This column highlights maidens with no more than five starts who either sold for over $500,000 at auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have graded/group-winning dams. Research indicates that maidens meeting these criteria are more likely to become graded stakes winners.
ELLIS PARK
Taylor Made Stallions' Not This Time has produced notable two-turn horses, such as 2022 Travers Stakes (G1) winner Epicenter and 2023 champion turf male Up to the Mark. However, his progeny has excelled in turf sprints this year, exemplified by world-record holder Cogburn, who clocked 5 1/2 furlongs in :59.80 in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) on Belmont Stakes day. Not This Time is also the sire of Jaipur runner-up Arzak, a winner of the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland.
Given this success with turf sprinters, it was no surprise to see his recent 2-year-old maiden winner, Dream On, shine on the Ellis Park grass on July 14 for D. J. Stable.
Dream On was purchased for $380,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale after a strong one-furlong breeze in :10 1/5. He trained at Mark Casse's facility in Ocala before joining the Hall of Fame trainer at Churchill Downs. Following a debut on dirt where he showed early speed but tired, Dream On bounced back with a sharp half-mile workout in :47 3/5.
In his second outing, Dream On broke sharply and pressed the front-running Brie's in Town under Luan Machado, taking the lead in the stretch. He surged ahead to win by a length, finishing the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.48 on firm turf.
Bred by Aaron and Marie Jones, Dream On's dam, Mamma Kimbo, was acquired for $1.2 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. A lightly raced daughter of Discreet Cat, Mamma Kimbo won two of five starts for trainer Bob Baffert, including the 2012 Fantasy Stakes (G2). She has produced five winners, including stakes performer Balandeen, the 2017 Tom Ridge Stakes winner.