Liam's Map Filly Amorita Impresses on Del Mar Turf

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. Del Mar Overshadowed in the last week by high-profile maiden winners such as $3.2 million purchase Barnes and Idiomatic half sister Chasten was the Richard Mandella-trained Amorita. In her first ask beyond seven furlongs, Amorita dismantled her rivals by a widening 4 1/2 lengths Nov. 30 during the final weekend of the Del Mar Turf Festival meet. Trainer Jonathan Thomas picked up Amorita, a late foal born May 1, for $260,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The daughter of budding sire Liam's Map went through the ring during Book 2 at Keeneland, courtesy of her grade 1-winning half sibling, Silent Poet. Still racing at the ripe old age of nine, Silent Poet was one of the toughest competitors on the Woodbine turf sprint scene in 2019-2021. The venerable gelding captured four graded stakes and set a Woodbine course record for seven furlongs on the lawn during that three-year span. The son of Silent Name (JPN) achieved his top-level victory in the 2021 Highlander Stakes (G1T), where he toppled eventual Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) victress Caravel. Amorita didn't fare as well as her half brother in her two attempts around one turn. Racing for the colors of her breeder, Stone Farm, in partnership with Thomas' client, Augustin Stables, the chestnut could do no better than sixth in her Aug. 10 debut on the Del Mar dirt. Mandella switched the filly to the turf in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight Oct. 20 at Santa Anita. While Amorita did have an excuse this time—she broke awkwardly, bobbled yards after the break when crossing the dirt course, and faced serious traffic trouble on the far turn—she beat only one horse to the wire. The tides would turn in her favor at the seaside oval when she returned to Del Mar for a mile turf maiden contest. This time, Amorita broke cleanly, sailing to the front under Kazushi Kimura, and sped uncontested through fractions of :23, :47.88, and 1:12.33. Asked for a little more into the lane, Amorita burst forth with newfound energy, charging across the finish much the best in 1:36.74.