Prospect Watch: 5 intriguing first-time starters in Florida
There’s plenty of high-class racing taking place in Florida this week, including a pair of high-profile maiden special weights for 3-year-olds on Saturday.
Might we see a Triple Crown contender or two emerge from these deep maiden fields? You never know, so let’s dig in and review five of the most intriguing first-time starters in the entries:
Tampa Bay Downs Race 1: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 12:11 p.m.)
No. 5 Money Supply
Age: 3
Pedigree: Practical Joke–Evita’s Sister, by Candy Ride
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
A pricey $400,000 yearling acquisition, Money Supply is a son of three-time Grade 1-winner Practical Joke out of the Candy Ride mare Evita’s Sister. The latter has already achieved success as a broodmare, foaling Ruling Angel Stakes winner Sister Nation.
Practical Joke was best as a sprinter/miler, and Sister Nation was a sprinter, so there’s plenty of speed in Money Supply’s pedigree. Only time will tell whether this Chad Brown trainee can stretch out over classic distances, but he’s nominated to the Triple Crown and should be sharp enough to challenge on debut. After all, Practical Joke sires a solid 18 percent winners from first-time starters, and Brown has gone 9-for-19 (47 percent) at Tampa this year.
No. 7 Quality G
Age: 3
Pedigree: Quality Road–Crystal Grit, by Tapit
Purchase price: $250,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher has been on fire saddling 3-year-olds at Tampa Bay Downs this year, compiling a stellar 9: 3-5-1 resume. For the record, that’s a 33 percent win rate and a 100 percent in-the-money rate.
Pletcher can pick up another top-three finish (and maybe even a victory) courtesy of Quality G. A son of four-time Grade 1 winner and successful sire Quality Road, Quality G has put together a lengthy work tab at Palm Beach Downs. He’s been breezing once a week like clockwork since the beginning of November and should be fit for an encouraging run. Since 2017, Pletcher has gone 6-for-17 (35 percent) debuting 3-year-olds on dirt at Tampa Bay Downs.
Gulfstream Park Race 9: Maiden special weight (one mile, 4:05 p.m.)
No. 4 Enough Already
Age: 3
Pedigree: Tapit–Interject, by Empire Maker
Purchase price: $60,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Enough Already wasn’t an expensive juvenile, selling for only $60,000. But he’s shown serious speed during morning workouts at Tampa Bay Downs, most notably turning in bullet five-furlong breezes in 59.6 seconds and 1:00.6 seconds.
As a son of three-time leading sire Tapit out of a mare by Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, Enough Already is bred to thrive running long. He figures to appreciate the one-mile distance of this maiden heat, and even longer trips should be in his wheelhouse down the road. The Belmont Stakes could be a viable goal, considering Tapit has sired four winners of the 1 1/2-mile classic.
No. 7 Hard Performer
Age: 3
Pedigree: Hard Spun–High Performer, by Candy Ride
Purchase price: $330,000
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Kenny McPeek doesn’t typically crank his young runners to win first time out, but in the long run, Hard Performer looks like a promising prospect to follow.
A son of 2007 Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun, Hard Performer sold for $330,000 as a yearling and is living up to his purchase price with solid morning workouts. He wrapped up his debut preparations with five furlongs in a snappy one minute flat at Gulfstream Park, a sign of talent. It’s also worth noting that McPeek’s overall 7 percent win rate with first-time starters jumps to 12 percent with horses debuting over one mile or farther, so Hard Performer is eligible to outrun expectations on Saturday.
No. 9 Granlusso
Age: 3
Pedigree: Street Sense–Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Chad Brown
It’s safe to say Granlusso hails from a productive family. His sire, Street Sense, won the 2007 Kentucky Derby. His dam, Cambiocorsa, won multiple Grade 3 turf sprints and has foaled a quartet of stakes-winning grass routers, including the Grade 2 winners Moulin de Mougin and Schiaparelli. A fifth foal, Vionnet, ran third in the Rodeo Drive (G1) running long on turf.
With this pedigree in tow, it’s entirely possible that Granlusso will prove best on grass. But for now, he’s a Triple Crown nominee giving dirt a try off a solid series of workouts at Payson Park, including a bullet half mile in 49.4 seconds. Granlusso’s future looks bright.