Send for Me, Cocktail Moments Romp in Debuts

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.

Aqueduct Racetrack

Augustin Stable's Send for Me  earned a seven-length victory in her first start, taking a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies for trainer Jonathan Thomas at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Into Mischief   filly, who agent Mike Ryan purchased for $500,000 from de Meric Sales' consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, led wire to wire against a field of nine other fillies in the Nov. 27 race under jockey Trevor McCarthy. She set fractions of :22.99, :47.42, and 1:12.42 through six furlongs before completing the distance in 1:19.29 on a fast track.

Bred by Don Alberto, Send for Me is out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Versailles Song, a daughter of four-time grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty, who is the dam of grade 1 winner George Vancouver  and grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Saarland . Send for Me was sold as a yearling, bought for $250,000 by Gary Contessa's Integrity Bloodstock from South Point Sales Agency's consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Churchill Downs

The same day at Churchill Downs, Dixiana Farms' Cocktail Moments  sprinted past the competition in the stretch to win her first start by 9 1/4 lengths for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Under jockey Corey Lanerie, Cocktail Moments was 10th of 12 as the first quarter went in :22.37. The Uncle Mo   filly moved up to eighth as a half-mile went in :45.43 and from there continued to pick off the competition. With a strong rally, she went from second, behind by two lengths, at the top of the stretch to surge past the leader and complete the seven furlongs in 1:23.28 on a fast track.

Bred by Mark Stansell, Cocktail Moments is the first winner and first foal to race out of Canadian champion female sprinter and grade 2 winner River Maid  (Where's the Ring ). Dixiana bought Cocktail Moments for $190,000 from Gainesway's consignment to the Keeneland September sale. The filly was offered at the OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale by consignor Eddie Woods but she failed to meet her reserve on a final bid of $245,000.

Fair Grounds Race Course

Godolphin homebred Pearl Earring  became a winner in her third start for trainer Michael Stidham, taking a 1 1/16-mile test for juvenile fillies by a nose Nov. 28 on the main track at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Last of seven at the start under jockey Angel Suarez, Pearl Earring moved up as fractions went in :24.14 and :48.84 for the first half and continued to make progress through the turn. At the top of the stretch the daughter of Darley stallion Astern   had a head in front but had to battle with Chopin Drive  to earn the victory in a final time of 1:47.18 on a fast track. The race was originally scheduled for the turf.

In her Aug. 29 debut, Pearl Earring finished off the board at Saratoga Race Course. In her second start Sept. 19, she finished second at Monmouth Park. Both of those races were run over turf.

Pearl Earring is out of the Street Cry  mare Speckled, the dam of grade 2 winner and millionaire Pixelate , who finished second in Saturday's Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes on the turf at Fair Grounds.

Godolphin had another homebred become a winner in his third start at Fair Grounds when Walhalla  captured a a 1 1/16-mile maiden test for 2-year-olds by a head Nov. 25 for Stidham. The Frosted   colt, out of grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Tizaqueena (Tiznow ), was second in his Oct. 6 debut at Delaware Park and next finished third Oct. 29 at Keeneland. Tizaqueena has produced three winners from seven to race.

Ridden by Mitchell Murrill, Walhalla sat off the pace behind the early leader Masquerade Ball  before taking over after a half-mile went in :48.93. He pulled away to a clear lead in the stretch, but Banco  gave chase and just missed at the wire. The final time was 1:47.31 on a fast track.