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.
Keeneland
John Gunther's decision to retain ownership of Stage Raider, a Pioneerof the Nile half brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify , could prove to be wise after the colt showed promise April 10 at Keeneland, romping to a 10 3/4-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden test. Stage Raider failed to meet his reserve at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale on a final bid of $950,000.
Making just his second start for trainer Chad Brown, Stage Raider broke well under Irad Ortiz Jr. and settled into third among a field of 12 other 3-year-olds as Windcracker and Six Pack battled for the lead. After a half-mile went in splits of :22.70 and :45.75, Stage Raider came even with the leaders in the three path on the turn. He took the lead shortly after and posted a six-furlong time of 1:10.28 and then widened his lead, ducking in near the sixteenth pole momentarily.
Stage Raider finished the distance in 1:22.62 on a sealed sloppy track.
Out of Gunther's homebred Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic, Stage Raider made his debut Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, where he finished runner up, 8 1/2 lengths behind Prevalence, who followed that win with another in an allowance optional claiming race and then placed sixth in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2).
Stage Magic has five other offspring including the undefeated 2018 Horse of the Year Justify and The Lieutenant, who finished third in the 2018 Californian Stakes (G2), won the All American Stakes (G3), and followed that with a second in the Suburban Stakes (G2).
Aqueduct
On Sunday, Three Chimneys Farm homebred Always Carina won her debut at Aqueduct Racetrack, posting a four-length score in a six-furlong maiden test for fillies and mares under Jose Ortiz.
The Malibu Moon filly, another Brown trainee, is a half sister to 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T) winner, Structor who only recently returned to racing.
Always Carina led gate to wire in Sunday's race, posting splits of :22.29 and :45,19 for a half-mile and a final time of 1:10.64 on a sealed muddy track.
The filly is the second foal out of the More Than Ready mare Miss Always Ready.
Oaklawn
Rigney Racing's Coppelia earned her first win in her second start, taking a six furlong maiden test for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park.
Trained by Philip Bauer and ridden to the neck victory by Joseph Rocco Jr., Coppelia stayed close to the leader in second as a quarter-mile went in :22.11 and a half went in :46.21. The Not This Time filly made a bid for the lead rounding the turn for home and fought through the stretch to narrowly prevail at the wire in a final time of 1:11.78 on a track labeled good.
Bred by Gabriel Duignan and Crosshaven Bloodstock, Coppelia is out of the Mineshaft mare Crespano, who also produced grade 3 winner Once On Whiskey.
In her March 13 debut at Oaklawn, Coppelia finished fifth after weakening in the stretch.
Mahoning Valley
Charlie Williams' Comply romped in his fifth start April 5, finishing 8 3/4 lengths in front of a field of four other 3-year-olds at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
Leading from the start under jockey Hector Berrios, Comply posted early fractions of :23.56 and :47.36 for a half-mile and then finished the six-furlongs in 1:13.52 on a fast track.
Comply made his debut last September at Kentucky Downs for Pin Oak Stud and trainer Michael Stidham before placing third at Delaware Park in October. He raced one more time before the end of the year, finishing off the board at Tampa Bay Downs. Comply made his first race of 2021 for his current owner and trainer Silvano Gonzalez, placing fourth in a maiden race at Mahoning Valley.
Bred by Pin Oak Stud, Comply is out of the Kingmambo mare Much Obliged, whose son Syphax was a group 3 winner in England.
