Slop Doesn't Stop Shedaresthedevil Half in Flashy Debut

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 graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/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 Downs

The last week in horse racing played witness to a slew of dazzling maiden-breaking performances from the Golden State of California to the Jersey shore. Among the gems in the mine included Eagles Flight , who glided home under the burden of tremendous expectations a debut scorer on Memorial Day at Santa Anita Park. The 3-year-old son of Curlin   hails from the same connections as his older half brother, the incomparable Flightline  .

MITCHELL: Flightline Half Brother Debuts With a Three-Length Win

Maiden Watch would be remiss not to mention the regally bred 2-year-old Adeera . The Steve Asmussen trainee turned heads Friday under the Twin Spires when she became not just sire Authentic  's first winner, but a filly capable of causing a major stir in the nascent juvenile division. A three-quarter sibling to both this year's Santa Anita Handicap (G1) hero Newgate  as well as runaway Beaumont Stakes (G2) victress Denim and Pearls , it's safe to say there's no more live family in the country than hers.

DENK: Adeera First Winner for Horse of the Year Authentic

Completing the week of budding stars, two sophomores, Bells Beach  and Star of Wonder , made a splash of their own at Churchill Downs.

Bells Beach, a fast-closing fourth sprinting in her debut at Keeneland, devoured the extra furlong in her maiden victory three weeks later at Churchill. The 3-year-old daughter of Curlin   broke from the outermost 11 post, rated kindly in the four-path, and accelerated on command to draw away by 5 1/2 lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trained by Chad Brown, Bells Beach stopped the clock in 1:35.58 for the mile on a fast main track.

#12 BELLS BEACH ($6.54) makes winning look easy in Race 4 at Churchill Downs. The Chad Brown trained Curlin filly breaks her maiden in her second career start with @iradortiz in the irons. pic.twitter.com/sVdcUPuKqx

— FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) June 1, 2024

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan selected Bells Beach out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale for $675,000 on behalf of owner Jeff Drown. Bells Beach is the third foal out of the grade 1-placed Tale of the Cat mare Luminance, who sold to Juddmonte Farms two months after Bells Beach went through the ring for $1.25 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

A day later, Star of Wonder splashed home an eye-catching debut winner for trainer Brad Cox. The Uncle Mo   colt, a half brother to fellow Cox pupil and 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Shedaresthedevil, proved to his connections he was worth the wait with his 3 1/2-length score on Sunday.

✨ #10 STAR OF WONDER ($6.40), the half-brother to Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil, shines in his career debut at Churchill Downs!

Flavien Prat was in the irons for @bradcoxracing and owners @SienaFarmKY and @WinStarFarm. pic.twitter.com/jrzoTAXg0v

— FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) June 2, 2024

Slamming into another rival upon breaking, Star of Wonder settled into his rhythm under jockey Florent Geroux and circled the field seven-wide turning for home. Making up a five-length deficit at the quarter pole, he stormed through the Louisville slop and hit the wire in 1:36.81 for the mile.

Shedaresthedevil, who arguably did her best running at Churchill Downs, retired in 2022 with more than $2.7 million in earnings. The multiple grade 1 winner, who sold for $5 million the year before at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale before returning to the races, passed through the ring a last time at the 2023 sale. Shedaresthedevil again commanded $5 million, and this time went to Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm. Pope had bought out her other partners for 100% ownership of the mare. Shedaresthedevil, a daughter of Daredevil  , foaled a colt by Gun Runner   this year.