Prospect Watch: 2 million-dollar juveniles and 15 others
The third week of June is highlighted by the debuts of an almost countless number of exciting 2-year-olds. There are so many promising first-time starters in the entries that I'm highlighting 17 new names in this week’s epic addition of Prospect Watch.
Let’s dig right in.
Thursday
Ellis Park race 2: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 2:20 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Pass the Hat
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Collected–Veronique, by Mizzen Mast
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Tom Amoss
A half-brother to the brilliant Perryville winner Nashville, Pass the Hat sold for $300,000 as a yearling and enters off encouraging workouts at Churchill Downs, including five furlongs from the starting gate in 1:00.8. He’s a logical contender in a deep field.
No. 3 Ponce de Leon
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Copper Bullet–St. John’s River, by Include
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Kelsey Danner
Produced by Delaware Oaks (G2) winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up St. John’s River, Ponce de Leon has shown speed in the mornings, most notably clocking a bullet half-mile at Churchill Downs in 47.2 seconds. He’s eligible to outrun his 10-1 morning-line odds.
No. 4 Mi T Caden
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Ghostzapper–Katie’s Kiss, by Kantharos
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Mike Maker
Acquired for $450,000 earlier this year, Mi T Caden is a daughter of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of Summer Winds winner Katie’s Kiss. This is a pedigree stacked with speed, so don’t be surprised if Mi T Caden shows talent from an early age.
No. 6 Omex
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro–West Palm Beach, by Scat Daddy
Purchase price: $225,000
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
A son of hot young sire Bolt d’Oro (who sires 18 percent winners from first-time starters, according to Brisnet stats), Omex boasts a pedigree geared toward early maturity. He’s put together a lengthy work tab at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs, setting the stage for a competitive debut.
No. 8 Cowboy Code
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Not in Jest, by Unbridled
Purchase price: $1 million
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Million-dollar yearling Cowboy Code is a son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas rarely wins with first-time starters, but Cowboy Code is worth following in the long run based on his classy pedigree and expensive price tag.
No. 11 Phreddie Mac
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Hard Spun–Financial Recovery, by Street Cry
Purchase price: $235,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen conditions Phreddie Mac, a son of Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun out of Ontario Damsel winner Financial Recovery. This $235,000 yearling acquisition enters off a bullet three-furlong workout at Churchill Downs and has hot jockey Cristian Torres named to ride.
No. 12 Timberlake
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Pin Up, by Lookin At Lucky
Purchase price: $350,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
A son of Into Mischief out of a mare by two-time champion and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, Timberlake has a pedigree that combines speed with stamina. He clocked a bullet half-mile from the Churchill Downs starting gate in 47 1/5 seconds last month and looks like a win threat for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Florent Geroux and Brad Cox.
Friday
Monmouth Park race 3: Maiden special weight (five furlongs, 2:56 p.m.)
No. 6 Lady Blitz
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Audible–Patsy’s Kim, by Dixie Union
Purchase price: $320,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
On June 17, 2022, Todd Pletcher saddled future stakes winner Munnys Gold to dominate a five-furlong maiden special weight at Monmouth by 14 1/2 lengths. Almost exactly one year later, Pletcher is debuting Lady Blitz in an identical race. A daughter of Pletcher’s Florida Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Audible, Lady Blitz enters off a bullet half-mile from the Monmouth starting gate in 48 seconds and looks ready to challenge for victory.
Ellis Park race 6: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 4:14 p.m.)
No. 4 Lady Moscato
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Quality Road–Theycallmeladyluck, by Dixie Union
Purchase price: $800,000
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Another pricey Lukas trainee debuting this week is Lady Moscato, who sold for $800,000 as a yearling. A full-sister to La Troienne (G1) winner Salty, Lady Moscato enters off sharp workouts (including a half-mile in 48 seconds at Churchill Downs) and looks like a filly worth following in the long run.
