Prospect Watch: 5 debuts in 4 weekend races at 3 tracks

High-profile maiden special weights for juveniles are taking place across the country this weekend, with Gulfstream Park, Los Alamitos and Oaklawn Park hosting some of the most intriguing events. Here are five horses from four races in this week’s “cross-country” edition of Prospect Watch:

Saturday

Gulfstream Park Race 4: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:26 p.m. EST)

No. 8 Dean’s List

Pedigree: Speightstown–Mildly Offensive, by Sharp Humor

Purchase price: N/A

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

A son of champion sprinter Speightstown, Dean’s List was produced by Mildly Offensive, who was quick enough to win multiple stakes sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs. Clearly, Dean’s List boasts a pedigree geared toward speed, though it is worth noting that Speightstown is a versatile sire responsible for a bevy of Grade 1 winners over 1 1/4 miles.

Dean’s List has posted a couple of bullet workouts at Palm Beach Downs and looks live on debut for trainer Todd Pletcher, a 28 percent winner debuting juveniles at Gulfstream since 2016. If Dean’s List runs as expected under jockey Luis Saez (a 23 percent winner when teaming up with Pletcher), we might be looking at a stakes winner in the making.

Gulfstream Park Race 7: Maiden special weight (one mile, 2:58 p.m.)

No. 3 Touch Code

Pedigree: Honor Code–Caressing, by Honour and Glory

Purchase price: N/A

Trainer: Bill Mott

Talk about a spectacular pedigree: Touch Code is bred top and bottom to a champion running long on dirt. Sire Honor Code won multiple Grade 1 races en route to being voted 2015 champion older dirt male, and dam Caressing was voted 2000 champion 2-year-old filly after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. But wait, there’s more – Caressing also is the dam of Travers (G1) hero and 2017 champion 3-year-old male West Coast.

Suffice to say, expectations will be high when Touch Code debuts on Saturday. Although trainer Bill Mott strikes at only a 5 percent rate with horses debuting over one mile or farther, Touch Code’s long-winded pedigree hints he might be one of the 5 percent who visit the winner’s circle.

No. 10 Tapthespeedofsound

Pedigree: Tapit–Onepointhreekarats, by Medaglia d’Oro

Purchase price: N/A

Trainer: Mark Casse

It’s safe to say Tapthespeedofsound brings a productive pedigree to the table. Tapit is a three-time leading sire responsible for four winners of the Belmont Stakes, while dam Onepointhreekarats has foaled two graded-stakes winners from two starters, including Tapthespeedofsound’s Grade 1-placed full brother Tap It to Win.

Only time will tell whether Tapthespeedofsound will become Onepointhreekarats’ third stakes winner from as many starters, but the bay colt has definitely shown promise in the mornings. On Nov. 11, he breezed a bullet half-mile from the Palm Meadows starting gate in 48 seconds, which followed a regular breeze in 47.80 toward the end of October. Throw in the fact that trainer Mark Casse wins at a solid 16 percent rate with horses debuting over one mile or farther, and Tapthespeedofsound cannot be counted out of contention on Saturday.

Los Alamitos Race 8: Maiden special seight (six furlongs, 6:28 p.m.)

No. 1 Doppelganger

Pedigree: Into Mischief–Twice the Lady, by Quiet American

Purchase price: $570,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Leading sire Into Mischief is responsible for 15 percent winners from first-time starters, and Bob Baffert saddles a lofty 35 percent debut winners, so all the stats suggest Doppelganger will be ready for a sharp effort right out of the gate. Certainly the bay colt has been training forwardly at Santa Anita, capping off a quick string of workouts with five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 1:00.4 seconds.

Produced by the stakes-winning router Twice the Lady, who placed twice against Grade 2 company on the New York circuit, Doppelganger has the pedigree of a classics type and will be ridden on Saturday by Flavien Prat. Baffert and Prat have combined to win at a 53 percent rate together in the last two months, so you can bet Doppelganger will start at a short price. He looks tough to beat.

Sunday

Oaklawn Park Race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:51 p.m.)

No. 7 Robert’s Ghost

Pedigree: Ghostzapper–Pay Lady, by Seeking the Gold

Purchase price: $135,000

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Although Robert’s Ghost has been training out of the spotlight at Louisiana Downs, he has shown speed in the mornings, most notably clocking a half-mile from the starting gate in a quick 47.8 seconds. And from a pedigree perspective, the Steve Asmussen trainee is cut out to be a star.

Indeed, Robert’s Ghost is a son of Horse of the Year and versatile sire Ghostzapper out of Pay Lady, an unraced mare best known for foaling Prioress (G1) winner Lighthouse Bay. If Robert’s Ghost runs to his pedigree, he can develop into a promising prospect.