Catiche, Taiba, Beguine Impress in Maiden Wins

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 Park

Augustin Stable's Catiche  found her groove in her fifth lifetime start March 6 at Gulfstream Park, dictating the pace throughout and drawing away to a six-length victory for trainer Johnathon Thomas against a field of eight other 3-year-old fillies. 

The Arrogate filly is out of grade 3 winner and grade 2-placed Sacristy  (by Pulpit), the dam of grade 1-placed Flor de La Mar .

Under jockey Luis Saez, Catiche was bumped at the start but sped to the lead to set fractions of :24.16, :48.35, and 1:12.62 through six furlongs while maintaining a one-length lead over the favored Five Prizes. Set down in the stretch for a sprint to the wire, no one was going to catch Catiche, but Myriskyaffair , a half sister to grade 3 winner Forty Under , gave it her best shot to close for second.

Catiche ran the 1 1/16-miles on the All-Weather surface in a new track record time of 1:43.67.

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Catiche finished second or third in three of her four previous starts.

Santa Anita Park

The Bob Baffert-trained pair of Taiba  and Mauritius  ran to their odds, finishing first and second, respectively, in their March 5 debut at Santa Anita Park.

Zedan Racing Stables' Taiba, a $1.7 million 2-year-old purchase, raced in second through the first quarter-mile but then took over and set fractions of :45.69 and :57.97 through five furlongs under jockey John Velazquez. The Gun Runner   colt opened up on the field as his stablemate gave chase and finished the six furlongs in 1:09.97 on a fast track. He was 7 1/2-lengths clear of Mauritius at the wire.

Earning a commendable 102 Equibase Speed Figure for his effort, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Bruce C. Ryan. Taiba is out of the Flatter   mare Needmore Flattery , Ohio's Horse of the Year for two years in a row.

Oaklawn Park

Charles T. Matses' homebred Beguine  won her third start impressively Saturday for trainer Daniel Peitz in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park.

Jockey Francisco Arrieta guided Beguine, who bolted from the gate and led at every point of call. The Gun Runner filly opened a three-length lead in the stretch, while Star Table  tried to close on her, but couldn't touch Beguine, who surged under the wire 2 1/2-lengths in front. Beguine finished in a final time of 1:44.66 on a fast track.

Beguine, who went through the sales ring twice but failed to meet her reserve both times, is out of stakes winner Shananies Song  (by Eltish), dam of grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Favorable Outcome . She finished third in her Jan. 7 debut and then returned Jan. 23 to finish fourth. All three starts were at Oaklawn.