Leslie's Rose Blooms in Aqueduct 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 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.

Aqueduct Racetrack

A week after Coach Prime made headlines in Maiden Watch, another 2022 Keeneland September Sale grad soared her way onto our pages with a striking maiden romp Nov. 19 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

ICYMI: This afternoon we were introduced to LESLIE'S ROSE in her debut at Aqueduct. The 2 year old filly by Into Mischief was ridden by @iradortiz, trained by @PletcherRacing and owned by @whisper_hill. pic.twitter.com/gIsKaczovo

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 20, 2023

Leslie's Rose, a $1.15 million daughter of Into Mischief , may have edged herself into the early Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture after her debut score against a blue-blooded group Sunday afternoon in Queens. Racing for the silks of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, the filly was the third choice in the betting behind the daughters of two grade 1 winners in Value Area (out of Her Smile) and Shop Lifting (out of Miss Shop).

Breaking on top under Irad Ortiz Jr., Leslie's Rose vied on the lead with Shop Lifting, setting an early pace of :23.10 and :46.40 before putting away her stubborn rival at the quarter pole. Bounding clear, Leslie's Rose delivered an impressive turn of foot down the lane, hitting the wire 9 1/4 lengths in front. She completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.73, nearly two seconds faster than P Mutter Pickle ran in her maiden win against state-breds five races later.

Leslie's Rose is the second foal to race for the Irish-bred Galileo mare Wildwood Rose, who, while never started herself, hails from a deep line of black-type performers. Through her dam Wildwood Flower, Wildwood Rose is a half sister to 2015 Florida Derby (G1) victor Materiality and to grade 2 winner and 2014 Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia, the mother of 2022 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) hero Annapolis .

Further down in Leslie's Rose's pedigree through her third dam, Dial a Trick, one will see the grade 1 winners Afleet Express and Embellish the Lace, both winners over the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles in the Travers Stakes (G1)  and Alabama Stakes (G1), respectively.

If her pedigree isn't indicative enough of Leslie's Rose's two-turn potential, the ease in which she sailed to the finish and her strong gallop out after the wire could very well spell longer races in the filly's future.