Roseland Farm Stable, Breen Get New Winners at Monmouth

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.

Monmouth

Roseland Farm Stable's The Classy One  won her debut Sept. 11, taking a six-furlong maiden test for 2-year-old, New Jersey-bred fillies at Monmouth Park for trainer Kelly Breen.

The daughter of Temple City   raced just behind the leader through a half-mile timed in :46.11. Jockey Paco Lopez guided The Classy One three wide, dueled for the lead and took over in upper stretch to kick clear by 4 1/2 lengths at the finish. The final time for the distance was 1:12.69 on a fast track.

Bred by John Bowers Jr., The Classy One is out of the grade 3-winning Smart Strike mare Smart N Classy. The Classy One is a full sister to grade 3 winner Valedictorian  and a half sister to stakes winner He'spuregold , who races for the same connections. All seven of Smart N Classy's offspring that have raced have won.

Earlier in the week, Roseland Farm Stable, Breen, and Lopez won with Steel Drivin Man , who romped to a 6 1/4-length victory while going 5 1/2 furlongs in a state-bred maiden race for 2-year-olds.

The Tonalist   colt had finished third in Aug. 13 debut over the same track going six furlongs.

In Monday's race, Lopez guided the colt up to press the leader and after a quarter-mile went in :22.63, Steel Drivin Man took over to post a half-mile in :46.81 and came home in 1:06.64 on the fast track.

Also bred by Bowers, Steel Drivin Man is out of the King of Kings mare Born to Royalty, who has also produced grade 3 winner Pickin' Time (Stay Thirsty  ) and stakes winner Royal Urn (Kantharos  ).

Pimlico

The same day at Pimlico Race Course marked a maiden win for Crown's Way Racing, NBS Stable, Eduard Dalava, and Eli Diamant's Otago . The Florida-bred son of Speightstown   won an off-the-turf edition of a 1 1/16-mile maiden race for 2-year-olds on sloppy going for trainer Kelsey Danner.

Otago, ridden by Dylan Davis, lead the way from the gate, setting fractions of :24.95, :50.74, and 1:15.92 through six furlongs before widening his lead in the stretch to win by 4 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:48.44.

In his Aug. 22 debut at Colonial Downs, Otago finished third. Bred by Courtney Meagher and Speightstown Syndicate, Otago is out of the War Chant  mare Mom's Deputy, the dam of grade 3 winner Mom's On Strike  (by First Dude  ).

Delaware

P. Dale Ladner's Alva Starr  won her first time out for trainer Brett Brinkman Wednesday at Delaware Park, taking a six-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Charlie Marquez, Alva Starr was away from the gate last of six, but found her way to third and then fourth as a quarter-mile went in :23.28 and a half went in :47.49. The Lord Nelson filly stalked the leader into the turn and split rivals when asked to go, driving home in 1:11.85 on a sloppy track to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Bred by Brinkman and Ladner, Alva Starr is out of the Into Mischief   mare Sittin at the Bar, who is also the dam of grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Cilla  (California Chrome  ).