Nice Maiden Win for NorCal Sale Grad

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2008) -- If you attend this year’s Northern California Yearling Sale, don’t leave early.

At last year’s sale, a colt by Lit de Justice was one of the last four yearlings sold, but Maidens Justice became the first graduate from that sale to win a stakes race when he captured the $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes for 2-year-olds on Golden Gate Fields’ closing day June 22.

With little bidding competition for Hip No. 261, trainer Gil Matos bought Maidens Justice for wife Barbara and longtime owner M.A. Douzos for $7,000. After three starts, Maidens Justice has earnings of $56,400.

Want one like that? Then don’t miss this year’s Northern California Yearling Sale, to be held Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, beginning at noon.

Maidens Justice is out of the Wild Gold mare Velvet Princess, a half-sister to millionaire Echo Eddie. Maidens Justice was bred by and foaled at Running Luck Ranch.

Second in his other two starts, Maidens Justice was appropriately named when his first career win came in the Lost in the Fog. Sent off at 11-1, he broke last and still trailed midway around the turn in the five-furlong dash. Turning for home, Maidens Justice and Conclusive charged into the same hole and bumped. Conclusive got the worst of it while jockey Juan Ochoa kept Maidens Justice rolling and he won by 1 ¼ lengths in :58.71.

A stewards inquiry determined that tiring favorite A K Racer caused the tight quarters and there was no change in the original finish.

"This horse doesn’t have any quit in him," Matos said after the win. "He’ll run through a fence. It looked like there was a lot of speed in the race so we took a shot and he got there."

This year’s sale moves to Santa Rosa after four years at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. The sale begins at noon. For more information, contact Cookie Hackworth at 626-445-7800 ext. 243 or email cookie@ctba.com.

Copyright © 1998-2008 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association