Born to win? That's the question we're asking about finely-bred racehorses, especially those making their mark early. This week, we're spotlighting a standout: Rebel Instinct, a colt with a pedigree that reads like a racing Hall of Fame roster.
This column focuses on promising 2-year-old maidens – horses that haven't raced more than five times and meet specific criteria. These criteria include selling for over $500,000 at auction, having siblings who are graded/group winners, or having dams (mothers) who are graded/group winners. Why does this matter? BloodHorse research suggests that maiden winners who fit these profiles often go on to achieve even greater success, becoming graded stakes winners themselves.
Let's zoom in on Aqueduct Racetrack.
Rebel Instinct, a gray/roan colt, perfectly fits the bill. He's a son of Into Mischief, a leading sire, and his dam is Unrivaled Belle, the 2010 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) champion. He's also a half-sibling to Unique Bella, a two-time champion racemare. To top it off, he fetched a cool $700,000 at a sale!
Trained by Chad Brown, Rebel Instinct started his training at Belmont Park. His debut came at the end of September, where he showed promise, finishing second. He learned valuable lessons from jockey Flavien Prat. In his second race, he was the favorite. Despite a slight stumble at the start, he quickly recovered, took the lead, and won by a comfortable margin, clocking the mile in 1:35.98.
His older half-sister, Unique Bella, known for her incredible speed, won multiple top-level races. She was named the 2017 champion female sprinter after winning the 2017 La Brea Stakes (G1) in a blazing 1:21.49 for seven furlongs.
BloodHorse Maiden Watch: Standout Performances
Here's a quick look at other notable 2-year-old maiden winners from the week of October 27th to November 2nd:
- October 31st, Churchill Downs (CD): Paige Turner (Sire: Army Mule). This horse's eligibility comes from being a half-sibling to G1SW Speed Boat Beach.
- November 1st, Churchill Downs (CD): Commandment (Sire: Into Mischief). He met the criteria by being a $500K yearling, and his dam is a G1SW.
- November 2nd, Aqueduct (BAQ): Rebel Instinct (Sire: Into Mischief). As discussed, he met multiple criteria.
- November 2nd, Gulfstream Park (GP): Zany (Sire: American Pharoah). His dam is a G3SW.
But here's where it gets controversial... Does a high price tag or a stellar pedigree guarantee success on the track? Or is there more to it than meets the eye? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments! Do you believe these criteria are a good predictor of future success, or are there other factors that are more important?
