Pricey Sir London Romps in Los Al Maiden Test

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.

Los Alamitos Race Course

AMO Racing USA and Qatar Racing's Sir London  turned heads when the Simon Callaghan-trainee, who finished second in his first two starts, drew off in the far turn Dec. 4 to win a one-mile maiden test Los Alamitos Race Course by 10 lengths.

Sir London, ridden by Flavien Prat, sped to the front early and set fractions of :24.02, :47.88, and 1:12.56 through six furlongs. The Malibu Moon  colt was four lengths in front of Wesleyan at that point, and widened that margin to eight lengths in mid-stretch before stopping the clock in 1:37.63 on a fast track.

Bred by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Sir London was purchased by Elliot and McElroy from the Eddie Woods consignment for $700,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Old in Training Sale. He is out of Seeking Atlantis, an unraced daughter of Seeking the Gold and grade 3 winner Atlantic Ocean , who was grade 2-placed and a participant in the 2003 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and 2002 Long John Silver's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as well as two other top-level races.

Aqueduct Racetrack

Another pricy colt broke his maiden when Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and James Spry's Courvoisier , in his fourth start, took a 1 1/8-mile test Dec. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer Kelly Breen.

The Tapit   colt, out of grade 1 winner Take Charge Brandi  (Giant's Causeway), passed through the ring for $600,000 as a weanling, purchased by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, but failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $275,000 as a yearling.

Courvoisier finished third in his Sept. 6 debut at Monmouth Park, then returned three weeks later to finish second at Delaware Park and then finished second again Oct. 27 at the same track.

Ridden by Dylan Davis in Thursday's test, Courvoisier stalked the pace from third, took over the lead in the stretch, and battled to the wire with Perfect Flight , winning by a neck in a final time of 1:56.14 on a fast track.

Courvoisier was bred by Elevage II and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings.

The following day, Bonnie Rye Stable's Lost My Sock  won on debut for trainer Derek Ryan, taking a six-furlong turf contest by a head.

The Tourist   filly left the gate 10th and last under jockey Raul Mena, but moved up to seventh as a quarter-mile went in :22.46. Lost My Sock continued to gain on the leaders and was third through a half-mile in :46.57. Second entering the stretch, Lost My Sock was under strong urging when she came head to head with leader Glitter Up  and the pair battled to the wire to stop the clock in 1:10.42 on firm turf.

Bred by Don Alberto Corporation, Lost My Sock is out of Irish-bred group 3 winner Experience.

On Sunday DATTT Stable's Smokin' T  won in his fourth start for trainer Shug McGaughey, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden test for 2-year-olds on the turf at Aqueduct.

The War Front   colt sat just off the pace as Empire Ridge  set fractions of :24.36 and :50.05 through a half-mile. Smokin' T edged clear as Empire Ridge faded, opening a two-length margin at the wire to stop the clock in 1:43.14 on a firm course.

Bred in Kentucky by Dattt Farm, Smokin' T is out of the grade 2-winning Ghostzapper   mare Wine Princess, who placed third in the 2013 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1).