Extra Anejo, Julia Shining Draw Attention at Keeneland

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.

Keeneland 

Winchell Thoroughbreds saw a start to their return on investment Oct. 13 at Keeneland when their $1.35 million yearling purchase, Extra Anejo  romped in his debut by 9 1/2 lengths. The Into Mischief   colt was bought from the colt's breeder, Mt. Brilliant Farm and Ranch, at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the Steve Asmussen trainee took on a field of nine other 2-year-old maidens in an about seven-furlong contest on the main track. After speeding to the lead, Extra Anejo set fractions of :22.57, :45.19. and 1:10.28 through six furlongs. With no other rival able to keep pace, the colt was 6 1/2 lengths clear in the stretch before widening that margin even more and stopping the clock in 1:27.17 on a fast track.

While Asmussen is known for having his horses train slow prior to a race, Extra Anejo posted three bullet five-furlong works in September and October at both Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

Extra Anejo is the first foal out of the Irish-bred Hard Spun   mare Superioritycomplex. His third dam is 1990 Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks (G1) and Ribbesdale Stakes (G2) winner and St. Leger (G1) runner-up Hellenic, who is the dam of 2003 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) winner Islington and group 1 winners Greek Dance and Mountain High .

Stonestreet Stables continued to reap the rewards of their dual grade 1 winner acquisition, Dream Rush , who went on to produce grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia  for the farm. Stonestreet sold Dreaming of Julia's first foal to race for $1.05 million to Shadwell Estate during the 2019 Keeneland September Sale. Having already earned more than $2.75 million, five-time grade 1 winner and 3-year-old champion filly Malathaat  proved to be the one that got away.

Stonestreet chose to retain Julia Shining , who lived up to the potential of her full sister in her first outing Oct. 16, taking an about seven-furling maiden race. The daughter of Curlin   came from far back after dealing with kickback to make a sweeping move from the five path and win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Ridden by Luis Saez, Julia Shining was next to last in the 12-horse field of 2-year-old fillies as a quarter-mile went in :23.10 and moved into ninth as a half was timed in :46.88. Once she had clear running on the outside, Julia Shining picked up the pace near the three-quarter pole and was two lengths ahead at the top of the turn. Julia Shining stopped the clock in 1:29.43 on a fast track.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has had the honor of being the trainer of Dreaming of Julia, Malathaat, and Julia's Shining.

Aqueduct 

A pricy colt made his way to the winner's circle in just his second start as Signator  won a one-mile maiden test for 2-year-olds Oct. 14 at Aqueduct for trainer Shug McGaughey. The Tapit   colt drew away to a 4 1/2-length victory after coming from near the back of the six-horse field.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Signator bobbled at the start and was bumped, leaving him in fifth. As a half-mile went in :48.73, Signator made his way to fourth but really made up ground on the turn, drawing clear in the stretch to finish the race in 1:37.89 on a muddy track.

Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Signator is the final foal out of the Seeking the Gold mare Pension, who also produced grade 2 winners Annual Report  (by Harlan's Holiday) and Thoughtfully  (Tapit). With the colt's deep pedigree, Lane's End Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds partnered to purchase Signator for $1.7 million at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Companies Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training this year from Eddie Woods. Additional partners Woodford Racing, Gainseway Stable, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone, and Edward Hudson Jr. joined to campaign the colt.