Ballet Dancing, Hopper, Strobe Earn Maiden Scores

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.

Santa Anita 

May 7 was not only Derby Day, many new faces made their way into the starting gates as well. Among them was the pricey Ballet Dancing , who made a successful second effort for trainer Simon Callaghan and her partnership group that includes Westerberg Limited and the familiar Coolmore connections of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

Ballet Dancing finished third in her Oct. 15 debut going a mile on the turf as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita Park, but did not see action again until Saturday when Drayden Van Dyke was aboard for the race of the same course and distance. In the stretch, she made a strong rally from far back in the field to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:35.74 on the firm course.

Ben McElroy purchased the Medaglia d'Oro   filly for $800,000 for M.V. Magnier from the Ashview Farm consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Ballet Dancing was bred by her consignor in partnership with Old Oak Farm, she is out of the grade 2 stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Fully Living . Her third dam is also the dam of 2003 champion 2-year-old filly Halfbridled .

One race later, Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing were celebrating a win by Hopper , a 3-year-old son of Declaration of War  and the 2006 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) winner Irridescence .

Trained by Sean McCarthy, Hopper had finished off the board in his Feb. 25 debut while racing six furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita. In his return, he raced seven furlongs on the dirt and found it to his liking, winning by 2 1/4 lengths.

The colt, ridden by Juan Hernandez, was third early on as four horses vied for the lead, but got a head in front to get a half-mile in :44.95. He then widened his lead and completed the distance in 1:23.60 on a fast track.

Bred by Green Lantern Stables, Hopper sold once at public auction, bringing $90,000 as a yearling at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale where he was consigned by Paramount Sales.

Churchill 

After the shock of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) upset, it was Strobe  who wrapped up the day at Churchill Downs in the final race. A homebred for Godolphin, the Into Mischief   colt was making his debut in the six furling test for 3-year-olds and up for trainer Brad Cox.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Strobe was away from the gate well and soon took up the lead to set fractions of :21.37, :45.34, and :56.93 before drawing away from Bourbon Heist  to finish 4 1/2 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:08.71 on the fast track.

Strobe is the fifth foal to race out of Godolphin's 2009 Test Stakes (G1) and Gazelle Stakes (G1) winner Flashing .