This column highlights the performances of 2-year-old 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.
Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Ottinho, a half brother to 2017 Horse of the Year and leading sire Gun Runner , scored in a maiden special weight Dec. 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The son of Quality Road prevailed by a head over the highly regarded Hadrian's Wall, a $1.3 million purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by the dynamic duo of M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm. Chad Brown trains both colts.
Ottinho is the eighth foal of the graded stakes-winning Giant's Causeway mare Quiet Giant, making him not just a half sibling to the infamous Gun Runner, but a full brother to graded stakes winner Pretty Ana. Ottinho finished third in his career debut Nov. 23 at Aqueduct, overcoming a less-than-ideal start after striking the side stall at the break, and trailing the field in the early stages. He was nine-wide in the upper stretch and finished just over 2 lengths behind St. Elias Stable's Enforced Agenda, who recently ran third in the Jerome Stakes.
Ottinho was sent off as the second choice in his second trip to the starting gate Dec. 31, and this time was able to get to the front under jockey Flavien Prat, leading through splits of :24.02, :49.79, and 1:14.87. Hadrian's Wall challenged him in the stretch, but Ottinho dug in gamely to keep the Curlin colt at bay. He clocked the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:54.07 over a fast track, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
Trainer Chad Brown said the next likely stop for the colt would be the Withers Stakes Jan. 31. The 9-furlong race offers points on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2 on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Video: Race 5 (MSW) at AQU on 12/31/25
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable maiden winners for the week of Dec. 29 - Jan. 4 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch Eligibility Criteria |
| 12/29 | SA | 9 | Medici | Into Mischief | Avenge | 5 | Dam Avenge was a grade 1 winner on turf |
| 12/31 | AQU | 5 | Ottinho | Quality Road | Quiet Game | 2 | Out of a G2-winning dam; colt is half to G1 winner Gun Runner |
| 1/1 | TP | 5 | Royal Reign | Uncle Mo | May Be Now | 2 | Half to grade 1 turf winner Ivar |
| 1/2 | SA | 1 | Bank Shot | Game Winner | Puskita | 4 | Dam produced grade 3 turf winner Apache Princess |
| 1/3 | TP | 5 | Kilo Tango | Candy Ride (ARG) | Up in Smoke | 3 | $575,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase |
| 1/4 | GP | 7 | Paradise | Gun Runner | Venetian Harbor | 2 | Out of a G2 winner, $700,000 F-T Saratoga Sale purchase |
