Strong Quality, Bombdiggity Impress at Fair Grounds

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

Gary Barber and Kinsman Stable's Strong Quality  won his second start Feb. 19 for trainer Mark Casse at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The 3-year-old son of Quality Road   is out of the Kinsman homebred Tiznow  mare Tiz So Sweet  and was a $500,000 purchase by agent Justin Casse at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale in Lexington, where he was consigned by Lane's End.

Ridden by Adam Beschizza, Strong Quality pressed Scotland Yard , who set fractions of :23.99 and :48.45 for a half-mile. On the second turn, Strong Quality moved closer to the leader and took over as the pair entered the stretch. He finished the 1 1/16-mile maiden test with a 1 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:44.11 on a fast track.

In his Jan. 23 debut, Strong Quality finished third after not switching leads in the stretch of a six-furlong maiden special weight over the same track.

Strong Quality's second dam is grade 2 winner Sweet Fervor , a half sister to millionaire graded stakes winner and sire Concerto; grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Illusioned; grade 1-placed winner Wondertross; and grade 3-placed winner Granting.

The day prior Stonestreet Stables' Bombdiggity  won her second start, taking a six-furlong maiden race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up. The Into Mischief   filly was bought by Stonestreet for $600,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Taylor Made Sale Agency consignment.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. guided Bombdiggity to the lead early on and set fractions of :22.66, :46.28, and :57.95 through five furlongs before pulling away to a 6 3/4-length win in a final time of 1:10.02 on a fast track.

In her Nov. 6 debut, the Steve Asmussen trainee was bumped at the start and faltered before finishing sixth in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden test at Churchill Downs.

Bred by WinStar Farm, Bombdiggity is out of the stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Checkupfromzneckup , the dam of Carribean Caper  who won the Dogwood Stakes (G3) and was undefeated in five starts in 2021.

Gulfstream

Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson's homebred Fawning  found her way to the winner's circle Feb. 20 at Gulfstream Park, taking an about five-furlong race on the all-weather track by two lengths. The race was originally scheduled for the turf.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the Into Mischief filly raced in second as fractions went in :22.22 and :45.10 through a half-mile. Fawning got her head in front in midstretch and went on to stop the clock in a track record of :57.25.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Fawning debuted as a 2-year-old in December but finished off the board. She returned Jan. 27 to finish second over the same course and distance as Sunday's test.

Fawning is the third foal out of the Lemon Drop Kid  mare Sparkling Review , who won the 2014 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) and Pin Oak Valley View Stakes (G3T) to cap a four-race win streak.

Turfway

In her fourth start and first of the year, Brownwood Farm's Querobin Dourada  earned her maiden win for trainer Paulo Lobo at Turfway Park Feb. 16.

Under Albin Jimenez, the Capo Bastone   filly took a 6 1/2-furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies by 4 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:18.66 on a fast all-weather track.

Bred by Haras Phillipson, Querobin Dourada is out of Gusto Dolce  (by T.H. Approval), who was a group 2 winner in South America.

Delta Downs 

After two off-the-board finishes at Churchill Downs, MyRacehorse and Greg Tramontin's Search Engine  earned his first win at Delta Downs Feb. 18 under jockey Timothy Thornton, taking a one-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-olds by 6 1/4 lengths.

A son of Flatter  , Search Engine is a full brother to grade 1 winner Search Results , who won the 2021 Acorn Stakes (G1) after finishing as runner-up in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). Bred by Machmer Hall, the siblings are out of the Candy Ride   mare Co Cola , who is grade 3-placed and also produced 2021 Claiming Crown Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial winner Blue Steel .

MyRacehorse.com went to $625,000 for Search Engine at the Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training where he was consigned by de Meric Sales.