Desert Ruler, War Machine Break Maidens
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Desert Ruler breaks his maiden at Gulfstream Park
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
Daniel Pita's Desert Ruler scored a 1 1/4-length victory in his second start July 10, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Pita and ridden by Cristian Torres, Desert Ruler raced in second as Akingisalwaysking ran through a first quarter-mile in :22.88 but soon held a head lead to post a half-mile time of :46.61. The Candy Ride colt sustained his momentum as the runner-up faded and opened a length lead in the stretch. Desert Ruler stopped the clock in 1:05.37 on a fast track.
Bred by Mrs. O. M. Patrick, Desert Ruler is out of the Rubiano mare Lavender Baby, who also produced grade 2-placed and grade 3 winner Baby J , as well as grade 1-placed Laureate Conductor , group 2-placed Gossamer Wings , stakes winner Lavender Chrissie , and stakes-placed Que Posse .
In his May 29 debut, Desert Ruler finished fourth in a five-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream.
Woodbine
The same day Mt. Brilliant Stable's War Machine also won his second start, taking a 7 1/2-furlong turf event for 3-year-olds and older at Woodbine by a nose for trainer Michael Stidham.
War Machine (outside) breaks his maiden at Woodbine
The War Front colt raced to the lead, but then allowed Ocelot to open a clear lead while he and jockey Gary Boulanger tracked the rival, who set fractions of :23.67 and :47.18 through a half-mile. War Machine moved up on the turn to engage the pacesetter and Small Talk , who rallied along the rail. War Machine fought through the stretch to win the head bob at the wire. The final time was 1:30.49 on firm turf.
Bred by Mt. Brilliant Farm and Ranch, War Machine was offered at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale but failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $575,000. War Machine is out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Ithinkisawapudycat , a half sister to champion Canadian 2-year-old filly Spring in the Air . Ithinkisawapudycat also produced Spinaway Stakes (G1) winner Sweet Loretta .
In his first start, War Machine finished eighth and last Oct. 18 at Keeneland as a 2-year-old and had not raced since.
Indiana and Ellis
Earlier in the week two other 3-year-olds with ties to graded stakes winners found their way to the winner's circle. On July 6 at Indiana Grand, Kingsport Farm's Sting Like Abby won her debut for trainer Ignacio Correas, taking a six-furlong maiden test for fillies and mares by 5 1/4-lengths.
Sting Like Abby is the second foal out of the Unbridled's Song mare Simply Sunny, whose first foal is group 3 winner Fore Left .
The other winner was Flaxman Holdings' Uyuni , who won her third start July 9 at Ellis Park for trainer Wesley Ward. After racing through the 1 1/16-mile maiden on turf for fillies and mares, Uyuni put her nose in front at the wire.
The Uncle Mo filly is out of the grade 3 winner Pachattack , who placed in three grade 1 races including when third in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (G1). Pachattack also produced Irish group 3 winner Liquid Amber .