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.
Gulfstream
Godolphin's homebred Prevalence made a sharp debut for trainer Brendan Walsh, romping to an 8 1/2-length win over 11 other 3-year-old maidens in a seven-furlong test Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.
The Medaglia d'Oro colt is out of the Ghostzapper mare Enrichment, who also produced group 3 winner Estihdaaf. His second dam is grade 2 winner Sahara Gold and his third dam is 1995 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Desert Stormer.
Prevalence was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, who guided the colt to the lead in the backstretch after a bumpy start. He raced through a half-mile in :46.09 and six furlongs in 1:10.45 before pulling away in the stretch to reach the finish line in 1:23 on a fast track.
On Jan. 24 at the Florida track, Gary and Mary West's Slumber Party also found the winner's circle in her first start. Trained by Kelly Breen, the Malibu Moon daughter defeated 11 other 3-year-old fillies in a solid performance, coming home 7 1/2 lengths in front.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Slumber Party bolted away from the gate and shot straight to the lead, setting fractions of :22.50, :45.33, and 1:09.95 through the first six furlongs. She wrapped up the seven furlongs in 1:23.05 on the fast track while geared down.
Bred by the Wests, the filly is out of the Sweetsouthernsaint mare Devilish Lady, who won the 2011 Azalea Stakes (G3) at Calder Race Course.
Oaklawn
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong went to $400,000 for a daughter of Nyquist during The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale, and Willful Woman returned some of that money Sunday when she won her third start at Oaklawn Park.
Ricardo Santana Jr. guided Willful Woman through the one-mile maiden test in which the pair sat off the pace in third and made a bid in the stretch. Willful Woman pulled away to a 4 1/4-length win, outrunning the $700,000 2-year-old purchase, Smarmy.
Bred by Clearsky Farms, Willful Woman is a half sister to Fantasy Stakes (G3) winner Ever So Clever, who was also grade 2-placed and competed in the 2017 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Willful Woman placed third in both of her previous starts at Keeneland and Churchill Downs in October and November, respectively.
Tampa Bay
Trainer Christophe Clement sent out Stonestreet Stables' The Right Stuff to a 2 1/2-length score in a one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds Jan. 20 at Tampa Bay Downs.
The Sea The Stars colt was purchased by Ben McElroy from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for $645,273. Bred by Framont Limited in Great Britain, The Right Stuff is out of the unraced Invincible Spirit mare Sarbacane.
The Right Stuff debuted July 18 at Saratoga Race Course, where he finished fifth in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight turf race. He then raced at Arlington International Racecourse, finishing third in a one-mile turf test Aug. 7.
Ridden to victory Wednesday by Samy Camacho, The Right Stuff raced in second as the first quarter-mile went in :22.86 but took over the lead just after entering the back stretch. He went on to set easy fractions of :46.54 for the half-mile and then opened up a four-length lead as six furlongs went in 1:10.95. Deferred Taxes cut into his lead through the stretch, but The Right Stuff finished in a final time of 1:36.06 on a firm course.
Santa Anita
Reddam Racing's homebred Found My Ball scored in his second start Jan. 22 at Santa Anita Park, winning a six-furlong maiden test for 3-year-olds bred in California. The Square Eddie colt, trained by Doug O'Neill, was third in his debut Oct. 4 at the Southern California track.
Found My Ball, a full brother to grade 1 winner Ralis, was ridden by Mario Guitierrez in Friday's test that had a field of eight. He stalked the pace from the outside and closed well to pull away to a six-length victory in a final time of 1:11.30 on a fast track.
Found My Ball is out of the Ten Most Wanted mare Silar Rules.
Fair Grounds
Connie and Richard Snyder and Brett and Billie Jo Seltzer's Inajiffy won her debut Jan. 18, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies on the turf course at Fair Ground Race Course & Slots. The daughter of Street Boss is trained by Joe Sharp and was ridden to victory by Gabriel Saez.
Last in the 12-horse field after a quarter-mile in :22.03, Inajiffy was still 10th heading into the stretch but she kicked into high gear near the three-sixteenths pole and rallied to a three-quarter-length win. She completed the distance in 1:04.62 on firm turf and paid $64 for a $2 win bet.
Bred by Cove Springs Farm, Inajiffy is out of the Johannesburg mare Burg Berg, who produced graded stakes winner Lombo and multiple graded stakes-placed Gray Magician.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | ||||||
| Notable 2yo maiden winners for week of Jan. 18 - 24 | ||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Notes |
| 1/18 | FG | 8 | Inajiffy | Street Boss | Burg Berg | Half sister to G3 winner Lombo |
| 1/20 | Tam | 8 | The Right Stuff (GB) | Sea The Stars (IRE) | Sarbacane (GB) | $645,273 Tattersalls October yearling |
| 1/22 | SA | 7 | Found My Ball | Square Eddie | Silar Rules | Full brother to G1 winner Ralis |
| 1/23 | GP | 6 | Prevalence | Medaglia d’Oro | Enrichment | Half brother to G3 winner Estihdaaf |
| 1/24 | GP | 5 | Slumber Party | Malibu Moon | Devilist Lady | Dam is a graded stakes winner |
| 1/24 | OP | 3 | Willful Woman | Nyquist | Foxy Danseur | Half sister to G3 winner Ever So Clever |
