Prospect Watch: 5 debuting at Keeneland, Oaklawn, Santa Anita
The Keeneland spring meet is in full swing, which means there are deep and competitive maiden special weights slated to take place this week.
But Keeneland isn’t the only track where well-bred youngsters are slated to debut. Oaklawn and Santa Anita are also getting in on the action with intriguing maiden heats.
Let’s explore five of the most notable first-time starters in the upcoming entries:
Friday
Keeneland Race 10: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 5:48 p.m. EDT)
No. 5 Dontgetabovuraisin
Age: 3
Pedigree: Practical Joke–Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
It’s safe to say Dontgetabovuraisin hails from a productive female family. Dam Lady Diplomat has foaled nine winners from 12 starters, including three stakes winners: Astoria winner Glacken’s Gal, Lost Code winner City Dweller and Reno Miss South Shore heroine Banker’s Buy.
Glacken’s Gal and City Dweller were best as sprinters, but Banker’s Buy thrived racing one mile to 1 1/8 miles, which is similar to the racing scope shown by Practical Joke. The latter won three Grade 1 races over distances from seven furlongs to one mile but also stretched his speed sufficiently to finish second in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G2) and fifth in the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.
The takeaway? Dontgetaboveuraisin has the speed to factor in her debut sprinting six furlongs, especially after turning in a bevy of quick workouts at Keeneland and Turfway Park. But she also has the bloodlines to run at least one mile, stamping this $300,000 yearling acquisition as a filly worth following.
Saturday
Keeneland Race 4: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 2:36 p.m.)
No. 3 Artorius
Age: 3
Pedigree: Arrogate–Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Chad Brown
Talk about a classy pedigree! Artorius is a son of champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate out of Paulassilverlining, a daughter of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. Paulassilverlining was as durable as she was talented, winning stakes at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5 while peaking with victories in the Madison (G1) and Humana Distaff (G1).
Arrogate was at his best racing 1 1/4 miles, but Paulassilverlining was a top-class sprinter, so the pedigree of Artorius blends stamina with speed. We shouldn’t necessarily expect Artorius to fire his best shot on debut, considering both his sire and dam improved with maturity. But if Artorius produces a winning bid on Saturday, watch out: This Triple Crown nominee might be a graded-stakes star in the making.
Oaklawn Race 10: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles, 6:05 p.m.)
No. 8 Best Actor
Age: 3
Pedigree: Flatter–Abraqat, by Smart Strike
Purchase price: $330,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will debut Best Actor in this two-turn maiden heat for sophomores. Purchased for $330,000 as a yearling, Best Actor is a son of Flatter, best known as the sire of champion West Coast and two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Flat Out. Meanwhile, Best Actor’s dam sire – Smart Strike – is renowned for his Preakness-winning sons Curlin and Lookin At Lucky, both winners of multiple championships and sires of classic winners.
Formerly based in Southern California, Best Actor shipped to Oaklawn in February and has put together a solid work tab in preparation for his debut, culminating with six furlongs from the starting gate in 1:12.8 seconds. Cox’s win percentage with horses debuting over one mile or farther (15 percent) isn’t far off his percentage with all first-time starters (16 percent), so don’t dismiss Best Actor from consideration on Saturday. His pedigree suggests racing 1 1/16 miles will be right up his alley.
Santa Anita Race 10: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 8:30 p.m.)
No. 6 Practical Impact
Age: 3
Pedigree: Practical Joke–S S Pinafore, by Street Sense
Purchase price: $100,000
Trainer: Patrick Gallagher
It’s been a few years since trainer Patrick Gallagher saddled a winning first-time starter, but perhaps Practical Impact can turn around that trend. Sire Practical Joke is responsible for a lofty 20 percent winners from first-time starters, and Practical Impact has turned in several quick workouts at Santa Anita, culminating with five furlongs in 59.8 seconds.
Practical Joke’s dam is S S Pinafore, whose previous foals include the durable three-time graded-stakes winner Plainsman and the graded stakes-placed Liam. Both Plainsman and Liam have done their best work running one mile or farther, but Practical Joke was an elite sprinter/miler infusing a bit more speed into Practical Impact’s genetic mix. In short, Practical Impact can’t be dismissed from consideration on Saturday – he looks like a promising prospect.
No. 7 Swindler
Age: 3
Pedigree: Union Rags–Sweet Tune, by Woodman
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Neil Drysdale
There’s plenty of class in Swindler’s pedigree. Sire Union Rags won the Belmont Stakes, while dam Sweet Tune already has foaled Mr. Prospector (G3) winner Lasting Legacy (a graded stakes-placed Breeders’ Cup Sprint participant) and Beaumont (G2) winner Miss Ella.
Lasting Legacy and Miss Ella were both best as sprinters, so Swindler has the potential to factor while dashing six furlongs on debut. He worked three furlongs in a bullet 35 seconds over the Santa Anita training track last Friday and overall brings a promising profile to the table. But it’s worth noting that trainer Neil Drysdale strikes at just a 5 percent rate with first-time starters, suggesting Swindler might need to get a race under his belt before reaching peak form.