Prospect Watch: 3 exciting colts, 1 well-bred filly to follow

The final weekend in March is an epic one with high-level graded and group stakes taking place around the globe. But don’t forget about the stateside maiden special weights.

Several quality events are on the Saturday schedule at Fair Grounds and Santa Anita, and plenty of promising prospects are slated to debut. Let’s dig through the entries and highlight four of the most exciting newcomers.

Saturday

Fair Grounds Race 1: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:00 p.m. EDT)

No. 1 Catch Magic

Age: 3

Pedigree: Curlin–Catch the Flag, by A.P. Indy

Purchase price: $600,000

Trainer: Norm Casse

One of the priciest youngsters debuting this week is the filly Catch Magic, who sold for $600,000 as a 2-year-old in training. The daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin was produced by the unraced A.P. Indy mare Catch the Flag, previously the dam of two-time 1 1/16-mile Trillium winner Checkered Past.

Catch Magic is bred top and bottom to improve with maturity and thrive running long, so sprinting six furlongs on debut is unlikely to be her strong suit. Nevertheless, the chestnut filly has put together an encouraging work tab at Fair Grounds, highlighted by five furlongs in a solid 1:00.6. Any sort of promising effort from Catch Magic on Saturday could be a sign of big things to come in the future.

Fair Grounds Race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 4:05 p.m.)

No. 4 Malibu S S

Age: 3

Pedigree: Malibu Moon–Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister

Purchase price: $100,000

Trainer: Tom Amoss

Malibu S S might be a 10-1 shot on the morning line, but there’s plenty to like about his chances. Sire Malibu Moon is responsible for a solid 13 percent winners from first-time starters, and trainer Tom Amoss (a 23 percent winner at Fair Grounds this meet) strikes at a 20 percent rate with horses debuting in maiden special weights.

Malibu S S has been cranking out fast workouts at Fair Grounds, including a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate in 1:00.6 seconds. Dam Darling My Darling has already produced the early maturing graded-stakes winners Heavenly Love (victorious in the Alcibiades, G1) and Forever Darling (winner of the Santa Ynez, G2), so Malibu S S has the pedigree to win early on and develop into a classy colt. Dismiss him at your own risk.

No. 7 Strobe

Age: 3

Pedigree: Into Mischief–Flashing, by A.P. Indy

Purchase price: N/A

Trainer: Brad Cox

A Godolphin homebred conditioned by two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, Strobe has the pedigree of a serious racehorse. Into Mischief has led the North American sire rankings three times, while dam Flashing won two Grade 1 races and previously foaled Godolphin’s Floodlight, a stakes winner racing 1 1/4 miles on turf in France.

Strobe has shown serious speed during morning workouts at Fair Grounds. On March 12, he clocked a bullet four furlongs in 48.8 seconds. On Feb. 21, he blazed five furlongs from the starting gate in a bullet 58.8 seconds. Hot jockey Florent Geroux (a 26 percent winner at Fair Grounds) is named to ride, so don’t be surprised if Strobe fires a winning shot on debut. Did we mention he’s a Triple Crown nominee?

Santa Anita Race 2: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 4:30 p.m.)

No. 1 High Connection

Age: 3

Pedigree: Connect–Forest Legend, by Forest Camp

Purchase price: $290,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

High Connection isn’t the priciest Bob Baffert trainee you’ll ever see in action, but his $290,000 purchase price is hefty enough, and the chestnut colt trains like he could be a good one. His work tab at Santa Anita is solid, culminating with a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate in 59.6 seconds, and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is named to ride.

There are also some powerful stats in High Connection’s corner. Velazquez has won at a 35 percent rate when teaming up with Baffert in the last two months, and Baffert wins at a 37 percent rate with horses debuting in maiden special weights.

Sire Connect was a talented 3-year-old who peaked with a late-season victory in the Cigar Mile (G1), so regardless of how High Connection performs on Saturday, he’s eligible to improve with maturity. He isn’t a Triple Crown nominee, but he’s certainly one to watch.