This column highlights the performances of maidens who’ve made not more than 5 begins and who both offered
for greater than $500,000 at public public sale, have siblings which are grade/group winners, or have dams which are grade/group winners. BloodHorse analysis exhibits maiden winners, specifically, who meet these standards usually tend to go on to be graded stakes winners. The checklist beneath highlights horses which have met the Maiden Watch standards prior to now 11 months and have gone on to grow to be starters on this yr’s Breeders’ Cup Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
A baker’s dozen sampling of 2-year-olds from 11 months’ price of Maiden Watch scouting have arrived at racing’s grandest stage: the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Solely 2-year-olds, the checklist contains maiden winners hailing from the seashores of Del Mar to historic Saratoga, and even some Horseshoe Indianapolis in between. These juveniles broke their maidens on filth, turf, sprinting, and round two turns, with the earliest coming June 13 (Nooni) and the final of the 13 taking their photograph as late as Sept. 6. Though their journeys to Del Mar diverse, all of those Maiden Watchers succeeded in taking that arduous subsequent step from maiden winner to grade 1 contender and can be within the beginning gate on Future Stars Friday Nov. 1.
Main the cost of this precocious bunch of colts and fillies is the 3-1 morning line favourite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Flanagan Racing’s undefeated Chancer McPatrick . The strapping son of McKinzie caught Maiden Watch’s consideration after his eye-popping debut July 27 at Saratoga Race Course. Though he didn’t draw away by a number of lengths or run an impressive ultimate time for the 6 1/2 furlongs, the colt’s professionalism in circling the sector in a last-to-first efficiency may solely function a precursor of the greatness to come back.
Flash ahead to Breeders’ Cup time, and the championship is effectively inside his attain.
From his maiden win, Chancer McPatrick took his skills to the subsequent degree with workmanlike scores over the most effective 2-year-olds within the East within the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Champagne Stakes (G1). The Chad Brown trainee, a $725,000 2-year-old buy out of this yr’s Ocala Breeders’ Sale Spring Sale of 2-12 months-Olds in Coaching, now will battle a handful of contemporary faces, together with some Maiden Watch stars from the West Coast.
Juvenile contenders Citizen Bull and Getaway Automobile stamped their Maiden Watch worthiness with spectacular So-Cal first-out scores for coach Bob Baffert. Each high-priced colts would go on to seize graded stakes later, with Citizen Bull defeating Getaway Automobile of their ultimate prep for the Juvenile within the Oct. 5 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Nooni wins the Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar
Baffert additionally trains the most costly Maiden Watcher to line up for Breeders’ Cup Friday within the $1.8 million Nooni . Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, the daughter of Win Win Win topped the Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales March Sale of Two-12 months-Olds in Coaching when she sizzled the quickest quarter-mile of the below tack present in :20 1/5. Nooni annihilated her rivals by 9 1/4 lengths going gate to wire in her Santa Anita unveiling earlier than capturing the Sorrento Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. Runner-up within the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) Oct. 5, it is probably the fiery Florida-bred will attempt to stretch her velocity so far as she will be able to on the entrance finish within the $2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The most effective-bred member of the bunch is arguably Repole Secure’s Mentee . A full brother to 2023 champion 2-year-old and this yr’s Travers Stakes (G1) hero, Fierceness , Mentee and his brother grow to be the eighth pair of full siblings to contest the Breeders’ Cup in the identical yr after they make their respective begins within the Basic (G1) and Juvenile Turf (G1T). Fierceness and Mentee are each skilled by Corridor of Famer Todd Pletcher.
Mentee trains Oct. 28 at Del Mar
Whereas Fierceness has by no means raced on the turf, Mentee took to the floor spectacularly within the Oct. 4 Futurity Stakes (G3T)—powering to a 3 1/2-length win in the course of the Belmont on the Large A fall assembly. Though Mentee excelled on the grass, he graduated in track-record time on Aqueduct’s major oval June 15 when he sprinted 5 furlongs in :56.97.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||
| Earlier Maiden Watch 3-year-old and 2-year-old maiden winners which are beginning within the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships | |||||
| Horse | Date/Monitor of Maiden Win | Sire | Dam | Maiden Watch Eligibility Standards | Breeders’ Cup Race Entered |
| Chancer McPatrick | July 27 at Saratoga Race Course | McKinzie | Bernadreamy | $725K 2-12 months-Previous | Juvenile |
| Citizen Bull | Aug. 17 at Del Mar | Into Mischief | No Joke | $675K Yearling | Juvenile |
| Ferocious | Aug. 3 at Saratoga Race Course | Flatter | Napier | $1.3M 2-12 months-Previous | Juvenile |
| Getaway Automobile | July 20 at Del Mar | Curlin | Give up Now | $700K Yearling | Juvenile |
| Dream On | July 14 at Ellis Park | Not This Time | Mamma Kimbo | Dam is a G2SW | Juvenile Turf |
| Mentee | June 15 at Belmont on the Large A | Metropolis of Mild | Nonna Bella | Full Sibling to G1SW Fierceness | Juvenile Turf |
| Minaret Station | Sept. 6 at Horseshoe Indianapolis | Instilled Regard | Beau Recall | Dam is a G2SW | Juvenile Turf |
| Nooni | June 13 at Santa Anita Park | Win Win Win | Unanimity | $1.8M 2-12 months-Previous | Juvenile Fillies |
| Quickick | Sept. 1 at Saratoga Race Course | McKinzie | Graeme Six | $550K Yearling; Half Sibling to G3SW Cali Star; Dam is a G3SW | Juvenile Fillies |
| Correto | Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs | English Channel | Spooky Kitten | Full Sibling to G2SW Spooky Channel | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Kilwin | July 27 at Ellis Park | Twirling Sweet | Spanish Star | Half Sibling to G2SW One Timer | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Could Day Prepared | Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course | Tapit | Nemoralia | Dam is a G3SW | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Governor Sam | July 19 at Saratoga Race Course | Unbelievable | I am Betty G | Half Sibling to G3SW Pin Up Betty | Juvenile Turf Dash |