Prospect Watch: 6 promising debuts at Churchill, Aqueduct
A half-brother to the classic-placed colts Destin and Creative Cause ranks among the most notable juveniles slated to debut during Breeders’ Cup week.
The entries at Santa Anita are, of course, stuffed with stakes. So for this week’s edition of Prospect Watch, we’ll highlight a half-dozen youngsters getting started in maiden special weights at Churchill Downs and Aqueduct.
Thursday
Churchill Downs race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 4:01 p.m. EDT)
No. 10 In Just My Heels
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Midnight Lute–High Heels, by E Dubai
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Ron Moquett
On Nov. 6, 2015, trainer Ron Moquett saddled future Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and Kentucky Derby starter Whitmore to dominate a six-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 7 1/4 lengths at odds of 15-1. Perhaps In Just My Heels can follow suit. The daughter of two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute out of Fantasy (G2) winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) third-place finisher High Heels is 12-1 on the morning line for this six-furlong maiden dash, but she’s put together an encouraging work tab at Churchill Downs and Keeneland and can’t be counted out of the mix.
Friday
Aqueduct race 1: Maiden special weight (one mile, 12:15 p.m.)
No. 2 Rye Tigress
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Take Charge Indy–Uchitel, by Afleet Alex
Purchase price: $82,000
Trainer: Rob Atras
There’s a lot of class in the pedigree of Rye Tigress. Take Charge Indy won the Florida Derby (G1) and is the sire of Preakness runner-up Everfast plus the graded stakes-winning Kentucky Derby participants Long Range Toddy and Noble Indy. Uchitel is the dam of Southwest (G3) winner and Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher Suddenbreakingnews. Afleet Alex won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and is the sire of Breeders’ Cup winners Texas Red and Afleet Again. Whether all that class translates to racing success for Rye Tigress remains to be seen, but any way you slice it she’s bred to shine debuting over one mile.
Saturday
Churchill Downs race 7: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 4:55 p.m.)
No. 1 Give Me a Reason
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Justify–Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
It’s no wonder why Give Me a Reason sold for a half-million dollars as a yearling. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify was produced by Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) winner Dream of Summer, previously the dam of Belmont Stakes runner-up Destin, Preakness third-place finisher Creative Cause and Personal Ensign (G1) winner Vexatious. This is a phenomenal pedigree geared toward success over classic distances, so Give Me a Reason is eligible to develop into a road to the Kentucky Derby contender for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
No. 3 Knightsbridge
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Nyquist–Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
Last year, Bill Mott enjoyed success with Godolphin homebred Speaker’s Corner, saddling the talented colt to win the Fred W. Hooper (G3), Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and Carter Handicap (G1) in succession. Now Mott and Godolphin are teaming up with Speaker’s Corner’s half-brother Knightsbridge, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. Three bullet workouts over the Saratoga training track in recent months suggest Knightsbridge has ability.
No. 6 Left Tackle
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Vino Rosso–Career Fair, by Storm Cat
Purchase price: $75,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
A son of hot young sire Vino Rosso, who has two sons entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Left Tackle has put together a sharp work tab for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox. He traveled a half-mile from the Ellis Park starting gate in 48.2 seconds on Oct. 7, and two weeks later he sped five furlongs from the Ellis gate in a bullet 1:01. Don’t be surprised if Left Tackle wins on debut.
No. 8 McQueen
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Bella Verde, by Tapizar
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
McQueen hasn’t put together the flashiest work tab for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, with his sharpest move on paper being a half-mile in 48 seconds at Churchill Downs. But the son of 2017 horse of the year and hot sire Gun Runner brings a strong pedigree to the table. His dam is Bella Verde, a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar and a half-sister to Schuylerville (G3) winner Brazen Persuasion. There might be potential here.