maidens to watch

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. The team behind Moira (Ghostzapper) is back with another very promising filly. Belle (f, 3, Uncle Mo--Lunar Evening, by Malibu Moon) was a too-good-to-lose second--beaten just a head by 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' La Rascasse (Authentic)--first time out for trainer Kevin Attard in a live maiden special weight going seven furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 11. Overlooked at 12-1 in a deep field of 12, Belle...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Gilded Bandit (c, 3, Charlatan--Diamond Ore, by Tapit) had plenty of steam behind him ahead of his debut on the stacked Coolmore Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28. He fired back-to-back bullet drills at Bill Mott's Payson Park base, including a four-furlong move in :48 (1/53) Feb. 20, and was well-supported as the 3-1 second-choice off a 10-1 morning-line quote in a deep six-furlong...

   In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. What an effort from Boss Dylan (c, 2, Liam's Map--Sweet, by Blame)! Those were the words of track announcer Travis Stone as Boss Dylan rallied from last to finish a fantastic second in the nightcap at Churchill Downs Sunday evening. Off at odds of 9-1 in his 6 1/2-furlong unveiling for trainer Brendan Walsh in a very deep maiden special weight, Boss Dylan made a mess...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Favored at 5-2 in his unveiling for Brad Cox in a very deep maiden special weight at Keeneland Saturday, Commandment (c, 2, Into Mischief) stamped himself as one to watch with a "sneaky good" fourth-place finish. Immediately under a ride from his inside draw, the Wathnan Racing colorbearer dropped back to race in 11th through an opening quarter in :22.75. He began to get his legs underneath...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Schwarzenegger (c, 2, Not This Time), narrowly defeated as the 3-5 favorite sprinting over the Saratoga grass on debut Aug. 29, will attempt to earn his diploma in the $300,000 Indian Summer S. at Keeneland Sunday. "This has always been one of my favorite 2-year-olds from the onset," trainer Wesley Ward said. "Once we got up to Saratoga and we started working him on the grass, you...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Given "a new lease on life" after undergoing kidney transplant surgery last June, Ken Ramsey was looking for a way to say thank you to Dr. Sandip Kapur. "This is the premier doctor in New York and he's got all kinds of accolades, but he's never had a horse named after him," the longtime owner/breeder said of Dr. Kapur, Chief of Transplant Surgery and Director of the...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Igniter (c, 2, Volatile)'s wide-trip, third-place finish behind 'TDN Rising Star' Golden Tornado (McKinzie) in a live maiden special weight at the Spa Aug. 9 on debut continues to look better every day. The runner-up Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) returned with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance on Saratoga's closing day program Sept. 1. Golden Tornado, meanwhile, is being aimed at the GI Champagne S. at Aqueduct Oct....

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Stradale (c, 2, Yaupon) lost just about any chance in the opening furlongs of his highly anticipated debut at Saratoga July 19 and still ran a remarkable race to finish third. The word was out on the $285,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling turned $1.3-million OBS April breezer (:9 4/5*) and he was hammered down to 4-5 favoritism in his unveiling for owner Kaleem Shah and Hall of Fame...

   In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. The gone-too-soon, two-time GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine and three-time champion Royal Delta (Empire Maker) left behind only one foal, the winning filly Delta's Royalty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The future looks bright for the 8-year-old mare's second produce Noble Dynasty (c, 2, Kingman {GB}), who recorded a fantastic runner-up finish for Besilu Stables and Hall of Famer Bill Mott on debut going a mile over...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Counterbalance (f, 2, Caravaggio--Out of Balance, by Kitten's Joy) came flashing home to finish fourth in a race that held together quite well over opening weekend at Del Mar. Overlooked at 37-1 in her debut going five furlongs on dirt for trainer Michael McCarthy, the Amerman Racing homebred broke alertly from her inside draw, but was quickly outfooted. She was heading the wrong direction while under a...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. The beautifully bred maiden of one career start Americathegreat (f, 2, Curlin--America, by A.P. Indy) is being aimed at the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs June 29, per Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. "She's shown me some things that I haven't seen very many times," Casse said. "Allen Jerkens always told me, 'You don't judge a horse until they run five times.' But I think she's...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. A flashy 93 Beyer Speed Figure didn't accompany a diploma for Bakster Farm's Pursuitneversleeps (c, 3, Ghostzapper--Fashion Factor, by The Factor), who had to settle for second on debut in a quickly run maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park Mar. 15. Off as the fourth choice at odds of 6-1, the Dale Romans-trained Pursuitneversleeps broke alertly from his rail draw. He was immediately guided to the outside...