Prospect Watch: 13 promising first-timers you need to know
This week, Keeneland, Belmont at the Big A and Santa Anita are all hosting competitive maiden special weights for 2-year-olds. The entries are packed with well-bred first-time starters, including a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Uni.
Here are 13 new names you need to know:
Friday
Belmont at the Big A race 4: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 2:12 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Just Jules
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Justify–Fully Living, by Unbridled’s Song
Purchase price: $1.05 million
Trainer: Bill Mott
Purchased for $1.05 million as a yearling, Just Jules is a daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify out of Fully Living, the dam of Grade 3 Santa Ana winner Ballet Dancing and Suburban (G2) third-place finisher Untreated. A couple of bullet workouts over the Saratoga training track suggest Just Jules has talent.
No. 6 Belle Gambe
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Dubawi–Unaided, by Dansili
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Chad Brown
As a half-sister to 2019 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Uni, Belle Gambe is bred for success on turf. Chad Brown trained Uni and likewise conditions Belle Gambe, who has four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride.
Saturday
Keeneland race 5: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 3:08 p.m.)
No. 1 Bedazzle 'Em
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: American Pharoah–Jenda’s Agenda, by Proud Citizen
Purchase price: $750,000
Trainer: Jeff Engler
A daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of Caesar’s Wish winner Jenda’s Agenda, Bedazzle 'Em is a half-sister to Schuylerville (G3) winner Just Cindy. Bedazzle 'Em has posted three bullet workouts at Turfway Park, including five furlongs from the starting gate in 59.6 seconds, and might be a stakes filly in the making.
No. 6 Aunt Fannie
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Ivory Empress, by Seeking the Gold
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Sharp five-furlong workouts at Churchill Downs suggest Aunt Fannie has ability. That’s not surprising since she’s a daughter of champion and successful sire Uncle Mo out of Ivory Empress, the dam of multiple graded-stakes winners McCraken and Four Graces.
No. 8 Denim and Pearls
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Majestic Presence, by Majestic Warrior
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
A daughter of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies starter Majestic Presence, Denim and Pearls is a full sister to Robert B. Lewis (G3) winner Newgate. She breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Keeneland last Sunday and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Belmont at the Big A race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:21 p.m.)
No. 5 Downing Street
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Palace Malice–High So Ci, by Scat Daddy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Chad Brown
Downing Street is a son of Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice out of a mare by Scat Daddy, the sire of Triple Crown winner Justify, so his pedigree offers potential for success running long. Downing Street has done much of his training out of the spotlight at Monmouth Park, but he may have long-term potential for hot trainer Chad Brown.
Santa Anita race 9: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 8:00 p.m.)
No. 1 Urban Legend
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Singing Kitty, by Ministers Wild Cat
Purchase price: $1.3 million
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Acquired for a hefty $1.3 million earlier this year, Urban Legend has cranked out a half-dozen bullet workouts since the end of July, including five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 59 seconds. He looks like an exciting prospect for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
No. 3 Nysos
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Nyquist–Zetta Z, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $550,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
The second Baffert trainee debuting in this field is Nysos, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of a mare by Preakness hero Bernardini. Nysos sped a bullet five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 58.6 seconds last month and more recently clocked a bullet half-mile in 47.2 seconds, so he clearly has speed.
No. 5 Tracker
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–Gomo, by Uncle Mo
Purchase price: $900,000
Trainer: John Sadler
One of the best-bred juveniles debuting this week is Tracker, a son of two-time horse of the year Curlin out of Alcibiades (G1) winner Gomo. Sold for $900,000 earlier this year, Tracker blazed a half-mile from the Santa Anita starting gate in 46.8 seconds on Monday and may prove to be a danger under apprentice jockey J. G. Torrealba, who rides with a seven-pound weight allowance.
No. 6 British Isles
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Justify–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Baffert is definitely familiar with the pedigree of British Isles. Not only did Baffert train Justify, he also conditioned Purely Hot’s accomplished son Eight Rings, winner of the American Pharoah (G1) and runner-up in the Bing Crosby (G1). British Isles enters off back-to-back bullet workouts at Santa Anita, including five furlongs from the starting gate in 58.2 seconds, and might be the horse to beat under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Sunday
Keeneland race 8: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 4:44 p.m.)
No. 1 Phantom Speed
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Arrogate–Ghostslayer, by Ghostzapper
Purchase price: $700,000
Trainer: Michael Stidham
A son of champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate, Phantom Speed is a half-brother to Senator Ken Maddy (G3) heroine Biddy Duke. A couple of bullet workouts at Fair Hill, including five furlongs from the starting gate in one minute, suggest this $700,000 yearling acquisition has ability.
No. 6 Skelly Road
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Mitole–Rode Warrior, by Quality Road
Purchase price: $285,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen trained champion male sprinter Mitole and also conditions Mitole’s son Skelly Road. This month, Skelly Road has breezed a half-mile from the Keeneland starting gate in 47.2 seconds and five furlongs at Keeneland in 1:00.8, suggesting he’s inherited some of his sire’s speed.
No. 7 Ethan Energy
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Sass and Class, by Harlan’s Holiday
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Ethan Energy is slated to become the third starter produced by Sass and Class, who previously foaled Prioress (G2) and Victory Ride (G3) winner Royal Charlotte. Ethan Energy has put together a lengthy work tab at Churchill Downs highlighted by five furlongs in 59.8 seconds, so keep a close eye on this Stonestreet Stables homebred.