Siblings to Firenze Fire, True Valour Win Debuts

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.

Belmont Park

Mr Amore Stable's homebred Andiamo a Firenze  made a solid impression June 3 in his first start, leading gate to wire in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds on a sloppy track at Belmont Park.

The 2-year-old son of Speightstown  , a half brother to grade 1 winner and sire Firenze Fire , was guided through half-mile fractions of :22.49 and :45.90 by Irad Ortiz Jr. The colt fended off Danseur d'Oro  rounding the turn and then quickly widened his lead in the stretch, easing up in the final sixteenth of a mile. Andiamo a Firenze won by four lengths in a final time of 1:04.27.

Trained by Kelly Breen, Andiamo a Firenze had posted two consecutive bullet works prior to his debut. On May 12, the colt breezed from the gate over Belmont's main track, getting four furlongs in :47 3/5 to be the fastest of 44 working that distance on the day. He followed that work with a May 22 five-furlong breeze in 1:00 3/5 to be the fastest of 12 going the distance that day.

Andiamo a Firenze is the fourth foal to race out of the Langfuhr mare My Every Wish.

Horseshoe Indianapolis

Stonestreet Stables' No Kay Never  also impressed in her 2-year-old debut May 30 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, taking a five-furlong maiden race on the grass for trainer Wesley Ward.

The No Nay Never  filly, ridden by Jareth Loveberry, took the lead shortly after the break and completed a quarter-mile in :21.24 while under pressure from Bourbon Therapy. She widened her lead and ran a half-mile in :45.82 before pulling away in the stretch to finish four lengths ahead in a final time of :58.83 on a turf course rated good.

Bred by Camas Park in Ireland, No Kay Never is out of Sutton Veny (Acclamation), the dam of graded stakes winner True Valour , who won a group 3 in Ireland prior to being imported to the U.S. True Valour most recently won the April 23 King T. Leatherbury Stakes at Laurel Park.

3-Year-Olds

Two 3-year-olds of note won their third start at the Indianapolis track. First, Captaire , a half sister to grade 1 winner and sire California Chrome  , won May 30 for owner SF Racing and trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The Uncle Mo   filly first raced in August 2021 at Del Mar finishing off the board and she didn't resurface until finishing second in Indianapolis May 9.

Captaire was ridden to victory in the one-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies by Deshawn Parker. She finished the distance in 1:41.18 on a course rated good.

The following day, Greg Tramontin's Malibu S S  won a six-furlong test for 3-year-olds for trainer Tom Amoss. The Malilbu Moon colt scored a neck victory under jockey Edgar Morales in a final time of 1:11.92 on a fast track.

Bred by Debby Oxley, Malibu S S is out of the Deputy Minister mare Darling My Darling, who also produced 2017 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner Heavenly Love and grade 2 winner Forever Darling.

*Denotes 2-year-old