Dual Classic-winning 3-year-old Afleet Alex enjoyed a strong weekend from his first crop of 3-year-olds, siring a pair of impressive maiden special weight winners – La Gran Bailadora and Fast Alex – at Fair Grounds, as well as fast-closing Whirlaway S. runner-up Afleet Again.

All three performances came on the stretch-out for these young and developing sophomores. Afleet Again entered the Whirlaway as a two-time winner after capturing a maiden special weight and allowance race before Saturday’s stakes try. The big gray colt rallied strongly in the stretch to finish just a length behind the winner in the 1 1/16-mile event, setting himself up nicely for his next start on the Triple Crown Trail as the distances increase.

Fast Alex, a colt, and La Gran Bailadora, a filly, both sported eye-catching maiden wins around two turns in New Orleans. Saturday, Fast Alex improved in his second start – and first around two turns – to capture a $39,000 maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles. The bay colt professionally settled in behind horses before slipping through to take command in the stretch. He pulled away late to win by 1 ¼ lengths over the field of nine 3-year-olds, and continued to gallop out well past the wire, signaling immense potential as he moves into his 3-year-old campaign.

The following day, La Gran Bailadora followed suit by winning a $39,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies, proving clearly best late in the mile and forty-yards race on dirt. The bay filly rolled home to a 2 ¾-length win.

It was the first start of the year for La Gran Bailadora, who was last seen finishing third in a maiden special weight as a 2-year-old last December.