Prospect Watch: 5 to check out at Aqueduct, Del Mar

A half-brother to a Breeders’ Cup winner and a trio of well-bred colts conditioned by Bob Baffert are among the many exciting 2-year-olds slated to debut across the country this week.

Let’s highlight five of the most exciting names in this week’s post-Breeders’ Cup edition of Prospect Watch:

Friday, Nov. 12

Aqueduct Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 2:15 p.m. EDT)

No. 4 Order of Magnitude

Pedigree: Curlin–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper

Purchase price: $425,000

Trainer: Chad Brown

It’s interesting to see Order of Magnitude debuting on grass, considering his pedigree is geared toward success on dirt. Sire Curlin won two Horse of the Year titles and is renowned for siring two-turn dirt stars at stud, while dam Eltimaas is best known for producing Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Drefong.

But Chad Brown excels at conditioning grass horses, and Order of Magnitude has already taken a half-mile spin over the turf training track at Saratoga, so perhaps Order of Magnitude has shown turf prowess in training. In any case, Order of Magnitude has to be considered a live contender under three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz.

No. 12 Kitten Mischief

Pedigree: Into Mischief–Kitten’s Point, by Kitten’s Joy

Purchase price: Not available

Trainer: Jonathan Thomas

In contrast to Order of Magnitude, Kitten Mischief definitely boasts some grass influences in his pedigree. While sire Into Mischief is best known for his successful dirt runners, dam Kitten’s Point is a daughter of acclaimed grass sire Kitten’s Joy, and Kitten’s Point herself won multiple Grade 3 stakes running long on turf.

Conditioned by Jonathan Thomas (a 31 percent winner this year), Kitten Mischief has put together a lengthy work tab in preparation for her debut, including a quick half mile from the Belmont Park starting gate in 48.4 seconds last month. An encouraging effort should be in the offing, with better to come in the future.

Saturday, Nov. 13

Del Mar Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 6:00 p.m.)

No. 2 Air Combat

Pedigree: Blame–Please By Discreet, by Discreet Cat

Purchase price: $130,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

The first of three Bob Baffert trainees in this maiden sprint for juveniles, Air Combat is a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame out of Please Be Discreet, who has foaled four winners from four starters to date. Two of her runners won at age 2, including the stakes-placed sprinter Flatter Me Please and three-time Road to the Kentucky Derby participant Ebben.

Air Combat sold for just $130,000 as a yearling, but he’s shown meaningful speed during morning workouts, most notably clocking five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 58.8 seconds on Nov. 1. Air Combat should be capable of producing a competitive effort under jockey Abel Cedilllo.

No. 6 Newgrange

Pedigree: Violence–Bella Chianti, by Empire Maker

Purchase price: $125,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Baffert’s second runner has also been training forwardly, clocking five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 59.8 seconds on Oct. 29. There’s plenty to like about the son of juvenile Grade 1 winner Violence, especially with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith named to ride.

But although Violence sires a flashy 16 percent winners from first-time starters, the bottom half of Newgrange’s pedigree indicates he might be more of a late-maturing type. Dam Bella Chianti has foaled four winners from four starters, but none visited the winners circle as juveniles. A

And Bella Chianti’s dam, Empire Maker, peaked as a sophomore when winning the Belmont Stakes. Don’t be surprised if Newgrange saves his best running for next year, though that doesn’t mean he can’t vie for victory on Saturday.

No. 7 Wesleyan

Pedigree: Curlin–Makena, by Pioneerof the Nile

Purchase price: $250,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

The final Baffert trainee might be the most exciting of all. Certainly he’s been swift in the mornings at Santa Anita, clocking a half mile from the starting gate in a bullet 46.8 seconds before coming back with five furlongs in 59.2 seconds and five furlongs from the gate in 1:00.4 seconds.

We’ve already highlighted Curlin’s credentials as a sire of long-winded runners, and dam Makena (a stakes-placed route runner) figures to pass on stamina as well. Her sire, Pioneerof the Nile, finished second in the Kentucky Derby before siring Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. In short, Wesleyan is bred top and bottom to thrive over classic distances, stamping the dark bay colt as one to watch under jockey Victor Espinoza.