Claiborne Farm's Data Link got a quick start to his freshman year when his first starter Di Maria became his first winner in her debut April 19 at Gulfstream Park.
Out of the Pulpit daughter Thine, Di Maria was bred and raised in Kentucky by Elm Tree Farm and sold through the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale for $4,500 to Damian Munoz. The filly is now raced by Carlos Munoz and trained by Javier Negrete.
Di Maria was quick out of the gate in the 4 1/2-furlong, $50,000 maiden special weight, which was Gulfstream's first 2-year-old race of the season. The bay filly hooked early leader and stablemate La Chica Ripool, who was the first starter for freshman sire Soldat . The two ran head-to-head through the turn in fractions of :22.16 and :45.12. Di Maria pulled ahead at the top of the stretch and continued on to win by three lengths. The final time was :51.50.
Besides Di Maria and La Chica Ripool, the maiden race included the first starters for Pleasant Acres Stallions' grade 3 winner Brethren —Baylor and Minaj, who are both homebreds racing for Arindel and both with trainer Stanley Gold.
Di Maria's dam Thine was bred by Patchen Wilkes and sold through the 2007 Keeneland September sale for $280,000 to Jane Dunn, as agent, out of the Hopewell Farm consignment. She is a half sister to graded stakes winner Derrianne (Cozzene), who is the dam of black-type stakes winner Tapitation (Tapit ) and stakes-placed winner One Eyed Ray (Elusive Quality ).
Thine only placed as a racehorse, but as a broodmare she has produced three winners from three starters. She has a yearling colt this year by Paynter .
Data Link is a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Claiborne's top international sire War Front , out of the stakes winner Database (Known Fact). Bred and raced by Stuart Janney III, Data Link also won at 2, but didn't hit his best stride until 4 when he won three graded stakes, including the Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (G1T), Monmouth Stakes (G2T), and the Citation Handicap (G2T). At 5 he won the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) and finished second in the 2012 Maker's 46 Mile to eventual Horse of the Year Wise Dan. Data Link won or placed in seven graded stakes overall, and banked $831,335 upon retirement. He stands for $7,500 this year.