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.
Keeneland
The most eye-catching maiden win during opening weekend of the Keeneland fall meet arguably went to WinStar Farm's homebred Impulse Buy. A daughter of the late Speightstown, the Rodolphe Brisset pupil cantered home an 11-length winner Oct. 5 in her second trip to the post.
(4) Impulse Buy and jockey @Tyler_Gaff much the best in the third at Keeneland. (8) Quantum Burst checks in second, (7) Bee Bluff takes third. pic.twitter.com/FKm6cQL1VW
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 5, 2024
Impulse Buy was runner-up to stablemate Liam in the Dust in her Elllis Park debut in August. While Liam in the Dust graduated to stakes company, narrowly missing to La Cara in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3), Impulse Buy was gearing up for her opening-day spectacle.
Lining up as the second choice in a field of eight 2-year-old fillies, Impulse Bay dictated terms from the start under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Holding a steady advantage through fractions of :22.11 and :46.43, Impulse Buy re-broke turning for home and separated herself from her rivals at an alarming rate. Ahead by six lengths at the eighth pole, she rumbled home by double digits in 1:23.05 for the seven furlongs.
Impulse Buy's sire, Speightstown, called a "foundational stallion" by WinStar Farm CEO Elliott Walden at the time of his death in 2023, has sired 26 grade 1 winners across the globe from distances of six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. The Kentucky-bred filly's dam, Jojo Warrior, was no slouch herself, capturing the 2014 Summertime Oaks (G2) and Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) under the WinStar Farm/Zayat Stables banner. A daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, another prolific WinStar Farm stallion, Jojo Warrior retired with earnings of $392,231.
A half sibling to grade 1-winning juvenile A Z Warrior (Bernardini), Jojo Warrior has produced five winners from six foals to race.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable 2-year-old maiden winners for the week of Sept.30-Oct.6 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch Eligibility Criteria |
| 10/1 | IND | 7 | Blameitonbourbon | Authentic | Beyond Blame | 1 | Dam of G3SW |
| 10/3 | BAQ | 8 | Candy Quest | Connect | Candy Crush | 1 | Half Sibling to G3SW Frosted Over |
| 10/4 | SA | 9 | Sea Runner | Gun Runner | Cuyathy | 3 | Half Sibling to G1SW Johannes |
| 10/5 | KEE | 3 | Impulse Buy | Speightstown | Jojo Warrior | 2 | Dam of G2SW |
