Nitrous Channel, Arrobatic Win Debuts at Gulfstream

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 

R.A Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Spedale Family Racing's Nitrous Channel  made a successful debut Feb. 5 for trainer George Weaver at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old Nyquist   colt, a $625,000 2-year-old purchase, won the six-furlong maiden special weight by 2 1/4 lengths.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Nitrous Channel took over the lead after a quarter-mile went in :22.33. He then set fractions of :45.36 and :57.25 through five furlongs and completed six furlongs in 1:10.03 on a fast track, earning a 99 Equibase Speed Figure.

Bred by VinLaur Racing Stable, Nitrous Channel is out of the Afleet Alex  mare Laurenmychanelgirl. R.A.Hill Stable bought the colt at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's 2-year-old sale in Florida. His third dam is Vivid Imagination, a half sister to champion Serena's Song.

The following day, Juddmonte Farms' homebred Arrobatic  outran favored Sadie Bear  in the stretch of a Gulfstream six-furlong maiden test to win her first start by 1 3/4 lengths for trainer Chad Brown.

The Arrogate filly was the morning-line favorite but went off as the second choice when the gates opened. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Arrobatic was third as Sadie Bear posted a quarter-mile in :22.49, and moved into second as a half-mile went in :45.38. Sadie Bear was 1 1/2 lengths ahead in the stretch, but Arrobatic rolled up midstretch to take over and stop the clock in 1:10.84 on the fast track.

Arrobatic is the first foal to run out of the group 3-winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Mexican Gold , who placed third in the 2016 Athenia Stakes (G3T) and fourth in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) the same year in two of her three North American starts.

Tampa Bay 

Glen Hill Farm's Customer Driven  won her second start for trainer Thomas Proctor at Tampa Bay Downs, going gate-to-wire in a one-mile and 40-yard maiden test Saturday.

The Quality Road   filly, ridden by Jesus Lopez Castanon, set fractions of :24.73, :49.26, and 1:14.01 through six furlongs, was 1 1/2 lengths in front through the stretch, and won by a length at the wire with Five Prizes  closing in. The final time for the distance on the fast track was 1:41.01.

In her Jan. 9 debut at Gulfstream, Customer Driven placed third in a six-furlong test.

Bred by WinStar Farm, Customer Driven is out of the grade 3-winning Distorted Humor mare House Rules , who descends from an Argentinian female family.

Mahoning Valley 

After finishing second in a Turfway Park maiden claiming race in his Dec 26 debut, Monolito  found the winner's circle in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Mahoning Valley Race Course for trainer Eric Reed Jan. 31.

The Speightser gelding, ridden by Sonny Leon, dueled with Master through five furlongs in :58.14 and then pulled clear late in the final furlong to win by 2 3/4 lengths, finishing in 1:11.01 on a fast track.

Owned by C Scape and Kay Reed, Monolito was bred by Fox Straus  KY and is out of the Holy Bull mare Witch Tradition, who also produced grade 3 winner and grade 1-placed Go Forth North .

Fair Grounds

Cash is King and LC Racing had a new winner Friday with Eddie's Humor, a son of Distorted Humor and grade 2 winner Ready's Gal .

Trained by Sturges Ducoing, Eddie's Humor finished second in his Jan. 20 debut at the same track while racing against Louisiana-bred maidens at six furlongs.

In Friday's 5 1/2-furlong race for state breds, Jose Riquelme settled Eddie's Humor at the back of the five-horse field as a quarter-mile went in :23.02, moved into third as a half-mile went in :47.58, and pulled away to a 3 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:06.96 on a sloppy, sealed track.

Eddie's Humor was bred by J. E. Jumonville Jr. and Bunny Jumonville and is a full brother to grade 3 winner Machen .