Prospect Watch: Azeri’s grandson stretches out in distance

Juvenile racing is heating up across the country, with competitive maiden heats scheduled at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park this week. But 3-year-old maidens also will be in action led by the beautifully bred Ashiham, a grandson of the grat Azeri set to make his two-turn debut at Churchill.

Let’s check out a half-dozen prospects worth following as May winds down:

Friday, May 29

Churchill Downs Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (5 furlongs, 1:30 p.m. ET)

#1 Nautilus (2-year-old)

A son of Holy Bull (G2) winner Cairo Prince, Nautilus was produced by the Congrats mare Pantanal, previously the dam of the Grade 1-placed sprinter Borracho. But though Borracho was a speedster, Congrats placed in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), so Nautilus is arguably bred to be at his best running two turns on dirt. Sprinting five furlongs as a juvenile is unlikely to be his forte, though the gray colt has recorded some quick workouts at Keeneland, including a bullet half-mile from the starting gate in :46 1/5 on May 16. Sold for $130,000 in March and conditioned by hot trainer Brad Cox, Nautilus will debut with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in the saddle, and Velazquez has been striking at a 23 percent rate during the current Churchill meet.

#12 Knicks Front (2-year-old)

One of the first runners sired by Wood Memorial (G1) winner Outwork, Knicks Front has shown some serious speed during morning workouts. Under the care of Brad Cox, Knicks Front has cranked out four straight half-mile breezes at Keeneland, posting times of :47 2/5, :47 3/5, :46 1/5 (a bullet move from the starting gate) and :47 2/5. Produced by the stakes-placed Trippi mare Pretty Miss Trippi, Knicks Front sold for $190,000 earlier this year and figures to race prominently from the start under jockey Florent Geroux, a 23 percent winner at Churchill so far this meet. He is campaigned by the same KRA Stud Farm as Grade 1 winner Knicks Go.

Saturday, May 30

Churchill Downs Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles, 4:40 p.m. ET)

#3 Mau Mau (3-year-old)

While Mau Mau never threatened to win his debut traveling 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream on April 3, he did show some late interest while facing talented rivals, rallying from last place to finish fourth behind the promising Candy Machine. A son of Belmont Stakes champion Empire Maker out of the graded stakes-placed Medaglia d’Oro mare Tokyo Time, Mau Mau is bred to thrive running long and should improve with maturity, making this Bill Mott-trained youngster one to fear in his second start. Jockey Joel Rosario (a 21 percent winner this year) retains the mount, and if Mau Mau flashes more early speed than in his debut, victory can be within reach.

#4 Fifty Grand (3-year-old)

You can’t ask for a much classier pedigree than the one possessed by Fifty Grand, a son of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah out of a mare by Horse of the Year and renowned sire A. P. Indy. A Triple Crown nominee conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Fifty Grand was in serious training last summer before heading to the sidelines. Since returning to the work tab in January after bone chip surgery, Fifty Grand has turned in nine workouts, including some quick half-mile moves at Oaklawn during the winter. Lukas rarely wins with first-time starters, but Fifty Grand has the pedigree to be a nice runner and hot jockey Martin Garcia takes the mount.

#9 Ashiham (3-year-old)

Could the third time be the charm for Ashiham? A son of top stallion Tapit, Ashiham was produced by the graded stakes-winning mare Wine Princess, herself a daughter of Horses of the Year Ghostzapper and Azeri. With such a regal pedigree, it’s easy to understand why Ashiham sold for $800,000 as a yearling.

Ashiham failed to show much tactical speed in his first two starts sprinting at Gulfstream, but he rallied well enough on both occasions to finish fourth and second against classy competition. Trainer Todd Pletcher will equip the colt with blinkers for his two-turn debut, a combination that figures to place Ashiham closer to the early pace under jockey John Velazquez. A bullet five-furlong breeze in 1:00.00 on May 22 at Palm Meadows adds to the appeal, suggesting Saturday could be Ashiham’s time to shine.

Gulfstream Park Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (5 furlongs, 1:15 p.m. ET)

#7 Gruntled (2-year-old)

From the first crop of champion sprinter Runhappy out of the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence, who hit the board three times in Grade 1 company, Gruntled is bred to be a fast and classy prospect. Sold for $230,000 as a yearling, the John Servis-trained youngster has put together a solid if not overly remarkable work tab at Palm Meadows, including a half-mile from the starting gate in :49 on May 9. Servis is striking at a 20 percent rate this year, and jockey Paco Lopez has gone 5-for-13 (38 percent) when teaming up with Servis over the last two months. As a January foal, Gruntled may have a slight maturity advantage in Saturday’s sprint.