Prospect Watch: 9 promising 2-year-olds at Keeneland, Aqueduct
Opening week of the Keeneland fall meet features several competitive maiden special weights for 2-year-olds, and the entries are loaded with well-bred prospects.
Let’s check out seven newcomers at Keeneland, plus two at Belmont at the Big A for good measure.
Friday
Keeneland race 2: Maiden special seight (six furlongs, 1:32 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Royal Slipper
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Laffina, by Arch
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Royal Slipper is a daughter of champion 2-year-old male Uncle Mo and a full sister to Del Mar Debutante (G1), Chandelier (G1) and Starlet (G1) winner Bast, so it’s safe to say she’s bred to win from an early age. Royal Slipper has trained fast for high-percentage trainer Wesley Ward, so a winning debut may be in the offing.
No. 8 Lady Chai
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Kantharos–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: $570,000
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Lady Chai hails from a productive family. Her dam, Indian Bay, previously foaled Spinaway (G1) runner-up and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher Tarabi as well as Shivaji, winner of the Silk Road (G3) sprinting 1,200 meters on turf in Japan. This classy pedigree is surely one reason why Lady Chai sold for $570,000 as a yearling, and it stamps the bay filly as a prospect worth watching.
Belmont at the Big A race 7: Maiden special weight (one mile, 3:48 p.m.)
No. 6 Unique Insight
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Raucous, by Speightstown
Purchase price: $360,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
A son of 2017 horse of the year and hot sire Gun Runner, Unique Insight was produced by Chelsey Flower winner Raucous, a graded stakes-placed filly who previously foaled Saratoga’s Albany winner Drake’s Passage. Sold for $360,000 as a yearling, Unique Insight enters off a long series of half-mile workouts and has every chance to factor.
No. 7 Digital Ops
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Nyquist–Flora Dora, by First Dude
Purchase price: $600,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Acquired for $600,000 earlier this year, Digital Ops is a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of Busanda heroine Flora Dora, who placed against Grade 1 company in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). Digital Ops has put together a lengthy series of half-mile workouts and has the pedigree to shine over one mile, so he’s eligible to outrun his 8-1 morning-line odds.
Saturday
Keeneland race 2: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:32 p.m.)
No. 6 Gallant Mischief
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Bashful Bertie, by Quiet American
Purchase price: $480,000
Trainer: Mark Casse
A son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Gallant Mischief was produced by Bashful Bertie, best known as the dam of Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), Arlington Million (G1) and Secretariat (G1) winner Beach Patrol. Gallant Mischief has been cranking out bullet workouts with regularity for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and can’t be dismissed from win consideration.
No. 13 Bergen
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Liam’s Map–Toni’s Hollyday, by Hatlan’s Holiday
Purchase price: $375,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
If Bergen draws in off the also-eligible list, watch out. The son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) hero Liam’s Map is a half-brother to Test (G1) winner Chi Town Lady, so there’s a lot of speed in his pedigree. Bergen has put together a sharp work tab for two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox and could certainly be a stakes horse in the making.
Keeneland race 11: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 6:18 p.m.)
No. 1 Nash
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro–Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Godolphin homebred Nash is a son of elite sire Medaglia d’Oro out of three-time graded stakes winner Sara Louise, the dam of stakes winner Spa City and Gazelle (G2) runner-up Sara Street. Four consecutive five-furlong workouts at Churchill Downs should have Nash fit for a competitive debut under jockey Flavien Prat, a 31 percent winner teaming up with trainer Brad Cox over the last two months, according to Brisnet statistics.
No. 4 Rapoport
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Tiz Breathtaking, by Tiznow
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
A son of Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1) winner Constitution, Rapoport was produced by Tiz Breathtaking, winner of the Mazarine (G3) and a daughter of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow. This is a pedigree geared top and bottom toward success running long, so sprinting six furlongs on debut won’t necessarily be Rapoport’s strongest game. But he enters off a quick half-mile workout in 47.8 seconds from the Churchill Downs starting gate and appears to have talent.
No. 7 Booth
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Mitole–Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road
Purchase price: $225,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is set to debut Booth, a son of Asmussen’s Champion Male Sprinter Mitole out of Sophia’s Song. Mitole is off to a promising start at stud, and Sophia’s Song is the dam of recent Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future, so there’s a lot to like about Booth’s pedigree. He enters off a swift half-mile workout from the Churchill Downs starting gate in 47 seconds and looks like a win threat.