American Heroine, Lolloping New Winners for War Front

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 

Stone Farm and Augustin Stable's American Heroine , a full sister to sire and European champion 2-year-old Air Force Blue , won her second start for trainer Christophe Clement Feb. 13 on the all-weather track at Gulfstream Park.

The War Front   filly was a head in front of Mitigation  at the wire in a maiden race for 3-year-old fillies run at about one mile and 70 yards. Under Tyler Gaffalione, American Heroine sat just off the pace set by Crackin Mischief  as fractions went in a slow :26.23, :52.57, and 1:17.51 through six furlongs. In the stretch American Heroine was 1 1/2 lengths in front but then Mitigation closed that gap and just missed as the race wrapped up in a track-record time of 1:45.10 on a fast track. 

In her Jan. 2 debut, American Heroine finished third while travelling about 7 1/2 furlongs on firm turf.

Bred by Stone Farm, American Heroine was offered at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale where agent Mike Ryan went to $1.05 million for the filly out of the Maria's Mon mare Chatham who has produced five other winners.

Two days prior at the south Florida track, Karl and Cathi Glassman's Klugman  also won his second start in a state-bred maiden race for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Edward Plesa Jr., the Practical Joke   colt finished second in his Jan. 7 debut, which was also against state breds going 5 1/2 furlongs.

In Friday's six-furlong test, Klugman was sent to the lead by Rafael Hernandez and maintained the lead throughout, posting fractions of :22.94, :46.17, and :57.91 through five furlongs. Klugman drew off easily finishing up 13 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:10.09 on the fast track.

Bred by France Weiner, Irwin Weiner, Valery deMeric, and Tristan deMeric in Florida, Klugman is out of the unraced Tiz Wonderful mare Polyester, the dam of grade 3 winner Harpers First Ride . 

Fair Grounds 

War Front had another winner Feb. 12 when his daughter Lolloping  won her debut. The filly, a homebred for Stonestreet Stables trained by Brad Cox, is the second foal to race out of the New Zealand champion group 1 winner Bounding .

Under jockey Colby Hernandez, Lolloping raced in midpack early on in the about 1 1/16-mile turf test, but made her way up to second by the time the field entered the stretch. She held a one-length lead as the field headed toward the finish line, but Poronui  cut into that lead, making the winning margin a neck at the wire. The final time for the distance was 1:49.57 on firm turf.

4-Year-Old Tap for Me 

Whisper Hill Farm homebred Tap for Me  found the winner's circle in her third start for trainer Steve Asmussen at Oaklawn Park. The Tapit   filly is out of dual champion female sprinter Groupie Doll , whose younger daughter Doll Baby  won her debut Jan. 30 at Gulfstream.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Tap for Me went to the lead early and set fractions of :22.95, :46.33, and 1:11.17 through six furlongs before opening up in the stretch and finishing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.17 on a fast track.

In her Nov. 7 debut, Tap for Me finished second under Florent Geroux while racing seven furlongs at Churchill Downs. She returned Jan. 7 in a six-furlong maiden at Oaklawn, but finished fourth after checking on the turn.