Mo Strike, Vedareo, Major Dude Win First Time Out

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.

Churchill 

Nasser Bin Omairah's Mo Strike  was among 2-year-olds making their first starts and he broke his maiden June 19 at Churchill Downs, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for trainer Brad Cox.

The Uncle Mo   colt, ridden by Florent Geroux, rated near the front of the 10-horse field as fractions went in :22.82 for a quarter-mile and :46.35 for the half. Mo Strike took over in the stretch and pulled clear but then Summonyourcourage  cut into that lead, rallying to within three-quarter lengths of the winner. The final time for the distance was 1:04.77 on a fast track.

Bred by Blue Heaven Farm and Ashford Stud, Mo Strike is out of the grade 1-placed Smart Strike mare Featherbed , who also produced grade 3 winner Dynamic Impact. Omairah bought the colt this year from consignor Gene Recio for $325,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. As a yearling he was sold by his breeder for $90,000 to Vortex Racing at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Parx 

Swilcan Stables' homebred Vedareo  won her debut earlier in the week, taking a 4 1/2-furlong maiden test at Parx Racing for trainer Robert Reid Jr.

The Daredevil   filly is a half sister to two-time grade 1 winner Vequist , who won the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in her fourth of five starts.

Ridden by Frankie Pennington, Vedareo made short work of the field of seven other 2-year-old fillies, quickly taking the lead and pulling clear to post a quarter-mile in :22.79 and a half in :46.31. Though her margin narrowed, Vedareo managed to score a two-length win in a final time of :52.62 on a fast track.

Vedareo is out of the Mineshaft   mare Vero Amore , who has produced five winners from five starters to date. Though Vero Amore only had two wins to her name during her racing career, she placed second in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) as a 3-year-old.

Monmouth 

Spendthrift Farm's $550,000 yearling purchase of Major Dude  paid off when the son of Bolt d'Oro   broke his maiden by 3 3/4 lengths in his June 18 debut at Monmouth Park.

Major Dude, a great grandson of Racing Hall of Fame inductee and 1996 broodmare of the year Personal Ensign, is trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to victory by John Velazquez. The colt raced in fourth as fractions went in :22.98 and :47.33 for four furlongs, waited for an opening, and split horses in the stretch to finish up the race in :59.60 on a fast track.

Bred by Clearksy Farms, Major Dude is out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Mary Rita . Spendthrift purchased the colt from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York in 2021.

*denotes 2-year-old