Prospect Watch: 8 promising debuts through the weekend
High-quality racing is taking place through Thanksgiving weekend at tracks across the U.S. In addition to an impressive stakes slate, competitive maiden special weights for 2-year-olds are abundant. I’ve analyzed the upcoming entries and identified eight unraced juveniles you need to know about.
Friday
Aqueduct race 4: Maiden special weight (one mile, 1:46 p.m. EST)
No. 4 The Hero Code
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Tapit–Photograph, by Unbridled’s Song
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
A son of three-time leading North American sire Tapit, The Hero Code was produced by Photograph, previously the dam of Flower Bowl (G1) heroine Civil Union and the classic-placed Prix de Guiche (G3) winner War Dispatch. This is a pedigree geared toward success running long, so it’s easy to understand why The Hero Code is debuting over one mile. A promising work tab highlighted by a bullet half-mile from the Belmont Park starting gate in 47.6 seconds suggests The Hero Code has talent to match his strong pedigree.
Fair Grounds race 9: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 5:45 p.m.)
No. 3 Hero Worship
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Adore You, by Tactical Cat
Purchase price: $350,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Hero Worship is bred like a star. His sire is champion 2-year-old male and successful sire Uncle Mo, and his dam is Adore You, whose previous foals include stakes winners Mind Reader, Piedi Bianchi and Outadore. The latter two runners placed at the Grade 1 level, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Hero Worship follow suit after putting together a sharp work tab at Turfway Park for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.
No. 7 B Fifty Two
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Flatter–Stormy B, by Cherokee Run
Purchase price: $47,000
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
As a son of Flatter out of Stormy B, B Fifty Two is a full-brother to Delta Downs Jackpot (G3) runner-up Hot Sean and a half-brother to stakes winners June Two Four, Storm Power and Itsaknockout, with the latter being a Fountain of Youth (G2) winner who competed in the Kentucky Derby. B Fifty Two has put together a decent work tab capped off by a half-mile from the Fair Grounds starting gate in 48.4 seconds, so he looks like a promising prospect for trainer Brendan Walsh.
No. 12 Phantom Speed
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Arrogate–Ghostslayer, by Ghostzapper
Purchase price: $700,000
Trainer: Michael Stidham
Sold for $700,000 as a yearling, Phantom Speed has shown speed in the mornings for trainer Michael Stidham, most notably clocking five furlongs from the Keeneland starting gate in 59.4 seconds. A son of champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate and a half-brother to Senator Ken Maddy (G3) winner Biddy Duke, Phantom Speed boasts a pedigree combing speed with stamina and looks ready to challenge for victory on debut.
Saturday
Churchill Downs race 8: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles, 4:18 p.m.)
No. 13 Hall of Fame
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Flag Day, by Giant’s Causeway
Purchase price: $1.4 million
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Acquired for $1.4 million as a yearling, Hall of Fame is a son of 2017 horse of the year and hot sire Gun Runner out of Flag Day, a daughter of three-time leading North American sire Giant’s Causeway and a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed turf router Street Ready. Promising workouts, highlighted by a bullet five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Churchill Downs, suggest Hall of Fame has talent to go along with his lofty purchase price.
Del Mar race 8: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 7:00 p.m.)
No. 10 Cornell
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Banree, by Macho Uno
Purchase price: $675,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
A $675,000 yearling acquisition, Cornell is a son of four-time, soon to be five-time, leading North American sire Into Mischief, who sires an excellent 15 percent winners from first-time starters, according to Brisnet statistics. Cornell has been cranking out fast workouts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, including a bullet five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 59.6 seconds. A winning debut isn’t out of the question even though Cornell will face his experienced stablemate Urban Legend.
Sunday
Churchill Downs race 8: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 4:18 p.m.)
No. 5 Hall of Fame
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Flag Day, by Giant’s Causeway
Purchase price: $1.4 million
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Hall of Fame is an also-eligible entrant in Saturday’s contest, so if he fails to draw in, this Sunday maiden special weight is an alternative spot. It might even be the preferred spot, since Hall of Fame has Churchill’s leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione named to ride.
No. 7 Riverwalk
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: More Than Ready–Escalante, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
Bill Mott has enjoyed success in recent years with Godolphin homebreds such as Cody’s Wish, Speaker’s Corner, and Caramel Swirl. Perhaps he can keep the momentum rolling with Riverwalk, a Godolphin homebred son of More Than Ready out of the stakes-placed Escalante. Riverwalk clocked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Churchill Downs earlier this month and can’t be dismissed from consideration, not when Mott is winning at better-than-usual 15 percent rate with first-time starters this year.
No. 8 Box Office
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: American Freedom–Academy Gal, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Since 2022, Brad Cox has compiled an excellent 9-for-40, or 23 percent, record debuting juveniles at Churchill Downs. Perhaps Box Office can add to that tally. He breezed a bullet five furlongs at Ellis Park on Saturday and has red-hot jockey Florent Geroux named to ride, so there’s a lot to like about this son of Haskell (G1) and Travers (G1) runner-up American Freedom.