Filly From Pensioned Accelerate Wires Field in Debut

This column highlights the performances of 2- and 3-year-old 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.

Los Alamitos Race Course

A filly from one of 2018 Horse of the Year Accelerate 's final crops at stud won her debut in front-running fashion June 27 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Named Tesouro de Pirata , or "Pirate's Treasure" in Portuguese, the 3-year-old filly hopped slightly out of the gate, but recovered deftly under jockey Assael Espinoza and established herself as the narrow leader in a matter of strides. Shaking off her closest rival, Harmonique , after a half-mile in :44.52, she held a comfortable advantage over that foe to the wire. 

Espinoza wrapped up on the filly in the final sixteenth, and the pair scored by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:16.62 for the 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast main track.

Trainer Michael McCarthy trains Tesouro de Pirata for owner/breeder Brownwood Farm, who purchased the filly's dam, the Brazilian group 1 winner Colorado Girl, for $40,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The winner of eight of 11 starts in her native county, Colorado Girl, by Elusive Quality, has produced three winners for Brownwood Farm. Her first foal, the Shackleford  filly Quaria Comet , was twice stakes-placed. 

Five-time grade 1 winner Accelerate stood at Lane's End in Kentucky for five seasons upon his retirement from the track. The son of Lookin At Lucky  was pensioned from stud duty and joined the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions in November 2023.