Prospect Watch: Curlin filly out of millionaire dam tops debuts

Prospect Watch highlights young horses with elite bloodlines making debuts and early career starts at major racetracks like Keeneland, Belmont at Aqueduct and more. This week's selections feature first-time starters with connections to graded-stake winners and stakes-producing dams from all over the world.

Several horses debut with particularly impressive pedigrees, including offspring of Grade 1-winning dams and half-siblings to major stakes winners. Notable among the week's debuts is Pause, a daughter of Curlin out of Grade 3 winner Lull, and The Hell We Did, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Senor Buscador.

Thursday

Belmont at Aqueduct race 1 features Endernite, a 2-year-old colt by Hard Spun out of Grade 3 winner Hessonite. The homebred for William J. Punk Jr. and Philip DiLeo will make his debut over six furlongs on turf with Dylan Davis taking the mount for trainer David G. Donk. Hessonite earned $879,644 during her racing career, which included a win in the 2013 Beaugay (G3) on the grass.

Also debuting in that same Belmont at Aqueduct race is Mr. Mashigina, a 2-year-old colt by Maclean's Music. He is a half-brother to Innovative, a Grade 3 winner last month down the Santa Anita hill. Out of the mare Lantiz, this colt is owned by Michael Dubb and The Elkstone Group and trained by Chad Brown. Manny Franco has the mount from the rail in the six-horse field.

Belmont at Aqueduct race 8 features Consider Me First, a 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo who carries exceptional family credentials through her half-sister Mucho Unusual, a Grade 1 winner on turf who earned $957,415 on the track. Out of the mare Not Unusual, Consider Me First is also half to Big Score, a Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed on the grass. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has the homebred filly ready for one mile on turf with John Velazquez aboard for owner George Krikorian.

Competing in that same race is Just Aloof, a 2-year-old filly by Justify out of the Galileo mare Aloof. This Whisper Hill Farm homebred brings solid graded stakes bloodlines through her Ireland-bred dam, a Group 3 winner who earned $170,939 during her career. Chad Brown trains the filly, who will have Manuel Franco riding from post five.

Keeneland race 6 showcases Thunder Buck, a 2-year-old colt by Gun Runner making his debut for trainer Brad Cox. This Calumet Farm homebred is out of Grade 3 winner Oxy Lady, who earned $181,246 during her racing career. The combination of Gun Runner's proven success with young horses and the Grade 3-winning dam creates significant expectations for this seven-furlong dirt debut. Florent Geroux takes the mount, with the colt listed at 8-1 on the morning line.

Later Thursday evening, in the eighth race at Remington, The Hell We Did makes his debut. The 2-year-old colt by Authentic is out of the seven-time stakes winner Rose's Desert, a Desert God mare who has already produced Grade 1 winner and $12.9 million earner Señor Buscador. David Cabrera rides for trainer Todd Fincher, who also conditioned Señor Buscador. The Hell We Did is the 9-2 second choice on the morning line for the six-furlong maiden special weight dirt sprint.

Friday

Keeneland race 4 presents Lion Lake, a 2-year-old filly by Dark Angel making her second career start for trainer Brendan Walsh. This Ireland-bred filly earned her prospect status through her half-brother Alfareeq, a Group 1 winner in Dubai who has earned $762,981 so far in his career. She finished fourth in her debut at Kentucky Downs, beaten 6 1/4 lengths while earning an 85 Horse Racing Nation speed figure. Tyler Gaffalione rides the 5-2 morning line favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for owner Emcee Stable.

Keeneland race 8 features Aeolian, a 3-year-old filly by Tapit making her second start after a disappointing debut. This Gainesway homebred is by Tapit out of the Grade 3-placed Dunkirk mare Danzatrice. This makes her a full sister to Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice, an earner of $1.87 million. She finished fifth in her debut at Saratoga, beaten 15 3/4 lengths while earning an 84 HRN speed figure. Chad Brown trains the filly for owner Gainesway Stable, with Jose Ortiz taking the mount for the 1 1/16-mile dirt test.

Saturday

Keeneland race 3 headlines Saturday's action with Naughty by Nature, a 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief making her racing debut. This filly is out of Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories, who earned $549,056 and captured two Grade 1 victories as a juvenile. The combination of Into Mischief's exceptional record with juvenile fillies and the Grade 1-winning dam makes this debut particularly noteworthy. Trainer Rusty Arnold has the filly ready for six furlongs on dirt, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard at 8-1 morning line odds.

Also competing in that Keeneland race is Signed With Love, a 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo out of the Consolidator mare Love Contract. This makes her a half-sister to Grade 1-winning dirt sprinter Bella Sofia, who earned $871,600 during her career. Eddie Kenneally trains Signed With Love for owners Doug Arnold, Joe Arnold and Corrin Clark, with Luis Saez riding from post 11 at 15-1 morning-line odds.

Keeneland race 7 features Pause, a 2-year-old filly by Curlin making her debut for trainer Tom Drury Jr. This Claiborne Farm homebred is out of Grade 3 winner Lull, who earned $1.01 million and captured two stakes at Kentucky Downs during her racing career. The filly represents the powerful breeding combination of Curlin with a proven graded stakes-winning dam from the extended family of horse of the year Saint Liam as well as Quiet Giant, the dam of Gun Runner. Cristian Torres takes the mount for the six-furlong dirt sprint, with the filly listed at 12-1 on the morning line for owners Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.

Keeneland race 7 also features Solemn Vow, a 2-year-old filly by Constitution making her third career start. This Stonestreet-bred filly is the half-sister to Grade 1 winner Prince of Monaco, who earned $587,000 during his racing career. She showed significant improvement in her last start at Churchill Downs, finishing third and beaten just two lengths while earning a 96 HRN speed figure. Trainer Al Stall Jr. has her ready for six furlongs on dirt with Tyler Gaffalione aboard at 3-1 morning line odds for Spendthrift Farm.

Keeneland race 10 presents Shane's the Brains, a 2-year-old filly by Nyquist making her second career start. This Reddam Racing homebred earned her prospect status through her half-brother Slow Down Andy, a Grade 1 winner who earned $1.28 million during his career. She finished fourth in her Kentucky Downs debut, beaten 7 1/4 lengths while earning a 78 HRN speed figure. Trainer Doug O'Neill moves her to one mile on turf with Frankie Dettori aboard at 9-2 morning line odds.

Project Ace makes his second start Saturday in Keeneland race 2 after finishing third in his debut at Churchill Downs on Sept. 18. This 2-year-old colt by War of Will earned an 80 HRN speed figure in his debut and is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Mr. Money, who earned $1.36 million during his career. Out of the winning Tiznow mare Plenty O'Toole, the colt races for Albaugh Family Stables with Dale Romans training and Corey J. Lanerie riding at 6-1 morning-line odds.