Talented Turf Filly Tannhauser Named Hot Prospect

This column highlights the performances of 2- and 3-year-old maidens (the latter category only through June) with the potential for graded stakes success based on criteria such as a horse that has made no more than five starts and either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, has siblings that are graded/group winners, or has a dam that is a graded/group winner. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. Juveniles Tannhauser and Jump Seat are BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospects after promising victories last week at Keeneland. Tannhauser Has Promising Grass Future In the more recent of the two performances, Lael Stables' Tannhauser was an eye-catching winner first time out Oct. 10 at the Lexington oval in the day's seventh race. Facing a deep, well-bred field of maidens in a mile turf race, she stalked the pace a couple of lengths off the pace under Jose Ortiz before finding room at the head of the lane and catching the leaders with a quick turn of foot. She outlasted another rallying horse, first-time starter Rumana, to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths. Though her final time of 1:39.30 wasn't flashy, the course was more tiring than usual, labeled "good" after afternoon rain. The pace was also slow, with Shelley B, who faded to fifth, recording splits of :24.17, :49.67 and 1:15.18. The Cherie DeVaux-trained Tannhauser posted an 86 Equibase Speed Figure and a 68 Beyer Speed Figure. She paid $15.62 for a $2 win wager. Bred in Virginia by Audley Farm Equine, Tannhauser is by Corniche, the Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old male of 2021, who captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in his season highlight. He is the eighth-ranked first-crop sire and stood at Ashford Stud in Kentucky earlier this year for $15,000. Tannhauser has a grassy female family, being out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Filia. Filia's top-performing foal to date is multiple stakes-winning turf sprinter and millionaire Determined Kingdom, a son of Animal Kingdom who notched all 12 of his career victories on grass. He was also graded-placed. Besides Tannhauser and Determined Kingdom, two other Filia foals have raced: the maiden Noble Gem and Mila Candy, a two-time winner with earnings of $155,383. Tannhauder's second dam is Damson, a champion 2-year-old filly in Ireland and England in 2004, who won the Phoenix Stakes (G1) and Queen Mary Stakes (G2). Tannhauser qualifies for Maiden Watch by virtue of her sale price. Lael Stable bought her for $550,000 earlier this year from the De Meric Sales consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Jump Seat Takes Flight (The text below initially appeared Oct. 7 on bloodhorse.com.) Godolphin's Jump Seat, a half sister to dual champion Essential Quality by 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, is the latest BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospect after a 2 1/4-length victory Oct. 7 at Keeneland. Making her second career start after a runner-up nose defeat at Ellis Park, she pressed a slow early pace and kicked away from her eight rivals under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. She ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.86. That earned her a 79 Equibase Speed Figure and a 76 Beyer Speed Figure. Jump Seat, who paid $5.06 to win as the favorite, overcame being carried a couple paths wide entering the first turn. She outran an accomplished group of maidens that included runner-up Spectacular Sam, who was previously second in the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park behind Emphatic, eventual winner of the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Jump Seat is one of three promising horses produced from the graded-placed Elusive Quality dam Delightful Quality. Besides Essential Quality, who won four grade 1s at ages 2 and 3, Delightful Quality also produced Famed, a daughter of Uncle Mo who won the 2022 She's All In Stakes at Remington Park. Because Essential Quality is by Tapit, the sire of Flightline, Essential Quality and Jump Seat are more closely related than typical half siblings. Brad Cox trains Jump Seat, as he did Essential Quality and Famed. Essential Quality now stands at Darley, and is currently second in the second-crop sire standings after entering stud in 2022. He was the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old of 2020, when he won the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and he was named champion 3-year-old male of 2021 after taking the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1). Flightline, currently fifth on the first-crop sire list, will stand the 2027 season at Lane's End in Kentucky for $125,000. His 2-year-olds are expected to appreciate longer distances, as Jump Seat did in her first start at a route Wednesday.