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.
Belmont at the Big A
Alpha Delta Stables' Liguria looked to be off to a promising beginning in her second start Oct. 22, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden race for 2-year-old fillies on the outer turf at Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Bred by Tada Nobutaka, Liguria is a full sister to grade 1 winner Avenge, who won the 2016-17 editions of the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) and placed third in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) behind Queen's Turf and Lady Eli.
Trained by Chad Brown, Liguria finished second to another Brown trainee in her Sept. 11 debut at Monmouth Park, where she was bumped at the start and forced wide on the first turn of that one-mile turf contest.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Liguria settled in fifth as fractions ticked off in :23.33, :48,01, and 1:12.87 through six furlongs. She made a move on the turn and rallied strong to finish with a neck in front on the wire. The final time was 1:43.58 on firm going.
Liguria is by War Front and out of the Woodman mare Lerici, who also produced group 3-placed Pistoletto (War Front) and stakes winner Lira (Giant's Causeway).
Keeneland
Stonestreet Stables gained another homebred winner Oct. 20, when Pure Pauline broke her maiden at second asking for trainer Todd Pletcher. Pure Pauline and stablemate Grand Entrance finished the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight in a rare dead heat.
Ridden by John Velazquez in Thursday's race, Pure Pauline stalked the pace from fourth through six furlongs with splits of :24.36, :49.45, and 1:14.71 before fighting to the finish in the stretch. The pair finished the distance in 1:48.07 on a fast main track.
A 2-year-old daughter of Curlin , Pure Pauline is out of the grade 2-winning Pulpit mare Keen Pauline. Pure Pauline was sent through the auction ring last year, but failed to meet her reserve on a final bid of $335,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Santa Anita Park
Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's $525,000 2-year-old purchase, Ragtime Rose, found her way to the winner's circle in her second attempt Saturday at Santa Anita Park. The Union Rags filly, trained by Jeff Mullins, had finished second in her Oct. 1 debut while racing six furlongs on the turf.
In Saturday's race, over the same course and distance, Ragtime Rose and jockey Kyle Frey were in fourth as a quarter-mile went in :22.14 and moved into second as a half-mile went in :44.85. Once on the lead, Ragtime Rose kicked clear and then fended off a late challenge by Cute Khloe to finish three-quarter-lengths in front at the wire in a final time of 1:09.49.
Acquired at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, she was consigned by Centofanti Thoroughbreds. Ragtime Rose is out of the graded stakes-placed Aldebaran mare Corderosa. Her third dam is grade 1 winner Celtic Memory and she comes from the family of grade 1 winner Delicate Vine and graded stakes winner Bapak Chinta.
Remington Park
Trainer Todd Fincher enjoyed success on Wednesday afternoon when he sent out Olivia Twist for owner G. Chris Coleman in her debut at Remington Park. The Mshawish filly, a half sister to grade 3 winner and this year's Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) third-place finisher Skippylongstocking, captured a five-furlong maiden special weight by 2 1/2 furlongs.
Ridden by Cristian Torres, Olivia Twist took the lead early on and set fractions of :22.46 and :46.24 through four furlongs and then finished up in :58.66 on a fast track.
Bred by Brushy Hill, Olivia Twist is out of the War Chant mare Twinkling, who has also produced the grade 2-placed, stakes winner Moonlite Strike from her first three foals to race.
