Prospect Watch: 8 to know at Saratoga, Ellis, Del Mar
This week's best bred debuts include a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run ranks among the best bred juveniles scheduled to debut during the second week of August.
Let’s check out eight newcomers to know at Del Mar, Ellis Park and Saratoga.
Friday
Ellis Park race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:50 p.m. EDT)
No. 3 Cats by Five
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Audible–Catticus, by Bluegrass Cat
Purchase price: $575,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
A son of Florida Derby (G1) winner Audible, Cats by Five was produced by Catticus, previously the dam of Whitmore (G3) winner Bob’s Edge and Zia Park Princess winner Watch Me Burn. Long-term expectations are likely high for this $575,000 yearling acquisition, though he’s posted only five modest workouts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, so there’s a chance Cats by Five will benefit from getting a race under his belt.
No. 10 Mo Rhodes
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Quality Road–Mo d’Amour, by Uncle Mo
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Dale Romans
The immediate pedigree of Mo Rhodes is filled with stakes winners. He’s a son of four-time Grade 1 winner and successful sire Quality Road out of the multiple graded-stakes-placed Busher winner Mo d’Amour, a daughter of champion Uncle Mo and previously the dam of Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Southlawn. Acquired for $300,000 as a yearling, Mo Rhodes has put together nine timed workouts in advance of his debut and can’t be dismissed from win consideration.
Saturday
Ellis Park race 4: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 2:22 p.m.)
No. 2 Liquor Talk
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Oscar Performance–K. D.’s Shady Lady, by Maria’s Mon
Purchase price: $50,000
Trainer: Dale Romans
Although Liquor Talk sold for only $50,000 as a yearling, the son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Oscar Performance is a half-brother to a quartet of stakes winners: Clement L. Hirsch (G1) heroine Lady of Fifty, Likely Exchange winner Bella Conchita, Sunny’s Halo winner Forestry Steel and Washington Oaks winner Lady Fifty Two. Only time will tell whether Liquor Talk can emulate the success of his half-siblings, but after posting 11 timed workouts at Churchill Downs he should be fit and ready for his debut.
Saratoga race 5: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 3:20 p.m.)
No. 1 Eliminate
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–I’m a Looker, by Henny Hughes
Purchase price: $525,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
A son of two-time Horse of the Year and elite sire Curlin out of Winning Colors (G3) winner I’m a Looker, Eliminate has a pedigree that combines speed with stamina. He enters off fast workouts at Saratoga, including a bullet half-mile from the starting gate in 47.11 seconds, and looks ready to score under four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
No. 2 Chaperone
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–It Tiz Well, by Arch
Purchase price: $950,000
Trainer: Ron Moquett
Talk about a classy pedigree. Chaperone is a son of Curlin out of It Tiz Well, who won the Cotillion (G1), Delaware Oaks (G3) and Honeybee (G3) during her accomplished career. Sold for $950,000 as a yearling, Chaperone is bred to improve with maturity, so don’t expect him to fire his strongest shot on debut. But down the road, this chestnut colt could turn into something special.
No. 8 Informed Patriot
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Hard Spun–Yawkey Way, by Grand Slam
Purchase price: $90,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
As a son of Kentucky Derby runner-up and successful sire Hard Spun out of Saratoga’s Anne M. Clare winner Yawkey Way, Informed Patriot is a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run and a half-brother to California Oaks winner Tap It All. Informed Patriot has posted a dozen timed workouts for trainer Steve Asmussen, including a quick five furlongs in 1:00.4 seconds at Churchill Downs, and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Del Mar race 8: Maiden special weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 8:30 p.m.)
No. 6 Point Dume
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Maya Malibu, by Malibu Moon
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Bob Baffert
A son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Point Dume has been cranking out fast five-furlong workouts at Del Mar. On July 24, he clocked a bullet 58.8 seconds from the starting gate. On July 30, he went from the starting gate in 59.8 seconds. Last Saturday, he posted a non-gate move in 59.6 seconds. This classily bred bay colt looks ready to challenge on debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
No. 8 Pastor T
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Top Quality, by Quality Road
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bob Baffert
The second Baffert-trained son of Into Mischief debuting in this field is Pastor T, who breezed five furlongs in 59 seconds on July 26 at Del Mar before following up with a five-furlong gate work in 59.8 seconds last Saturday. Pastor T’s dam is three-time stakes winner Top Quality, and Del Mar’s leading jockey Juan Hernandez is named to ride, so a winning effort may be in the offing. It’s worth noting Hernandez has won at a 48 percent rate teaming up with Baffert in the last two months, according to Brisnet stats.