Prospect Watch: 6 to follow at Fair Grounds Saturday

Saturday is a busy day of racing at Fair Grounds with six stakes on the agenda. But the undercard is almost as exciting, featuring a bevy of competitive maiden special weights packed with promising 3-year-olds.

Fair Grounds Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs, 1:30 p.m.)

No. 2 Indigo Miss

Age: 3
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: $525,000
Trainer: Paulo Lobo

One of the best-bred youngsters debuting this week is Indigo Miss. A daughter of three-time leading sire Into Mischief, Indigo Miss was produced by Indian Miss, previously the dam of champion sprinter Mitole and Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie. With this elite pedigree in tow, expectations are surely high for Indigo Miss, who sold for more than half-million dollars as a yearling. She’s been training fast at The Thoroughbred Center, most notably clocking a bullet half mile from the starting gate in 47 seconds, so look for Indigo Miss to fire a competitive shot on debut. No. 4 Royal Flower

Age: 3
Pedigree: American Pharoah–Modification, by Vindication
Purchase price: $1.2 million
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Let’s see… Royal Flower is a daughter of Triple Crown winner and successful sire American Pharoah out of the Grade 1-placed mare Modification, previously the dam of Grade 1 Forego winner Yaupon. It’s no wonder why Royal Flower sold for $1.2 million as a yearling. Conditioned by Steve Asmussen (who also trained Yaupon), Royal Flower hasn’t turned in the flashiest work tab, though she did breeze four furlongs from the Fair Grounds starting gate in 48 seconds last month. American Pharoah sires a solid 12 percent winners from first-time starters, and hot jockey Joel Rosario is named to ride, so Royal Flower warrants respect on Saturday. Fair Grounds Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs, 2:29 p.m.)

No. 9 Marsalis

Age: 3
Pedigree: Curlin–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Talk about a classy pedigree. Marsalis is a son of two-time Horse of the Year and elite sire Curlin out of Grade 1 Spinaway winner Hot Dixie Chick, whose foals to date include the stakes-winning sprinter Union Jackson and recent Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic winner Pauline’s Pearl. All of the horses mentioned above were trained by Steve Asmussen, who likewise conditions Marsalis. The chestnut colt has shown serious speed in the mornings, most notably blazing a bullet five furlongs from the Fair Grounds starting gate in 59.8 seconds. Suffice to say, Marsalis has a lot of potential.

No. 9 Momentous

Age: 3
Pedigree: Speightstown–Glory and Power, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Todd Pletcher has been on fire this year, winning at a 29 percent rate, and he can potentially keep his momentum rolling on Saturday with Momentous. A son of champion sprinter Speightstown, Momentous has turned in several bullet workouts at Palm Beach Downs and wrapped up his preparations with a solid five furlongs in 1:00.6.

Pletcher hasn’t saddled a first-time starter at Fair Grounds during the last five years, but he strikes at a 21 percent rate overall with horses debuting in maiden special weights, and it’s worth noting Momentous is nominated to the Triple Crown. Luis Saez (a 34 percent winner teaming up with Pletcher over the last two months) is named to ride, stamping Momentous as a strong win contender.

Fair Grounds Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles, 3:27 p.m.)

No. 6 Scotland Yard

Age: 3
Pedigree: Quality Road–Leslie’s Harmony, by Curlin
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

If the name “Leslie’s Harmony” reminds you of the sensational broodmare Leslie’s Lady, there’s a reason. Leslie’s Harmony just happens to be a daughter of Leslie’s Lady, which means Leslie’s Harmony is a half-sister to four-time champion Beholder, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn, and three-time leading sire Into Mischief.

Leslie’s Harmony didn’t achieve much on the track, failing to win in two starts. But perhaps she’ll follow her dam’s example and prove successful as a broodmare. Her second starter is Scotland Yard, a son of Quality Road trained by Steve Asmussen. The bay colt has put together a solid work tab at Fair Grounds and is well worth watching on Saturday.

No. 9 King Ottoman

Age: 3
Pedigree: Curlin–Shook Up, by Tapit
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

The mating of Curlin and Shook Up seems destined to produce a long-winded Triple Crown type. Curlin won the Preakness and placed in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, while Shook Up was sufficiently talented to run second in the Kentucky Oaks. Shook Up, in turn, is a daughter of Tapit, who has sired four Belmont winners.

A Triple Crown nominee trained by Steve Asmussen, King Ottoman hasn’t been working especially fast at Fair Grounds, so he might need to get a race under his belt before hitting peak form. But Joel Rosario is named to ride, so don’t dismiss King Ottoman in the long run.