Ezum Rolls to Maiden Victory at Colonial Downs

This column highlights the performances of 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 who are graded/group winners, or have dams who 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.

Ezum made a statement with his maiden victory March 14 at Colonial Downs' three-day Virginia Derby meet.

The 3-year-old son of Essential Quality , trained by Brad Cox, broke sharply and went immediately to the lead. He set the pace under jockey Flavien Prat down the backstretch, setting fractions of :23.65, :46.89, 1:10.98, and 1:22.40. Racing under a hand ride, he hit the top of the stretch 6 lengths in front, with no challengers in sight. In the stretch drive, his lead grew and was a no-doubt-about-it winner in the 1-mile dirt race, under the wire 19 1/2 lengths the best. The post-time favorite finished the race in a final time of 1:34.23. 

Ezum earned a 96 Equibase Speed Figure and an 87 Beyer Speed Figure in his second career start. He paid $4 for the win.

Owned by Shadwell Stable, Ezum is out of the Quiet American mare, Bashful Bertie. She is the dam of five winners, including Beach Patrol. The son of Lemon Drop Kid earned a little more than $2.5 million in his 19 starts. Most notably, he was the winner of the 2017 Arlington Million XXXV Stakes (G1T), 2016 Secretariat Stakes (G1T), and 2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T). Shadwell Racing purchased Ezum, bred by Nancy Shuford, as a weanling at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $485,000 out of the Elm Tree Farm consignment.

Video: Race 4 (MSW) at CNL on 3/14/26

Star Actress Shines at Gulfstream

A day later at Gulfstream Park, Star Actress broke her maiden in her second try.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 3-year-old Justify  filly broke on top under jockey Junior Alvarado and settled to stalked the pace. She raced down the backstretch on the inside rail off the leader Wiretapped, who set fractions of :23.91, :47.98, and 1:12.27. On the far turn, Star Actress confronted the leader, and they continued to race as one until the head of the stretch, when Star Actress hit the front. She drew clear and held off a charge from Song of Sarah to win by a length. She completed the 1 1/16-mile dirt race in a final time of 1:45.25 on a track rated good. She paid $3.20 for a $2 win wager and earned an 81 ESF and a 77 Beyer. 

Star Actress is out of the Street Cry dam, Star Act. She is a full sister to 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I, who also won the Frizette Stakes (G1) the same year. She was second in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Ashland Stakes (G1).

Star Actress is owned and bred by George Krikorian, who also bred Just F Y I and Star Act. The family line started with Star Act's dam, Starrer. Krikorian purchased Starrer as a yearling and campaigned her to victories in the 2003 Santa Maria Handicap (G1) and 2003 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1).