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 graded/group winners, or have dams that 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.
Los Alamitos Race Course
Grade 1-winning Quarter Horse trainer James "Jimmy" Glenn Jr. and owner Chris Galpin's gamble at this April's Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training might have paid off with Mischief River.
One of two juveniles the pair purchased at the sale, Mischief River turned back the highly touted, Bob Baffert-trained Privman June 29 at Los Alamitos Race Course to score in his debut. A son of leading sire Into Mischief , the full brother to grade 3 winner Into Chocolate was pocketed for $500,000 at OBS April following a :10 eighth-mile breeze during the under tack show.
Mischief River breezed seven times for Glenn over the Los Alamitos oval before making his first start, including a bullet five-eighths in :59.20 in his final move before Friday's race.
Overlooked at 7-1 odds in the field of eight 2-year-olds, Mischief River broke on top but was quickly passed by the Doug O'Neill-trained General Jackson in the opening strides. As the cavalry charge wheeled into the home stretch, General Jackson lugged out several paths wide into the path of favored Privman while Mischief River surged to take command down on the inside. Privman closed stoutly down the center of the track but failed to catch Mischief River.
Mischief River, guided by jockey Cesar Ortega, was 1 1/2 lengths clear under the wire in :57.90 for five furlongs on a fast main track.
First-time starter #6 MISCHIEF RIVER ($16.60) wins the opener at Los Alamitos for trainer James Glenn, Jr. with Cesar Ortega aboard. He is sired by @SpendthriftFarm's Into Mischief. pic.twitter.com/rBFFRFpslN
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 29, 2024
Bred by the late Martin Wygod and his wife, Pam, Mischief River became the third winner from the Candy Ride mare Candy Drawer. A half sister to grade 1 turf winner Harmonious, Candy Drawer's best progeny to date is Into Chocolate, who landed the Chillingworth Stakes (G3) for the Wygods in 2020 at Santa Anita Park.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable maiden winners for the week of June June 24-June 30 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch Eligibility Criteria |
| 6/24 | IND | 8 | Tigerish * | Tiz the Law | Lerici | 1 | Half Sibling to G1SW Avenge & G3SW Liguria |
| 6/26 | CD | 4 | Anakarina * | Vekoma | Tacit Approval | 1 | Half Sibling to G2SW Hoist the Gold |
| 6/26 | IND | 3 | Arthur | Uncle Mo | Mezinka | 2 | $675K 2-Year-Old |
| 6/27 | DEL | 6 | Arch Street | Constitution | Tequilita | 5 | Dam is a G2SW |
| 6/29 | LRC | 1 | Mischief River* | Into Mischief | Candy Drawer | 1 | $500k 2-Year-Old; Full Sibling to G3SW Into Chocolate |
| 6/30 | LS | 6 | Wec Keah | Munnings | Super Buggy | 5 | Full Sibling to G3SW Chief Cicatriz |
| * Denotes 2-year-old winner | |||||||
