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.
Santa Anita Park
Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran's 2-year-old Aqua Julia scored by 1 1/4-lengths in her Oct. 8 debut, rallying from last of eight with a furlong left to get up in the final furlong of a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park.
Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Flavien Prat, the Exaggerator filly was away slowly from the gate and remained in last as fractions of :21.96, :45.66, and :58.64 were set by the leaders through five furlongs. With a strong rally, Aqua Julia flew by the competition to win in a final time of 1:12.64 on a fast track.
Prior to her first start, Aqua Julia had been training at the San Luis Rey Training Center where she most recently posted a bullet half-mile work of :47 1/5 to be the fastest of 32 at the distance Oct. 2.
Bred by SF Bloodstock and Hartwell Farm, Aqua Julia is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Sluice, who also produced millionaire and 2009 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) winner and Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (G1) runner-up Mushka.
Nguyen bought the filly at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $160,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
Belmont Park
Wonder Stables, Madaket Stables, and Golconda Stable's Shad Nation also won her debut the following day at Belmont Park. The Cairo Prince filly took down a field of 11 others going 1 1/16 miles on the turf for trainer Christophe Clement.
Ridden by jockey Dylan Davis, Shad Nation raced in fourth and then third through a half-mile that went in :48.09. Heading into the stretch she had moved into second and continued to cut into the lead, eventually getting a head in front. She was able to edge clear in the final stages, winning by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:41.24 on the firm course.
An $80,000 buy, Shad Nation is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare In Stitches, the dam of this year's Modesty Stakes (G3T) winner Naval Laughter. In Stitches is a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Hystericalady, who won more than $2.3 million and won the 2007 Humana Distaff (G1).
Keeneland
Also on Saturday, Giant Game took down a field of 10 other 2-year-olds at Keeneland in a 1 1/16-mile maiden test for partners West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables in his second start
A son of the late Giant's Causeway, trained by Dale Romans, Giant Game was a $500,000 purchase for the owners from last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase where he was consigned by Wynnstay Stables.
Giant Game raced in second, pressing Surfer Dude through fractions of :24.10 and :49.44 before taking over the lead. With Joe Talamo in the saddle, Giant Game got a head in front as six-furlongs went in 1:15.62 and sustained momentum to wear down his rival. In the stretch he was still vying with Surfer Dude, but when that rival tired he held a clear three-length lead at the wire.
The final time was 1:45.69 on a fast track.
Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase
In his Sept. 18 debut at Churchill Downs, Giant Game came away from the gate a step slow and settled further back in the field. He managed to get up for third.
Bred by H. Allen Poindexter, Giant Game is out of the More Than Ready mare Game For More, the dam of grade 2 winner Isotherm and grade 1-placed Gio Game.
Woodbine
Augustin Stable's Kanta won her second start Saturday at Woodbine. The Into Mischief filly trained by Jonathan Thomas defeated six other juvenile fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic track.
Kazushi Kimura, who rode the filly in both her starts, placed her right off the flank of Strega to press that rival through half-mile fractions of :23.79 and :48.17. After six furlongs in 1:12.94, Kanta was able to take over the lead and from there she had little competition, opening a 2 1/2-length margin at the wire. The final time on the fast track was 1:44.47.
In her first start, Kanta finished fourth after stalking the early pace, checking on the turn for home, and making a determined drive.
Bred by Pin Oak Stud, Kanta is out of the graded stakes-placed Kingmambo mare Bachata, the dam of grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Gold Medal Dancer.
Midwest
Two 2-year-olds with a graded stakes-winning family raced at Midwest tracks and earned their first wins this week.
At Indiana Grand, Garmento won his second start Oct. 6 after finishing fifth in his Sept. 11 debut at Kentucky Downs. The Empire Maker colt is out of graded stakes winner Guapaza, who earned group 2 status in her native Chile.
Garmento, under Florent Geroux, tracked the pace in fourth and moved up to second in the stretch. He then ran down Never Say Know to get a head in front at the wire. He finished the mile on good turf in 1:40.90.
He was bred by his owner Don Alberto Stable and is trained by Brad Cox.
The following day, Horseshoe Racing's homebred Kiss Principal won his third start, taking a one-mile maiden test at Presque Isle Downs by a length. The MacLean's Music gelding is a half brother to this year's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Like the King.
Ridden by Pablo Morales in his two most recent efforts, Kiss Principal finished eighth in his Aug. 1 debut at Gulfstream Park, then shipped to Presque Isle where he was third in a Sept. 20 maiden race for trainer Timothy Hamm.
