Prospect Watch: 4 to follow at Gulfstream and Monmouth
Summer is rapidly approaching, and before long Saratoga and Del Mar will be open for business. But even without those high-profile meets in action, there are plenty of promising maiden special weights for 2-year-olds taking place across the country.
For this week’s edition of Prospect Watch, let’s explore notable entrants in a pair of Saturday tests taking place at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park.
Saturday
Gulfstream Park Race 1: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 12:30 p.m. EDT)
No. 3 Bring Theband Home
Age: 2
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Tizatude, by Street Cry
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Mark Casse
There’s a lot to like about the pedigree of Bring Theband Home. He’s a son of three-time leading North American stallion Into Mischief (who sires 16 percent winners from first-time starters) out of Tizatude, a daughter of Group 1 Dubai World Cup winner and acclaimed stallion Street Cry.
Bring Theband Home has shown speed in the mornings for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. On May 28, he clocked a half-mile from the Palm Meadows starting gate in 47.6 seconds. Then he tackled the same conditions last Thursday and completed the move in a bullet 47.2 seconds. Suffice to say, this Live Oak Plantation homebred might be a good one.
No. 11 Turbo
Age: 2
Pedigree: Brethren–Horay for Bailey, by Doneraile Court
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Juan Alvarado
It’s safe to say Turbo hails from a productive family. The son of Brethren was produced by Horah for Bailey (a stakes winner at age 2), whose previous foals include Arizona Oaks winner Miss Buxley, four-time stakes winner Bernie the Maestro and Harlan’s Holiday (G3) third-place finisher Richard the Great.
Turbo has put together a pretty flashy work tab at Gulfstream Park in recent weeks, including a couple of three-furlong moves (one a bullet) in 35 seconds. Trainer Juan Alvarado has enjoyed success with early-season juveniles at Gulfstream in recent years, even upsetting future two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal with a son of Brethren named Gatsby, so don’t dismiss Turbo from consideration.
Monmouth Park Race 6: Maiden special weight (five furlongs, 2:30 p.m.)
No. 2 Delegated
Age: 2
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Nakano Takeko, by First Samurai
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
A dozen years ago, Repole Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher campaigned Uncle Mo, winner of the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old male. Last week, Uncle Mo made headlines recently as the sire of Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, a Pletcher trainee owned in part by Repole Stable.
Repole Stable and Pletcher are teaming up with another son of Uncle Mo on Saturday at Monmouth. Delegated, an unraced juvenile, has been posting encouraging workouts at Saratoga in preparation for his debut. The bay colt traveled a half-mile over the training track in a bullet 49.4 seconds on June 2 and looks like a contender in his first run under colors.
No. 6 Major Dude
Age: 2
Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro–Mary Rita, by Distorted Humor
Purchase price: $550,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Sold for a lofty $550,000 as a yearling, Major Dude is a son of hot young stallion Bolt d’Oro, who has sired 44 percent winners from first-time starters so far. Major Dude’s dam is the Distorted Humor mare Mary Rita, who finished fourth against a deep field (including future Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable) in the 2014 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).
Major Dude has trained with promise at Saratoga, most notably clocking five furlongs over the training track in a bullet 1:01.2 on June 3. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is named to ride, stamping Major Dude as a promising colt to watch on debut.