Prospect Watch: 36 hit Spa, Ellis, Del Mar this weekend
A staggering number of exciting 2-year-olds are slated to debut across the country this week. That’s why we’re breaking all records with this week’s edition of Prospect Watch, introducing 36 newcomers to know.
Friday
Saratoga race 1: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 1:10 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Radio Liberty
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Audible–Mary Rita, by Distorted Humor
Purchase price: $150,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
It’s no surprise to see Radio Liberty debuting on turf since he’s a half-brother to Major Dude, winner of the Pilgrim (G2), Penn Mile (G2) and Kitten’s Joy (G3) on grass.
No. 2 The Hero Code
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Tapit–Photograph, by Unbridled’s Song
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
A son of three-time leading North American sire Tapit, The Hero Code was produced by Photograph, previously the dam of Flower Bowl (G1) heroine Civil Union and the classic-placed Prix de Guiche (G3) winner War Dispatch.
No. 3 Inherent Promise
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Year of Promise, by Gio Ponti
Purchase price: $425,000
Trainer: Bill Mott
$425,000 yearling acquisition has turned in quick workouts over the Saratoga main track, but his pedigree suggests turf is an option. Gio Ponti was twice voted champion turf male.
No. 4 Feltrinelli
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Fantastic Style, by Harlan’s Holiday
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: George Weaver
Uncle Mo was a champion campaigning on dirt, and Fantastic Style won the Great Lady M (G2) and Las Flores (G3) on dirt, so it’s surprising to see Feltrinelli debuting on turf. But he’s breezed a few times over the Saratoga training track turf course, so don’t count him out of the mix for hot trainer George Weaver.
No. 5 Walley World
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: More Than Ready–Forced Family Fun, by Uncle Mo
Purchase price: $220,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Chad Brown is the dominant trainer of turf horses in the U.S., so Walley World (a son of successful grass sire More Than Ready) is worth watching under skilled turf rider Flavien Prat.
No. 6 Zverev
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Oscar Performance–Balance, by Thunder Gulch
Purchase price: $330,000
Trainer: Cherie Devaux
Oscar Performance won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Balance is a three-time Grade 1-winning half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, so there’s a lot of class in the pedigree of Zverev.
No. 7 Tireless
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Not This Time–Kitty Union, by Union Rags
Purchase price: $875,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Tireless brought a final bid of $875,000 when sold as a yearling, so hopes will surely be high when he debuts under Irad Ortiz Jr., a 25 percent winner on turf this year.
Saratoga race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 4:00 p.m.)
No. 1 Air of Defiance
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Quality Road–Faypien, by Ghostzapper
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Produced by the Grade 1-placed Summertime Oaks (G2) winner Faypien, Air of Defiance has put together a lengthy work tab for trainer Brad Cox and owner Goldsquare, who previously teamed up to campaign multiple Grade 1 winner Cyberknife.
No. 4 Wajda
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Laoban–Untapped Secret, by Read the Footnotes
Purchase price: $425,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Wajda has shown speed in the mornings for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, most notably clocking half a mile from the Saratoga starting gate in 47.68 seconds.
No. 5 Change of Command
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Moi, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: $1.05 million
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
$1.05 million yearling acquisition enters off a solid series of half-mile workouts for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
No. 6 Fierceness
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
This son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light was produced by Nonna Bella, a half-sister to Wood Memorial (G1) winner Outwork. Repole Stable bred and raced Outwork and is likewise the owner/breeder of Fierceness, who will be ridden by four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
No. 7 Billal
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Street Sense–Bambalina, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $725,000
Trainer: Bill Mott
Purchased for $725,000 as a yearling, Billal has turned in a couple of five-furlong workouts over the Saratoga training track for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
Del Mar race 4: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 7:29 p.m.)
No. 2 Indispensable
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–High Performer, by Candy Ride
Purchase price: $825,000
Trainer: John Sadler
Indispensable has shown speed in the mornings at Del Mar, even clocking five furlongs in 59.8 seconds, so this son of Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1) winner Constitution looks promising.
No. 3 Wynstock
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Solomini–Timberlea, by Flatter
Purchase price: $700,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Acquired for $700,000 as a 2-year-old in training, Wynstock brings a flashy work tab to his debut, highlighted by five furlongs from the Del Mar starting gate in 59.4 seconds. Del Mar’s leading jockey Juan Hernandez has the mount.
No. 5 Guy Named Joe
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: American Pharoah–Hungry Island, by More Than Ready
Purchase price: $100,000
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill is debuting Guy Named Joe, a son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of two-time Grade 2-winning turf filly Hungry Island. Guy Named Joe clocked a bullet five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Del Mar earlier this month.
No. 6 Ultra Power
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–Unique Bella, by Tapit
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Perhaps the most exciting horse debuting this week is Ultra Power, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out of two-time Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella. Ultra Power has shown speed in training and has every chance to factor for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a 33 percent winner at Del Mar this meet.
Saturday
Ellis Park race 2: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:17 p.m.)
No. 7 Novara
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Speightstown–Sentiero Italia, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
A half-sister to Arlington Million (G1) and Turf Classic (G1) winner Santin, Godolphin homebred Novara has the pedigree to handle turf but has posted promising workouts over the Churchill Downs main track.
Saratoga race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 2:31 p.m.)
No. 1 She’s Wicked Smart
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Runhappy–Teak Totem, by Northern Afleet
Purchase price: $120,000
Trainer: Robert Falcone Jr.
A half-sister to Jerome (G2) winner Adios Charlie, She’s Wicked Smart worked a fast half-mile from the Saratoga starting gate in 47.20 seconds last week.
