Scat Daddy's Half Sister Lovestruck a Debut Winner

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. Saratoga Godolphin's homebred Lovestruck was among notable maiden winners on Labor Day, fighting her way to the front and surviving an inquiry to win on debut Sept. 7 on the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course. The 2-year-old Tapit filly is a half sister the late Scat Daddy, who won the Champagne Stakes (G1) as a juvenile, took the Florida Derby (G1) at 3, and later became a top sire whose progeny continue to make their mark around the globe. Trained by Bill Mott, Lovestruck sat off the pace in sixth for most of the 1 1/16-mile test after having to steady at the break. Junior Alvarado guided the filly to the rail for a ground-saving trip, but angled out near the quarter pole. From there Alvarado gave her an aggressive ride to avoid Freedomofthepress and took her four wide, bumping hard with Mrs Frankel. Lovestruck made her way to the wire a length in front of Freedomofthepress, with Mrs Frankel finishing fifth. The result was allowed to stand after Dylan Davis, aboard Mrs Frankel, claimed foul. Lovestruck completed the distance in a final time of 1:43.11 on firm turf. Bred in Kentucky, Lovestruck is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Love Style. Kentucky Downs Steve Landers may have gotten a bargain when he purchased a half brother to champion 2-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner British Idiom for $70,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Named Royal Prince and trained by Brad Cox—who also trains British Idiom—the Cairo Prince colt outran a field of nine other 2-year-olds going one-mile on the turf at Kentucky Downs on Labor Day in his second start. Racing in fourth under Shaun Bridgmohan, who also rode the colt to a second-place finish in his Aug. 8 debut at Ellis Park, Royal Prince surged late and pushed his way between rivals to score by 1 1/4 lengths. He stopped the clock in 1:35.88 on firm turf. Bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, Royal Prince is out of the Mr. Sekiguchi mare Rose and Shine. Del Mar Out west on Labor Day, Tarantino scored on debut in a one-mile turf maiden test at Del Mar. The Pioneerof the Nile colt, who is trained by Bob Baffert for a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, among others, raced in third under jockey Tiago Pereira through six furlongs before making his move while three wide on the turn. Tarantino dug in to score by a length over Harlan Estate. The final time for the mile on firm turf was 1:38.47. Purchased by SF, Starlight, and Madaket at last year's Keeneland September sale for $610,000, the colt is the fifth winner out of the Seeking the Gold mare Without Delay, whose progeny include graded stakes-placed Before You Know It and Instant Reflex. Tarantino was bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding. Laurel Joseph Besecker's Kwist also made a dent in his modest purchase price when he won on debut Sept. 10 at Laurel Park. The Nyquist colt is a half brother to 2013 Acorn Stakes (G1) and 2014 Humana Distaff (G1) winner Midnight Lucky and he was purchased for $45,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the Hoby and Layna Kight consignment. Trained by Claudio Gonzalez, Kwist led throughout in a six-furlong maiden test and fought for a neck victory over Golden Gulley in his first start. Angel Cruz was aboard the colt who finished the distance on a fast track in 1:12.07. Bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke, Kwist is out of the Citidancer mare Citiview, a full sister to grade 1 winner Hookedonthefeelin, dam of grade 1 winners Pussycat Doll and Jimmy Creed. Others of Note Others of note to break through the maiden ranks include Mrs Claus, a half sister to grade 1 winner Grace Hall who won by four lengths on debut Sept. 9 at Indiana Grand; Private Island, who won by a head Sept. 12 at Kentucky Downs; and Tappingintosuccess, a half sister to grade 1-placed Awesome Slew who won her second start by 3 3/4 lengths Sept. 13 at Monmouth Park.