Pedigree Carries Longshot Sin City Gal to Debut Victory

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.

Fair Grounds

This week only two maiden winners made the Maiden Watch list. The pedigree of Sin City Gal  flew under the radar of horseplayers when she won her debut at odds of 47-1 for trainer Tanner Tracy Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The Kentucky-bred Ghostzapper   filly, out of group 2 winner Sierra Vista (by Atraf), was offered this year at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale but failed to meet her reserve on a final bid of $170,000. Joel Hunburger, who bred the half sister to accomplished turf sprinter and grade 2 winner Stubbins  in partnership with Black Oak Farm, now campaigns the filly.

Ridden by Jareth Loveberry in the turf sprint debut, Sin City Gal settled in midpack as a quarter-mile went in :23.07 and a half-mile went in :47.23. She moved up along the rail on the turn saving ground, rallied in the stretch, and held for a one-length score in a final time of 1:05.47 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf. 

Oaklawn

Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran's Peace Peddler made her way to the winner's circle Sunday at Oaklawn Park after scoring a 3 3/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies in her second start.

The Gun Runner   filly trained by Richard Baltas had debuted Dec. 18 going the same distance on a muddy track at Oaklawn where she finished third under Ricardo Santana Jr.

Ridden by Geovanni Franco in Sunday's test, Peace Peddler took the lead shortly after the break and set fractions of :22.21, :46.56, and :59.08 through five furlongs. She held a 5 1/2-length lead in the stretch but Madelyn's Magic  gave chase and cut into that margin when Peace Peddler stopped the clock in a final time of 1:11.73 on a fast track.

Bred by Bridlewood Farm in Florida, Peace Peddler is out of grade 3 winner Embur's Song  (Unbridled's Song), who was named Canada's 2011 champion older mare. Embur's Song is a half sister to the dam of grade 1 winner and sire Exaggerator  . Nguyen purchased Peace Peddler, through agent Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, for $200,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale  from the Denali Stud consignment in 2020.