Four First-Crop Sires Represent 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.

Monmouth Park

Swilcan Stable and LC Racing's Mainstay  romped to a 7 3/4-length score in her June 4 debut at Monmouth Park, taking a 4 1/2-furlong maiden event for 2-year-old fillies on a sealed sloppy track.

The daughter of first-crop sire Astern   is a half sister to champion Vequist  and is trained by Robert Reid Jr.

Ridden by Frankie Pennington, Mainstay was rushed to the lead and set fractions of :22.70 and :46.52 through four furlongs well within herself. Pennington asked her again in upper stretch and she pulled away under a hand ride to win in a final time of :52.59.

Bred by Swilcan Stables, Mainstay is out of the Mineshaft   mare Vero Amore , who placed second in the 2014 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) in her best finish. Her 2018 daughter by Nyquist  , Vequist, won the 2020 Spinaway Stakes (G1) and finished second in the Frizette Stakes (G1) before winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to seal the champion 2-year-old filly title for Reid.

Churchill Downs

Also Friday, Corinne and William Heiligbrodt and Spendthrift Farm's Tizplenty  went gate-to-wire in a five-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies in her second start at Churchill Downs.

The Speightstown   filly trained by Steve Asmussen was ridden to a 1 3/4-length victory by Ricardo Santana Jr. She set fractions of :21.86 and :44.83 through a half-mile before wrapping up in a final time of :57.56 on a fast track.

In her May 13 debut, Tizplenty set the pace and then faded to third while racing over the same track and distance.

Bred by Spruce Lane Farm and Speightstown Syndicate, Tizplenty is out of the Tiznow  mare Plenty O'Toole  who is also the dam of millionaire and multiple grade 3 winner Mr. Money  , runner up in the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Belmont Park

The following day Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable's Wit  scored a six-length debut win in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The son of first-crop sire Practical Joke  , ridden by Jose Ortiz, broke slow and raced in fifth as the leader set fractions of :22.50 and :45.81 through four furlongs. Wit was wide coming off the turn and required some coaxing before he split foes and drew clear in the stretch to finish in 1:04.70 on a track labeled good.

Wit was purchased by Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable for $575,000 from his breeder Rosilyn Polan at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is a half brother to Longacres Mile Handicap (G3) winner Barkley .

Lone Star Park

Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Wicked Halo  made a good impression in her June 5 debut at Lone Star Park, taking a five-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies.

Another trained by Asmussen, Wicked Halo jumped out of the gate with Stewart Elliott aboard and the pair had little competition. Though she was pressured through the first half-mile, setting fractions of :22.43 and :45.83, Wicked Halo drew away easily in the stretch to score by two lengths in a final time of :57.77 on a muddy track.

By first-crop sire Gun Runner  , Wicked Halo is the second foal out of the Tapit   mare Just Wicked , another Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred who won the 2015 Adirondack Stakes (G2).

Prairie Meadows

Earlier in the week on Memorial Day, NBS Stable's Whistlewhileyoumow  found the winner's circle in his first start by means of a dead heat. The gelding became the first winner for first-crop sire Mohaymen   when he tied with Alia Max  to win a 4 1/2-furlong maiden test for 2-year-olds at Prairie Meadows.

Whistlewhileyoumow led through the first quarter-mile in :22.67 but then was headed in the stretch by Alia Max. Fighting back gamely through the stretch, Whistlewhileyoumow matched strides with the rival and they led by 2 3/4 lengths at the wire. The pair finished in a final time of :53.62 on a fast track.

Bred by Clearsky Farms, Whistlewhileyoumow is out of the Mutakddim mare Ever Nice , a group 2 winner in Argentina.