Anansi (Put It Back – Milady’s Halo by Jolie’s Halo) is a full-brother to Smokey Stover, winner of the Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup (gr. II), the Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. III), the Sunshine Millions Sprint, and the Icecapade all in 2007. Smokey Stover's current earnings total $568,725.

The biggest mystery about this race is how a Todd Pletcher trained, John Velazquez ridden horse went off at odds of 8-1.

Only one race today, but it's a good one as 6 first-time starters will enter the starting gate. Hatch has the best sales credentials of this group, having sold for $150,000 as a yearling and $175,000 as a 2-year old.

Kip Seville just galloped along at the back of the pack on the outside beating one horse. Looks like this may have been a learning experience for this filly. A good showing was made by Baloobas (Kafwain - Ms Bangled by Meadowlake) who was making her turf debut.

Only one first time starter in this race, but it’s a good one. Kip Seville (Kipling – Klondike Kaytie by Encino) is a full-sister to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Kip Deville. Their dam has produced 2 additional winners, including the stakes winner Gotthard who earned $286,645.

Jasmine Gardens held up the honor of the first-timers, running a game second, although she couldn't catch the winner Dattts R Girl Addy. The horse with the big sales stats, Splendorella, took all the money at the windows, but she could do no better than 4th.

Queen of Hearts was the only one of the debut horses to have sold at auction as she brought $115,000 as a yearling. Her dam has produced 7 winners including Grade III winner Babae (CHI) who earned $755,334 and Zorro Rojo who was a Group I winner in Peru.

The star of the first year stallions was Speightstown with 4 horses selling for an average of $751,250. The top-selling Speightstown was hip #254, a colt out of the Holy Bull mare La Comete. He brought a final bid of $1.7 million.

First opportunity to see offspring of Smarty Jones in motion came at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected Two-Year Olds in Training Sale. Three Smarties were in action, 2 colts and 1 filly. Hip #144, a bay colt out of a half-sister to Unbridled’s Song (Bells Are Ringing) worked an eighth in :10.3.

The complexion of this race changed when it was taken off of the turf. Four horses were scratched including first-timers, Giant Gem and Spartaco. The remaining debut runners, Devil Maker and Adebayor finished 9th and 10th. However, even though Adebayor finished last, he was the post-time favorite.

Top billing by pedigree goes to Revenge Is Sweet (Vindication – Urbane by Citidancer). Her dam, Urbane, was a multiple graded stakes winner of over a million dollars. Urbane has produced 3 winners included multiple-stakes winner Suave who was also a millionaire.

First time starters reigned supreme in this one, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 5th (and also 7th, 8th, and 10th). The top 2 showed willingness to race in amongst horses which bodes well for their futures. The public made the two experienced horses with the big sale prices favorite (Forest Echoes and Booted), but they could only manage 3rd and 4th.

Secret Vendetta (Honour and Glory – Courtly Native by Our Native) sold for $26,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland January sale. This was almost exactly the average for yearlings at that sale. Her dam, Courtly Native, was a stakes winner and has produced 8 winners including Talaris who won the Bay Meadows Derby on the turf.

Quickly Gone is a maiden no longer, as she scores her first time out. She handled her first race like a veteran, saving ground along the rail before swinging out to run down the pace-setter in the stretch. The other first-timer, Saundree, showed brief speed before fading to 11th.

Today is State-bred day at Maiden Watch, as we will look at a New York-bred race at Aqueduct, a Florida-bred race at Gulfstream, and a California-bred race at Santa Anita. This is a good lesson in relativity, especially when looking at auction results.