Travel the Map, Star Moment 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.

Golden Gate Fields

Fred and Cindy Desimone's Travel the Map  won his debut Dec. 3, taking a one-mile maiden test for 2-year-olds by 5 1/4 lengths at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Tim McCanna.

The Liam's Map   gelding, ridden by Kevin Radke, got away first and held onto the lead, setting fractions of :23.70, :48.34, and 1:13.11 through six furlongs. He then galloped off unchallenged and completed the distance in 1:40.13 on the all-weather track.

Bred by Wilhite and Nursery Place, Travel the Map is a half brother to grade 3 winner No Problem  and is out of the Orientate  mare Brief Tears, who also produced three other winners. McCanna purchased Travel the Map for $42,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2021 from Nursery Place.

Fair Grounds Race Course

The same day, trainer Brad Cox had a new winner in Tapit Shoes , who captured his second start, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight, by 7 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The Tapit   colt, ridden by jockey Corey Lanerie, settled near the back of the 10-horses field as the first half-mile went in :47.82. Tapit Shoes moved up to fourth near the top of the turn for home and then rallied coming into the stretch. He took over and widened his margin of victory to finish in 1:46.90 on a fast track.

Bred by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and the Tapit Syndicate, Tapit Shoes is out of the graded stakes-placed mare Awesome Flower  (by Flower Alley), who also produced grade 1 winner Cyberknife  . After being purchased by the BSW/Crow Colts Group for $300,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale from the Gainesway banner, a partnership was formed to campaign the colt, which includes Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Winners Win, and Michael Caruso.

In his first start Oct. 30, Tapit Shoes finished off the board at Churchill Downs.

The day prior, Intrepid Thoroughbreds' Star Moment  won her debut at Fair Grounds.

The Star Guitar   filly, trained by Ron Faucheux, was ridden to victory by Colby Hernandez. Fourth as a quarter-mile went in :22.44, Star Moment moved up to take the lead and post a half-mile in :46.99. She held the lead and widened her margin untilOlivia G  closed to within three-quarters of a length at the wire. Star Moment finished the six furlongs in a final time of 1:13.59 on a fast track.

Bred by Brittlyn in Louisiana, Star Moment is out of graded stakes-placed Moment of Majesty  (by Saint Liam ), who also produced grade 3 winner Fools Gold .

Aqueduct Racetrack

Bruce Lunsford's homebred Classic Legacy  won in his third start for trainer Bill Mott Dec. 3, posting a 3 1/2-length victory at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Classic Legacy, a son of Into Mischief   and the graded stakes-placed mare Distorted Legacy  (by Distorted Humor), finished fifth in his Aug. 20 debut at Saratoga Race Course, then second Oct. 22 at Belmont at the Big A before his win in the seven-furlong maiden test on Saturday.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Classic Legacy raced just behind the leader through a half-mile before making a move to take over the lead. With three others giving chase, he widened his lead and completed the distance in a final time of 1:24.82 on a sloppy (sealed) track.

Classic Legacy is a half brother to grade 1 winner Art Collector , an earner of $2.3 million for Lunsford and trainer Mott.