Prospect Watch: 6 promising debuts at Keeneland, Churchill
As the Keeneland fall meet winds down and Churchill Downs opens, a bevy of promising 2-year-olds will debut in competitive maiden special weights at both tracks.
This week’s entries are packed with well-bred youngsters, including a half-brother to 2019 champion male sprinter Mitole. Let’s dig in and review half a dozen newcomers.
Thursday
Keeneland race 8: Maiden special weight (about seven furlongs, 4:44 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Charleston
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Tapiture–Stirring, by Seeking the Gold
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Twin Creeks Racing Stable homebred Charleston has shown speed in training for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox, clocking a bullet half-mile from the Turfway Park starting gate in 47.4 seconds. The stoutly bred son of Kentucky Derby alumnus Tapiture is a half-brother to Arkansas Derby (G1) and Sunland Derby (G3) runner-up Conquest Mo Money, so Charleston has the potential to develop into a road to the Kentucky Derby type.
No. 5 Rocketeer
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–Thirteen Arrows, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
The second Brad Cox trainee debuting in this field is Rocketeer, a son of two-time horse of the year and renowned sire Curlin out of the two-time stakes-winning sprinter Thirteen Arrows. This is a pedigree combining stamina with speed, often the recipe for success in the Kentucky Derby, and a series of sharp workouts at Turfway Park and Keeneland suggest Rocketeer has lots of potential.
No. 11 Stop the Press
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Secret Sigh, by Tapit
Purchase price: $1.5 million
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
A son of champion and successful sire Uncle Mo out of an unraced mare by three-time leading North American sire Tapit, Stop the Press is bred top and bottom to thrive running long. Sprinting about seven furlongs on debut figures to be a bit shorter than Stop the Press will ultimately prefer, but a pair of bullet half-mile workouts at Belmont Park suggest we’re looking at a very promising prospect.
Saturday
Keeneland race 10: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 5:48 p.m.)
No. 6 Domingo
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: American Pharoah–Thundering Emilia, by Thunder Gulch
Purchase price: $95,000
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Domingo is bred for success in the spring classics. He’s a son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of stakes winner Thundering Emilia, a daughter of Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch. Thundering Emilia already has foaled Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby participant Helium, so debuting over 1 1/16 miles should suit Domingo just fine. The only question mark is tackling turf. Even though American Pharoah has sired many classy grass winners, Domingo might be just as likely to shine on dirt.
Sunday
Churchill Downs race 1: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 1:00 p.m.)
No. 1 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 a sharp work tab at Churchill Downs highlighted by a bullet half-mile in 47.2 seconds, so there’s a chance his inexpensive purchase price will soon look like a bargain.
Churchill Downs race 2: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:30 p.m.)
No. 2 Bowstreet
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Paulo Lobo
Talk about a stellar pedigree. Bowstreet is a son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of Indian Miss, whose previous foals include champion male sprinter mitole and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Hot Rod Charlie. Only time will tell whether Bowstreet can achieve as much success as his heralded half-siblings, but encouraging workouts at Churchill Downs and The Thoroughbred Center suggest he has some ability.