Barossa, Toeris Earn First Wins at Santa Anita

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.

Santa Anita Park

It was a light week as far as notable 2-year-old maiden winners, with only two making the list.

Third time was a charm for Barossa , who won Oct. 15 for trainer Bob Baffert, taking a one-mile maiden test for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita Park. The Into Mischief   colt was a $775,000 purchase by Starlight Racing, SF Racing, and Madaket Stables from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he now races under 10 partners or partnership group names.

In his first two starts at Del Mar, Barossa came in fourth in July and third in August.

In Friday's race jockey Juan Hernandez positioned the colt just behind the leader, Durante , who set fractions of :23, :47.48, and 1:11.70 through six furlongs. In the stretch Barossa was a half-length behind, but he wore down the front-running rival in the final strides to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:37.55 on a fast track.

Bred by Spendthrift Farm, Barossa is out of the grade 3-winning Flower Alley mare Bouquet Booth, who also produced Tapsolute , a $600,000 Keeneland September yearling by Tapit  . Barossa's female family traces to broodmare of the year Toll Booth. The family also includes grade 1 winners Christiecat, Riskaverse, Fog of War  , Havre de Grace , and Tonalist  . He was consigned to the Keeneland sale by Four Star Sales.

Earlier that day at the Southern California track, Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Toeris  also won her third start. The 2-year-old Tourist   filly outran six other fillies going one mile on the turf to win by a nose.

Under Abel Cedillo, Toeris chased the early pace in second as Carroll Girl  set fractions of :24.44 and :49.74 through a half-mile. She then pressed the pace from the outside and battled gamely to the wire. The final time was 1:36.69 on firm turf.

Trainer Mark Casse unveiled the filly Aug. 13 at Saratoga Race Course in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race, but she finished sixth. She returned at the Spa Sept. 6 and finished third while racing 1 1/16 miles.

Bred by her owners, Toeris is out of the Brazilian group 1 winner Sutil (by Redattore).