No. 4 Shop Lifting
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Miss Shop, by Deputy Minister
Purchase price: $475,000
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow
A daughter of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Shop Lifting was produced by Miss Shop, already the dam of Miss Grillo (G3) winner Tin Type Gal. Shop Lifting enters off back-to-back bullet workouts at Saratoga, including a half-mile from the starting gate in 47.00 seconds.
No. 5 Lady de Berry
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Practical Joke–Tortuga Lady, by Thunder Gulch
Purchase price: $270,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Lady de Berry is slated to become the 14th starter produced by Tortuga Lady, whose previous foals include the undefeated Sunland Park Oaks winner Princess Arabella.
No. 6 Cowgirl Charm
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Lookin At Lucky–Country Cafe, by Lion Heart
Purchase price: $160,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Five consecutive half-mile workouts at Saratoga (including a half-mile from the starting gate in 48.22 seconds) should have this daughter of two-time champion Lookin At Lucky fit for her debut.
No. 8 Here'syourtrouble
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Munnings–In Kelly’s Defense, by First Defence
Purchase price: $270,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
A half-sister to three-time stakes winner Its a Wrap, Here’syourtrouble sold for $270,000 as a 2-year-old in training and is slated to be ridden by hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione, a 21 percent winner at Saratoga this meet.
No. 9 Just F Y I
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
A daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify, Just F Y I recently clocked a bullet half-mile over the Saratoga training track starting gate in 48.48 seconds.
Del Mar race 4: Maiden special weight (one mile, 6:30 p.m.)
No. 7 Sense
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Street Sense–Spellbound, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Richard Mandella trained Sense’s dam, La Canada (G2) winner Spellbound, as well as Spellbound’s daughter Soothsay, winner of the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Indiana Oaks (G3). Sense is bred to run long and enters off sharp workouts, including a bullet six furlongs in 1:13.6 seconds at Del Mar.
Sunday
Ellis Park race 5: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 2:45 p.m.)
No. 1 Muazarah
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Munasara, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Classily bred Shadwell Stable colorbearer has the pedigree to factor for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a 38 percent winner at Ellis Park this meet.
No. 5 Black Iron
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Tizsomthingspecial, by Tiznow
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Black Iron doesn’t bring the flashiest work tab to his debut, but this Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer is bred to run long and could conceivably develop into a road to the Kentucky Derby type.
No. 9 The Process
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: More Than Ready–Eblouissante, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $375,000
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Produced by Zenyatta’s half-sister Eblouissante, who previously foaled Rebel (G2) winner Confidence Game, The Process breezed a bullet half-mile from the Keeneland starting gate in 47.2 seconds last week.
No. 11 Searcy
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Good Magic–Sweet Offer, by Candy Ride
Purchase price: $125,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Searcy has posted five consecutive five-furlong workouts at Ellis Park (including a bullet move from the starting gate in 1:01 seconds) and has every chance to challenge under jockey Gerardo Corrales, who has gone 10-for-21 (48 percent) teaming up with Cox over the last two months, according to Brisnet stats.
Ellis Park race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:50 p.m.)
No. 1 Structured
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Chic, by Orb
Purchase price: $175,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Structured brings a light work tab to the table but is bred to handle running two turns on dirt, so in the long term this dark bay colt has potential.
No. 4 Awesome Road
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Quality Road–Orate, by A.P. Indy
Purchase price: $600,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
The stoutly bred Awesome Road is a half-brother to the Grade 1-placed Summer Colony winner Endless Chatter. He’s trained fast at Keeneland (even clocking four furlongs from the starting gate in 46.8 seconds) and could turn out to be something special.
No. 10 Chryso Alogo
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro–Natacat, by Distorted Humor
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
After posting 10 timed workouts on the Kentucky circuit (including a bullet half-mile in 47 seconds at Churchill Downs), Chryso Alogo looks ready to challenge on debut. Keep in mind, Bolt d’Oro sires 18 percent winners from first-time starters per Brisnet stats.
No. 11 Time Song
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Not This Time–New Song, by Smart Strike
Purchase price: $375,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
$375,000 yearling acquisition Time Song has posted a half-dozen workouts at Churchill Downs and has the pedigree to win from an early age, considering sire Not This Time ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Monday
Ellis Park race 6: Maiden special weight (one mile, 3:18 p.m.)
No. 1 Army Officer
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Not This Time–Worth a Chance Mo, by Uncle Mo
Purchase price: $475,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
A pair of quick five-furlong workouts at Churchill Downs cap off a promising work tab compiled by Army Officer. He’s bred to win early and has a chance to outrun his 8-1 morning-line odds.
No. 4 Aspiring Comedian
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Afleet Lover, by Northern Afleet
Purchase price: $250,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher trained Constitution and likewise conditions Aspiring Comedian, a Repole Stable colorbearer who sold for $250,000 as a yearling. Aspiring Comedian’s work tab is respectable and he can’t be counted out of the mix.
No. 6 Dynamis
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Goforitmrsmiller, by Speightstown
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Gun Runner has compiled a strong stud record, and Dynamis enters off a couple of bullet five-furlong workouts at Churchill Downs, suggesting this $450,000 yearling acquisition is a promising prospect.
No. 7 Benvolio
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Tapit–Molly Morgan, by Ghostzapper
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
A beautifully bred son of Tapit out of La Troienne (G1) winner Molly Morgan, Benvolio is a Stonestreet Stables homebred with a lengthy series of sharp workouts under his belt, including a bullet half-mile from the Keeneland starting gate in 47.4 seconds.