This column highlights the performances of 3-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 who are graded/group winners, or have dams who 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.
Sharons Pharoah broke his maiden in his second career start March 29 at Santa Anita Park.
Racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf, the Jonathan Thomas trainee broke cleanly and settled in the third position. He continued to travel off the pace down the backstretch, and as the field moved into the far turn, he began to close in on the leader and post-time favorite Koekkoek, who set fractions of :23.48, :48.13, 1:11.86, and 1:35.88. When they hit the stretch, Sharons Pharoah, still 2 1/2 lengths off the lead, was under a ride, and as they hit the five-sixteenths pole, he challenged the leader. The two fought head-to-head down the lane, but Sharons Pharoah dug in and gained the upper hand, winning by a half-length under the wire in a final time of 1:48.
He paid $7 for the win, going off as the second choice. The 3-year-old American Pharoah gelding earned a 94 Equibase Speed Figure and an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in his second start. His first start came Feb. 22, when he finished third.
Bred by Don Alberto Corp. and American Pharoah Syndicate, he is out of the Chilean-bred mare Marie Madelaine, a group 1 winner in Chile. She scored in the 2016 Las Oaks (G1) and the 2017 Francisco Baeza Stakes (G2). Owner Panic Stable purchased Sharons Pharoah at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $40,000 from the Cortez Racing & Sales consignment.
Video: Race 1 (MSW) at SA on 3/29/26
Feisty red head scores one race later
The very next race at Santa Anita, Feisty Red Head broke her maiden for trainer Mark Glatt.
Going 7 furlongs on the dirt, the 3-year-old Curlin filly sat at the back of the field, stalking the pace that was set by Bad Manners in fractions of :22.49, :45.10, and 1:09.87. She continued to travel comfortably down the backstretch and started to gain on the leader and was a length away entering the stretch. She made her move up the fence and caught the leader to get the win by a half-length in a final time of 1:22.63. She paid $9.80 for a $2 wager, earning a 92 ESF and a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.
Feisty Red Head was bred by My Meadowview out of the Tapit mare Tin Type Gal. She won the 2015 Miss Grillo Stakes (G3T) and the 2016 Boiling Springs Stakes (G3T) and is the dam of two winners on the track. Feisty Red Head is owned by Saints or Sinners and Paul and Tanya Freeman, who purchased her at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $650,000 out of the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment. As a weanling, she was sold for $550,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Video: Race 2 (MSW) at SA on 3/29/26
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable 3-year-old maiden winners for the week of March 23-30 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch Eligibility Criteria |
| 3/23 | MVR | 8 | Al Mustaneera | Munnings | Summer in Saratoga | 2 | Out of a G3W, $500,000 weanling |
| 3/26 | OP | 7 | Holly's Holiday | Maxfield | Blast | 3 | Half sister to G1W Velocity |
| 3/27 | TAM | 7 | Arizona Territory | Tapit | Cafe Americano | 2 | Out of a G3W |
| 3/29 | SA | 1 | Sharons Pharoah | American Pharoah | Marie Madelaine (CHI) | 2 | Out of a G1W |
| 3/29 | SA | 2 | Feisty Red Head | Curlin | Tin Type Gal | 3 | Out of a G3W, $650,000 2-year-old, $550,000 weanling |
