Prospect Watch: 9 new names you need to know
Another week, another action-packed slate of maiden special weights taking place across the country.
The list of pricey and/or well-bred 3-year-olds debuting this week is impressive. I'm exploring nine of the most notable names (including a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution) in this week’s edition of Prospect Watch.
Saturday
Tampa Bay Downs race 1: Maiden special weight (one mile and 40 yards, 12:25 p.m. EST)
No. 7 Champagne Juan
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Justify–Well Monied, by Maria’s Mon
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Christophe Clement
It’s easy to see why Champagne Juan sold for $500,000 as a yearling. He’s a son of Triple Crown winner Justify out of Honeymoon Handicap (G2) winner Well Monied, who placed twice at the Grade 1 level. Champagne Juan has twice posted bullet five-furlong workouts at Payson Park and has hot Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho named to ride, so victory on debut is a distinct possibility for this Triple Crown nominee.
No. 8 Arch Runner
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Archstone, by Arch
Purchase price: $750,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
The stoutly bred Arch Runner is a half-brother to Proctor’s Ledge, a talented turf filly who won the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2), Lake Placid (G2) and Lake George (G3) during a productive career. Arch Runner hasn’t compiled the flashiest work tab, but trainer Todd Pletcher boasts a strong 6-for-18 (33 percent) record debuting sophomores on dirt at Tampa since 2018, so we can’t count Arch Runner out of the mix.
Gulfstream Park race 3: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:08 p.m.)
No. 3 Favorable Scenario
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Good Magic–Lemon Gin, by First Samurai
Purchase price: $200,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
A son of Kentucky Derby runner-up and hot young sire Good Magic, Favorable Scenario has been breezing quickly at Payson Park. The Chad Brown trainee clocked a bullet half-mile in 49 seconds on Jan. 22, then repeated the distance in a bullet 49.4 seconds last Saturday. Dam Lemon Gin has already foaled stakes winner Best of Me, so Favorable Scenario looks like a possible star in the making.
Aqueduct race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 2:49 p.m.)
No. 10 Everso Mischievous
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Ever So Clever, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: $85,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Triple Crown nominee Everso Mischievous brings a beautiful pedigree to his debut. The son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief was produced by the Medaglia d’Oro mare Ever So Clever, winner of the Fantasy (G3) during the spring of her sophomore season. Everso Mischievous has turned in three bullet workouts under the care of high-percentage trainer Brad Cox and looks ready to challenge on debut.
Gulfstream Park race 10: Maiden special weight (one mile, 4:37 p.m.)
No. 4 Justice Department
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Indygita, by Indygo Shiner
Purchase price: $230,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Sold for $230,000 as a yearling, Justice Department has been cranking out half-mile workouts with regularity at Payson Park, posting nine such moves since Dec. 12. Hot young sire Gun Runner is responsible for 19 percent winners from first-time starters, according to Brisnet statistics, so don’t dismiss this Triple Crown nominee from contention.
No. 8 Dreamlike
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Time to Tap, by Tapit
Purchase price: $975,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
The second son of Gun Runner debuting in this field is Dreamlike, a Triple Crown nominee whose dam sire is three-time leading North American sire Tapit. This classy pedigree is geared toward success running long, so it’s not surprising to see Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher debuting Dreamlike over one mile. The chestnut colt clocked a bullet five furlongs in 1:02.02 on Jan. 22 at Palm Beach Downs and warrants respect.
Sunday
Gulfstream Park race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:07 p.m.)
No. 3 Hollywoodland
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Quality Road–Union City, by Dixie Union
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Purchased for half a million dollars as a yearling, Hollywoodland boasts an impressive pedigree. The daughter of four-time Grade 1 winner and successful sire Quality Road is a half-sister to Unified, a three-time graded-stakes winner who ran second in the Carter Handicap (G1). Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has sent Hollywoodland through a lengthy series of workouts at Payson Park and the Belmont Park training track, suggesting she’s ready to roll.
No. 4 Legendary
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Justify–Jojo Warrior, by Pioneerof the Nile
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
It’s safe to say Legendary is bred to shine running long. The daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify was produced by Jojo Warrior, a daughter of Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile. Jojo Warrior won the Summertime Oaks (G2) and Torrey Pines (G3) racing one mile to 1 1/16 miles, and Pioneerof the Nile is the sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Sprinting six furlongs on debut is unlikely to be Legendary’s strong suit, but four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride, so don’t be surprised if Legendary fires a big shot on Sunday. Regardless whether she wins or loses, expect Legendary to improve down the road.
No. 6 Paleta
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Collected–Polly Freeze, by Super Saver
Purchase price: $210,000
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
There’s plenty of class in the pedigree of Paleta. Sire Collected won the Pacific Classic (G1), dam Polly Freeze previously produced Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) winner Americanrevolution and dam sire Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby. Paleta breezed a bullet half-mile in 48 seconds last month and appears to have talent to go along with her quality pedigree.