Prospect Watch: 10 first-timers at Saratoga and Del Mar
The final Saturday of the Saratoga meet features not one, not two, but a trio of seven-furlong maiden special weights for 2-year-olds.
A bevy of well-bred first-time starters are in the Saratoga entries, and Del Mar is in on the action as well with a deep 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for juveniles.
Click here for Del Mar entries and results.
I'm going big this week to highlight 10 of the most noteworthy new names.
Saturday
Saratoga Race 2: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 12:37 p.m. EDT)
No. 2 Tapit’s Conquest
Age: 2
Pedigree: Tapit–Conquest Lil Miss, by Horse Greeley
Purchase price: $350,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Tapit has led the North American sire rankings on three occasions, and Conquest Lil Miss has foaled three winners from four starters, so the pedigree of Tapit’s Conquest holds promise. Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox has been hot at Saratoga (winning at a 24 percent rate), so don’t count this $350,000 yearling acquisition out of the mix.
No. 3 Fightertown
Age: 2
Pedigree: Into Mischief–In Step, by Unbridled’s Song
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
A son of three-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Fightertown is a Godolphin homebred produced by In Step, a stakes winner who previously foaled Nashua (G2) winner Hemsworth. Fightertown has put together a lengthy and encouraging work tab for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, suggesting the bay colt has potential.
No. 6 Parkway
Age: 2
Pedigree: Quality Road–Lull, by War Front
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
The second of two Bill Mott trainees in this field is Parkway, a son of four-time Grade 1 winner and successful sire Quality Road out of Honey Fox (G3) and Autumn Miss (G3) winner Lull. Parkway clocked a solid five furlongs from the Saratoga starting gate in 1:00.11 last month and followed up with a half-mile in 49.78 seconds, a pair of respectable workouts.
Saratoga Race 6: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 2:51 p.m.)
No. 2 Mindtap
Age: 2
Pedigree: Tapit–Whatdreamsrmadeof, by Graeme Hall
Purchase price: $725,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
This son of Tapit is a half-sibling to Curalina, who won the Acorn (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and La Troienne (G1) during a decorated career. Mindtap sped half a mile from the Saratoga starting gate in a quick 48 seconds last week, and three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride, so Mindtap looks like an exciting prospect.
No. 9 Champions Dream
Age: 2
Pedigree: Justify–Dancinginherdreams, by Tapit
Purchase price: $425,000
Trainer: Danny Gargan
It’s easy to see why Champions Dream sold for $425,000 earlier this year – he’s a son of Triple Crown winner Justfy out of the Tapit mare Dancinginherdreams, who matured early enough to win the Pocahontas (G2) as a juvenile. Champions Dream has been cranking out fast half-mile workouts at Saratoga, so maybe his connections should start dreaming of racing a champion.
Saratoga Race 8: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 3:58 p.m.)
No. 4 Dubyuhnell
Age: 2
Pedigree: Good Magic–Wild Gams, by Forest Wildcat
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Danny Gargan
There’s plenty of class in Dubyuhnell’s pedigree. He’s a son of champion and Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic out of Wild Gams, winner of three graded stakes and the dam of Bashford Manor (G2) winner Cazadero and Matt Winn (G3) third-place finisher Almost Famous. Dubyuhnell has been cranking out quick half-mile workouts and warrants watching.
No. 8 Juan Valdez
Age: 2
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro–Baffled, by Distorted Humor
Purchase price: $900,000
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Sold for nearly a million dollars earlier this year, Juan Valdez is a son of acclaimed sire and stamina influence Medaglia d’Oro out of Baffled, whose three stakes-winning foals include Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1) winner Constitution. This beautiful pedigree suggests Juan Valdez has Triple Crown potential for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
Del Mar Race 6: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 6:30 p.m.)
No. 3 National Treasure
Age: 2
Pedigree: Quality Road–Treasure, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Don’t be surprised if National Treasure develops into a nationally (or internationally) treasured racehorse. Sold for half a million dollars as a yearling, the son of Quality Road has been cranking out fast workouts with regularity for trainer Bob Baffert. His last five workouts at Del Mar have been five furlongs in distance, and four of them elapsed in fast times ranging from 59 seconds to 59.8 seconds. National Treasure appears to have serious talent.
No. 7 Don Corleone
Age: 2
Pedigree: More Than Ready–Broad Spectrum, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: $1.2 million
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
The most expensive horse in this field is Don Corleone, who sold for $1.2 million earlier this year. The son of recently deceased stallion More Than Ready wrapped up his pre-debut preparations with a quick five furlongs in one minute at Del Mar, and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith (a 24 percent winner at Del Mar this meet) is named to ride. Don Corleone is eligible to factor on debut.
No. 11 Gandolfini
Age: 2
Pedigree: Justify–Dorothy’s Aurora, by Simon Pure
Purchase price: $470,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Gandolfini is an also-eligible entrant, and he’ll be worth watching if he draws in. Baffert has sent the son of Justify through a sharp series of workouts, including a pair of six-furlong moves from the Del Mar starting gate in 1:13.2 and 1:12.4. Just as important, Del Mar’s leading jockey Juan Hernandez is named to ride.