appeared to be in a comfortable rhythm, pulling clear in the stretch to finish in a final time of 1:42.74 on a good course.

In Italian had placed second in her March 28 debut while going the same distance on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs, where she missed by a neck after coming from fourth.

Pimlico

The day prior, Nick Sanna Stables and Lynch Racing's American Patrol  also won his second start, taking a six-furlong test for 3-year-olds by 1 3/4 lengths at Pimlico Race Course.

The American Pharoah   colt was ridden by Charlie Marquez, who positioned the colt behind dueling leaders. As fractions went in :23.13 and :46.76 through a half-mile American Patrol moved up to second by a head. In the stretch, American Patrol was two lengths behind the leader, Ghidorah , but he closed quickly to complete the distance in 1:11.85 on a sealed track labeled good.

Trained by Cathal Lynch, American Patrol finished off the board in his first start as a 2-year-old in October at Churchill Downs.

American Patrol was bred by Juddmonte Farms and is out of the Touch Gold mare Soothing Touch, who also produced the four-time grade 1 winner Emollient , and Hofburg , who finished second in the 2018 Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) and third in that year's Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). Lynch Racing paid $60,000 for American Patrol at this year's Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Indiana Grand

Earlier in the week, the 2-year-old Offaly Fast  showed everyone she was just that, romping to a 9 1/2-length win at Indiana Grand in her third start for owner T.F.S and trainer Niall Collum.

The win came after two starts at Keeneland in April, in which the daughter of Will Take Charge   finished third and fourth.

In the five-furlong contest May 4 for 2-year-old fillies, jockey Marcelino Pedroza guided Offaly Fast to the lead on a sealed muddy track to set fractions of :23.24 and :46.89 through four furlongs. In the stretch she opened a five-length lead when asked for more and quickly widened that again to finish in a final time of :59.23.

Bred by Lochlow Farm, Offaly Fast is out of the Dixie Union mare Garden District , who placed second in the Kentucky Stakes (G3) and won the Debutante Stakes (G3) in her second and third starts.

*Denotes 2-year-old