Prospect Watch: 6 to follow include 2 pricey Baffert juveniles
A couple of 2-year-olds who sold for a combined $1.75 million at auction are among the well-bred youngsters slated to debut Friday and Saturday.
As the racing action at Churchill Downs continues and Del Mar heats up, here are six new names to follow.
Friday
Churchill Downs race 2: Maiden special weight (five furlongs on turf, 1:30 p.m. EST)
No. 3 Irish Ransom
2-year-old gelding
Pedigree: Gormley–Rosie’s Ransom, by Marquetry
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Irish Ransom is a son of Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley out of Rosie’s Ransom, whose eight previous starters include four turf winners. But Rosie’s Ransom’s most accomplished foals are Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Stilleto Boy and Peach of It Handicap winner Rosie My Rosie. Both of those achieved their signature wins on dirt, so Irish Ransom has the pedigree to shine across multiple surfaces.
Saturday
Churchill Downs race 4: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 2:30 p.m.)
No. 9 Henro
2-year-old gelding
Pedigree: Collected–Street Minstrel, by Street Sense
Purchase price: $45,000
Trainer: Chris Hartman
It’s a bit surprising that Henro sold for only $45,000 earlier this year, considering he’s a son of Pacific Classic (G1) winner Collected out of Street Minstrel, the dam of Cotillion (G1) winner Street Band. Henro has since put together an encouraging work tab at Churchill Downs highlighted by a bullet half-mile in 47.2 seconds, so there’s a chance his inexpensive purchase price soon will look like a bargain.
No. 10 Evan On Earth
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Congrats–Josaka, by A.P. Indy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Greg Foley
A long string of half-mile workouts at Churchill Downs should have Evan On Earth fit for a nice debut under hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione. As a full brother to nine-time stakes winner Bango, who has tied the record for most career victories by any horse at Churchill Downs, Evan On Earth would be a fitting debut winner over Louisville’s famous oval.
Del Mar race 2: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 4:00 p.m.)
No. 3 Pilot Commander
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Justify–Rebuke, by Carson City
Purchase price: $700,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
A son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Pilot Commander is a half-brother to Wishing Well winner and Las Cienegas (G3) third-place finisher Freedom Flyer. This is a pedigree with lots of potential for success on turf, but Pilot Commander has nevertheless shown speed in the mornings on dirt, most notably clocking six furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 1:12.6. This $700,000 2-year-old-in-training acquisition looks like a promising prospect.
No. 4 Classic Alphie
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Classic Empire–Miss Alphie, by Candi’s Gold
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: George Papaprodromou
Classic Alphie brings a classy pedigree to his debut. Sire Classic Empire was a champion 2-year-old male who has sired talented runners such as Arkansas Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Angel of Empire. Miss Alphie is the dam of Sham (G3) winner Alphie’s Bet plus the multiple Grade 1-placed stakes winner Twentytwentyvision and three-time black-type stakes winner Unusual Heatwave. Trainer George Papaprodromou rarely saddles winning first-time starters, but Classic Alphie has put together a lengthy work tab in preparation for his debut and might outrun expectations.
No. 5 Imagination
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker
Purchase price: $1.05 million
Trainer: Bob Baffert
The second Baffert trainee debuting in this field is $1.05 million yearling purchase Imagination, a son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2) winner Magical Feeling, previously the dam of Monmouth Oaks (G3) winner Occult, Oaklawn Mile hero Exulting and She’s All In winner Magical. Imagination enters off fast workouts at Santa Anita (including a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate in 58.2 seconds) and looks like a future stakes horse in the making.