This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that 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.
Oaklawn Park
After a series of different distances on different surfaces, Authentic Gallop finally ditched the maiden label in a big way for his connections Dec. 13 at Oaklawn Park.
A son of 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic , whose first crop of 2-year-olds are beginning to pick up momentum late in the year, Authentic Gallop was lining up for the fifth time in Friday’s 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight. The race was the colt’s first start since finishing sixth in a dismal trip over the same route of ground Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
Seasoned and sharp for his Oaklawn outing, courtesy of a bullet five-furlong work in :59 2/5 in his final move before shipping to Hot Springs, Authentic Gallop graduated in a strong performance for trainer Tom Amoss and owner Gregory Tramontin.
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Breaking alertly and racing cleanly into the first turn, Authentic Gallop parked behind zippy early splits of :22.92 and :46.80 before collaring the runaway pacesetter down the lane. Under steady encouragement from Rafael Bejarano, the colt stormed clear of his stubborn rival by two lengths. Returning a handsome $20.20 to his backers, Authentic Gallop stopped the timer in 1:47.53 over a track that had been producing slower times all afternoon.
Tramontin paid $300,000 for the finely bred Authentic Gallop as a yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. Bred by Tall Oaks Farm, Authentic Gallop became the eighth winner for his graded stakes-producing dam, Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop).
Authentic Gallop’s accomplished list of siblings includes Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) and grade 3-winning sprinter and grade-1 placed Ami’s Flatter (Flatter). Both colts would go on to bank more than $500,000 on the track under the care of top Canadian trainer Josie Carroll.
| BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
| Notable 2-year-old maiden winners for the week of Dec. 9-Dec. 15 | |||||||
| Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch Eligibility Criteria |
| 12/13 | FG | 5 | Tanti Auguri | Quality Road | On My Way | 1 | Half Sibling to G3SW King Zachary |
| 12/13 | GP | 3 | Bluff | Flatter | Gospel Girl | 5 | Half Sibling to G3SW Happy Farm |
| 12/13 | GP | 6 | Ruth | Uncle Mo | Peppy Rafaela | 1 | Half Sibling to G2SW Mopotism |
| 12/13 | OP | 2 | Authentic Gallop | Authentic | Galloping Ami | 5 | Half Sibling to G3SW Ami’s Flatter and Amis Gizmo |
| 12/14 | GP | 9 | Vassimo | Nyquist | Bsharpsonata | 1 | Dam is a G2SW |
| 12/15 | LRL | 5 | Pay Billy | Improbable | Harlington’s Rose | 4 | Dam is a G3SW |
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