Prospect Watch: 7 exciting sophomores from Asmussen, Cox
Fair Grounds and Oaklawn offer some of the best winter racing in the country. Certainly the two tracks are hosting the best maiden special weights for 3-year-olds Saturday, with a handful of high-profile contests drawing a bevy of promising young horses.
I've analyzed the entries and identified seven first-time starters worth watching on debut, including a half-sibling to champion Jackie’s Warrior.
Saturday
Fair Grounds race 5: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:00 p.m. EST)
No. 1 Unload
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Untapped, by Tapit
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
A Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred son of hot young sire Gun Runner, Unload has put together a solid series of workouts at Fair Grounds in recent weeks, including a near-bullet five furlongs in 1:00.6 on Feb. 3. The chestnut colt is eligible to win on debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has gone 13-for-54 (24 percent) to start the Fair Grounds meet. The presence of hot jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. (also a 24 percent winner at Fair Grounds) adds to the appeal.
No. 2 Ocean City
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: American Pharoah–Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred
Purchase price: $600,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
The second Asmussen trainee debuting in this field is Ocean City, a son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Dam Unicorn Girl already produced 2021 champion male sprinter Jackie’s Warrior, so Ocean City brings an elite pedigree to the table. Ocean City clocked five furlongs in a swift 1:00.6 on Feb. 3 at Fair Grounds and has Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in the saddle, suggesting he’s a legitimate win contender.
No. 4 Bishops Bay
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Triple Crown nominee Bishops Bay has been cranking out fast workouts at Fair Grounds, most notably speeding a bullet five furlongs in 59.6 seconds on Jan. 22. And it’s safe to say he has hot connections in his corner; trainer Brad Cox has gone 23-for-53 (43 percent) at Fair Grounds this meet, while jockey Florent Geroux has gone 16-for-34 (47 percent) teaming up with Cox over the last two months, according to Brisnet statistics. Sire Uncle Mo was a champion juvenile and dam Catch My Drift was a Grade 1-placed sprinter, so fast workouts, high-profile connections and a classy pedigree stamp Bishops Bay as an exciting prospect.
No. 6 First Mission
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Street Sense–Elude, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Cox also is slated to debut First Mission, a Godolphin homebred son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense out of a mare by multiple Grade 1 winner Medaglia d’Oro. This is a strong pedigree geared toward success running long, and First Mission’s quick workouts (highlighted by a bullet five furlongs from the Fair Grounds starting gate in one minute) hint he has talent to complement his breeding.
Oaklawn race 5: Maiden special weight (one mile, 3:35 p.m.)
No. 10 Heroic Move
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Quality Road–Family Tree, by Smart Strike
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Cox also has promising runners debuting at Oaklawn, where he’s gone 10-for-47 (21 percent) this meet. The first we’ll highlight is Triple Crown nominee Heroic Move, a son of four-time Grade 1 winner Quality Road out of Iowa Oaks (G3) and Indiana Oaks (G2) winner Family Tree. Bred and owned by Gary and Mary West Stables, Heroic Move enters off five consecutive five-furlong workouts at Oaklawn, the last four of which he completed in less than 1:01. A competitive debut should be in the offing.
Oaklawn race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 4:38 p.m.)
No. 3 Mullikin
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Violence–Tulira’s Star, by Congrats
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Sold for half a million dollars as a yearling, Mullikin is a son of juvenile Grade 1 winner Violence, who sires a lofty 19 percent winners from first-time starters, according to Brisnet statistics. Mullikin breezed a fast half-mile from the Oaklawn starting gate in 48 seconds earlier this month and can’t be dismissed from consideration. After all, trainer Rodolphe Brisset has gone 5-for-13 (38 percent) at Oaklawn this meet and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. has likewise been hot with a 26-for-121 (21 percent) record.
No. 5 Miracle Worker
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Talk Show, by Smart Strike
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
A son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Miracle Worker has put together a sharp work tab at Oaklawn dating to mid-December. He clocked a bullet half-mile in 47.6 seconds on Dec. 18, posted a fast half-mile from the starting gate in 47.8 seconds on Jan. 8 and recently traveled five furlongs in 1:00.8. This Gary and Mary West Stables homebred is nominated to the Triple Crown and warrants watching on debut.