No. 9 Beautiful Dancer
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Dream Dancing, by Tapit
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Mark Casse
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse conditions Beautiful Dancer, a well-bred daughter of horse of the year and hot sire Gun Runner out of Casse’s Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner Dream Dancing. Beautiful Dancer has put together a lengthy work tab capped off by a half-mile from the Churchill starting gate in 49.2 seconds, but she’s worth following on pedigree alone.
Ellis Park race 8: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 5:11 p.m.)
No. 2 Copper Top
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Copper Bullet–Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Asmussen is off to a hot start at Ellis Park, going 4-for-10 (40 percent), and he can potentially pick up another victory courtesy of Copper Top. The daughter of early-maturing Saratoga Special (G2) winner Copper Bullet was produced by Bolton Landing winner Simple Surprise, previously the dam of Asmussen’s Hopeful (G1) winner Gunite. Copper Top is bred top and bottom to enjoy success at age 2, so don’t be shocked if she outruns her 8-1 morning line odds.
No. 9 Sintra
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Constitution–Trophy Girl, by Warrior’s Reward
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Mark Casse
A daughter of Florida Derby (G1) winner Constitution, who sired Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law, Sintra was produced by Trophy Girl, best known for foaling Champagne (G1) winner and Preakness runner-up Blazing Sevens. Tiz the Law and Blazing Sevens both excelled as juveniles, so perhaps Sintra can follow suit. She did breeze a swift half-mile from the Keeneland starting gate in 47.6 seconds last month.
Saturday
Ellis Park race 4: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 3:16 p.m.)
No. 3 Northern Flame
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Flameaway–Darling’s Darling, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $425,000
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Fresh off a trio of half-mile workouts at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, Northern Flame can’t be underestimated for Kenny McPeek. While McPeek doesn’t crank his juveniles to win on debut, Northern Flame sold for $425,000 as a yearling and is a son of Sam F. Davis (G3) winner Flameaway, who won the Bourbon (G3) at age 2. Northern Flame has a lot of potential and is worth following through the summer and fall.
No. 4 Just Steel
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Justify–Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Another pricey Lukas trainee debuting this week is Just Steel, who sold for half a million as a yearling. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify is a half-sibling to Silver Shadow (G2) winner Omei Sword and Doncaster winner Irish Lights, both stakes winners on turf. There’s a lot of grass potential in Just Steel’s breeding, but he’s trained fast on dirt and might prove effective over multiple surfaces.
No. 5 Normandy Hero
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Omaha Beach–Swan of the Nile, by Pioneerof the Nile
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
A son of three-time Grade 1 winner and hot young sire Omaha Beach, Normandy Hero has been cranking out sharp workouts at Keeneland, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.6. Rodolphe Brisset is winning at a respectable 18 percent rate with first-time starters this year, and Normandy Hero looks ready to increase that win percentage.
No. 7 Balta
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Munnings–Laquesta, by Lemon Drop Kid
Purchase price: $685,000
Trainer: Paulo Lobo
A son of talented sprinter/miler Munnings and a half-brother to Gasparilla winner Opus Forty Two, Balta is breed for speed and has shown it in the mornings, most notably clocking a couple of bullet half-mile from the starting gate in 48 seconds at The Thoroughbred Center. This $685,000 2-year-old-in-training acquisition appears to have some talent.
Santa Anita race 7: Fasig-Tipton Futurity (five furlongs, 7:00 p.m.)
No. 6 Mirahmadi
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–More Chocolate, by Malibu Moon
Purchase price: $1.05 million
Trainer: Bob Baffert
It’s no wonder why Mirahmadi sold for $1.05 million as a yearling. He’s a son of Into Mischief out of the multiple Grade 1-placed La Cañada (G2) winner More Chocolate. This classy pedigree is packed with potential, and after breezing a bullet five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 58.8 seconds earlier this month, Mirahmadi looks like an exciting prospect for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.