Prospect Watch: 7 well-bred fillies debut this weekend
Normally in Prospect Watch, I focus on highlighting colts and geldings debuting on dirt, in hopes of identifying future Kentucky Derby contenders.
But I'm taking a different approach this week, zeroing in on seven promising fillies getting started on turf and Tapeta. The group includes a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another.
Friday
Turfway Park race 7: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, 8:55 p.m. EDT)
No. 6 Mystic Pleasure
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Good Magic–Disposablepleasure, by Giacomo
Purchase price: $210,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Remember Disposablepleasure? The 2011 Demoiselle (G2) and 2013 Sixty Sails Handicap (G3) winner hit the board in a bevy of graded stakes during her accomplished career, including the Mother Goose (G1). Now she’s the dam of Mystic Pleasure, a Good Magic filly debuting at Turfway. Good Magic sires a respectable 17 percent winners from first-time starters acording to Brisnet stats, so look for Mystic Pleasure to factor on debut for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.
Turfway Park race 9: Maiden special weight (six furlongs on Tapeta, 9:55 p.m.)
No. 5 All That
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Flatter–Cash Control, by Pioneerof the Nile
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Another Cox filly debuting on Friday is All That, a daughter of Flatter out of Cash Control. Flatter is the sire of 2017 champion 3-year-old male West Coast, and Cash Control won five stakes for Cox during a decorated career, so there’s a lot of class in All That’s pedigree. She breezed a sharp half-mile in 48.2 seconds at Turfway earlier this month and warrants respect in her first run under colors.
No. 7 Keen Point
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Keen Ice–Ask the Question, by Silver Deputy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Gerardo Rodriguez
Let’s see… Keen Ice won the Travers (G1) and is the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike. Ask the Question is the dam of Heart to Heart, an 11-time graded-stakes winner who twice scored at the Grade 1 level on grass. A Calumet Farm homebred, Keen Point is bred to improve with maturity for hot trainer Gerardo Rodriguez (a 33 percent winner at Turfway this meet), so keep an eye on Keen Point in the long run.
Saturday
Gulfstream Park race 1: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 11:30 a.m.)
No. 2 Ogema Bay
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro–Madame du Lac, by Lemon Drop Kid
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Although Medaglia d’Oro is best known for siring top-notch dirt runners such as 2009 horse of the year Rachel Alexandra and two-time champion Songbird, he also sired elite grass stars such as Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Talismanic and Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty. That bodes well for Ogema Bay, a half-brother to two-time Turf Classic (G1) winner Divisidero and Tale of the Cat Stakes winner Gunnison. Both Divisidero and Gunnison were best on turf, so Ogema Bay has the pedigree to factor in Saturday’s grass contest.
No. 4 Mo Town Mayhem
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Town Tour, by Speightstown
Purchase price: $350,000
Trainer: Mark Casse
Mo Town Mayhem has put together a sharp series of workouts in preparation for her debut, capped off by a bullet five furlongs over the Palm Meadows turf course in 58.85 seconds. That she’s shown promise isn’t surprising since Mo Town Mayhem is a full sister to Souper Hoity Toity, winner of the Ontario Colleen (G3) on turf and the Selene (G3) on Tapeta. Mo Town Mayhem is eligible to fire a strong shot on Saturday.
No. 7 Gloria’s Princess
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Cairo Prince–Gloria S, by Tapit
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
It’s easy to see why Gloria’s Princess is debuting on turf. She’s a half-sister to Harvey’s Lil Goil, whose grass exploits included a win in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Only time will tell whether Gloria’s Princess can achieve a similar level of success, but she’s breezed several times over the Palm Meadows turf course and can’t be dismissed from consideration on debut.
Gulfstream Park race 8: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 1:56 p.m.)
No. 9 The Archangel
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro–Arch’s Gal Edith, by Arch
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Roger Attfield
One of the best-bred runners debuting this week is The Archangel. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was produced by Arch’s Gal Edith, which makes The Archangel a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another. The Archangel is also a full-sister to the talented filly Golden Award, winner of the Shuvee (G3) and Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) as a 4-year-old in 2019.
With such a dirt-focused pedigree in her corner, it’s a little surprising to see The Archangel debuting on turf, but she’s posted a couple of workouts over the Payson Park grass and warrants respect for trainer Roger Attfield, a 27 percent winner with horses debuting on turf, according to Brisnet stats.