Prospect Watch: 5 well-bred juveniles at Saratoga, Ellis
Every year, the Saratoga race meet features a bevy of exciting maiden special weights packed with well-bred 2-year-olds. This year is bound to be no exception; opening weekend at the Spa will see the debut of a half-sibling to 2023 Preakness winner National Treasure.
Meanwhile, Ellis Park continues to host its own quality slate of maiden races for juveniles. I’ve analyzed the entries at both tracks to identify five of the most noteworthy juveniles debuting this week.
Thursday
Saratoga race 2: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 1:44 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Classy Mischief
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Classofsixtythree, by Include
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Gary Contessa
Classy Mischief might be a 20-1 long shot on the morning line, but don’t count her out of the mix. She’s a daughter of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of Classofsixtythree, previously the dam of Sham (G3) winner Gunmetal Gray and Comely (G3) heroine Sixtythreecaliber. Classy Mischief enters off a pair of quick three-furlong workouts over the Saratoga training track, so victory isn’t out of the question for this well-bred bay filly.
No. 4 Soca
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Speightstown–Rattataptap, by Tapit
Purchase price: $100,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is set to debut Soca, a daughter of champion sprinter and successful sire Speightstown out of Rattataptap, the dam of early-maturing Bashford Manor (G3) winner and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) runner-up Double Thunder. Soca has the pedigree to win from an early age and breezed a solid half-mile from the Saratoga training track starting gate in 48.66 seconds last week, setting the stage for a competitive debut.
Friday
Ellis Park race 4: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 2:13 p.m.)
No. 9 Generous Tipper
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Street Sense–Stopshoppingdebbie, by Curlin
Purchase price: $130,000
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Generous Tipper looks like a possible Kentucky Derby trail contender for trainer Kenny McPeek. The son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense was produced by Stopshoppingdebbie, a daughter of Preakness winner Curlin who compiled a 9-for-10 lifetime record highlighted by eight stakes wins at Emerald Downs. Generous Tipper has posted many sharp workouts in preparation for his debut, capped off by a half-mile in 47.6 seconds at Churchill Downs, stamping the bay colt as a promising prospect. Keep in mind that he’s bred top and bottom to shine on dirt, so switching surfaces down the road might trigger improvement.
Saturday
Saratoga race 1: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 1:10 p.m.)
No. 1 Pirate
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Omaha Beach–Treasure, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: $350,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Perhaps the most exciting horse debuting this week is Pirate. The son of three-time Grade 1 winner and hot young sire Omaha Beach is a half-brother to Preakness winner National Treasure. Pirate has the pedigree of a Triple Crown type and clocked a bullet half-mile from the Saratoga training track starting gate in 48.51 seconds on June 29, cementing his credentials as a win threat under four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
Ellis Park race 3: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs on turf, 1:43 p.m.)
No. 2 Rapid Grey
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Mayan Milagra, by Menifee
Purchase price: $160,000
Trainer: Mark Casse
Constitution won the Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1) and is the sire of Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law. Mayan Milagra was an unremarkable racehorse but counts Pocahontas (G2) winner Dancinginherdreams and Sorority heroine Doubled among her foals. Clearly there’s a lot of class in the pedigree of Rapid Grey, who sold for $160,000 earlier this year. He enters off a lengthy string of half-mile workouts at Churchill Downs and is eligible to outrun his 8-1 morning-line odds for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.