Gina Romantica Successful in Debut at Tampa Bay

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.

Tampa Bay Downs

Peter Brant's Gina Romantica  made a successful debut March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs when she rallied to a 1 1/4-length score over 10 other 3-year-old fillies for trainer Chad Brown.

The Into Mischief   filly was purchased by BSW/Crow for $1,025,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was consigned by her breeder Carrie and Craig Brogden's Machmer Hall.

Gina Romantica was seventh through the first half-mile of the six-furlong maiden test, but Irad Ortiz Jr. moved her into fourth around the turn and heading into the stretch. From there she rallied strong to overtake the leaders and stop the clock in 1:11.35 on a track labeled good.

Out of the Unbridled's Song mare Special Me, Gina Romantica is a half sister to grade 1 winner and sire Gift Box  , grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Stonetastic , and grade 2 winner Special Forces .

Gulfstream Park

Arnmore Thoroughbreds' Riot House  made a successful 3-year-old debut on the turf at Gulfstream Park after two unsuccessful starts as a 2-year-old in May and June at Belmont Park.

The Violence   gelding, trained by Danny Gargan, raced in second behind Khufu  through the first half-mile, put a head in front as they entered the stretch, and as Khufu gave way Riot House was chased to the wire by Causin' Mayhem . Riot House prevailed by a neck in a final time of 1:31.76 on good turf under Miguel Vasquez.

The homebred is out of grade 2 winner Tuttipaesi, runner up in the 2013 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) which was run on Keeneland's all-weather track that year.

Fair Grounds Race Course

John Kerber, Iveta Kerber, and Jon Lapczenski's Ain't Broke  won her fifth start, taking a six-furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for trainer Bret Calhoun.

The Dialed In   filly raced to the lead under jockey Reylu Gutierrez and set fractions of :21.77, :45.16, and :57.34 through five furlongs and held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Catwings  in a final time of 1:10.45 on a sealed track labeled good.

Bred by John Kerber, Ain't Broke is out of the Arch mare Voussoir, who also produced grade 3 winner Mr. Wireless (Dialed In) and grade 2-placed Ain't No Elmers (Goldencents  ).