Prospect Watch: First foal of Venetian Harbor debuts for Cox

This week's Prospect Watch showcases young horses with elite bloodlines making their racing debuts and early career starts. From Grade 1-winning dam connections such as Rutherienne and As Time Goes By to horses carrying the bloodlines of champions such as Life Is Good and Kopion, this week's selections put some of the best pedigrees in the game in the spotlight. The lineup includes both promising first-time starters and lightly raced prospects showing early signs of stakes potential.

Wednesday

Churchill Downs race 5 features Tap to Give, a 2-year-old filly by Tapit making her debut. She is the first starter out of the Grade 2-winning Candy Ride mare Rideforthecause, a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Say the Word. Vincent Cheminaud has the mount for trainer Daniel Leitch as the filly tackles one mile on turf from post position 8. Owned by KatieRich Stables, she carries morning-line odds of 15-1 in a competitive, oversubscribed field of 12 plus four on the also-eligible list.

Thursday

Churchill Downs race 8 features the debut of Paradise, the first starter out of three-time Grade 2 winner Venetian Harbor, a Munnings mare who earned $699,400 and won graded races over both dirt and turf. Trainer Brad Cox has Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard the 2-year-old daughter of Gun Runner for the six-furlong dirt sprint. The LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing-owned filly is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line in the overflow field, with 12 plus four on the also-eligible list. Paradise drew post 12.

Also competing in that Churchill Downs race is Tap This Way, a 2-year-old filly by Tapit who brings Triple Crown sibling connections. Her half-brother Sir Winston won the 2019 Belmont Stakes and earned $1.28 million during his career. Out of the Grade 3-winning Afleet Alex mare La Gran Bailadora, this Tracy Farmer homebred is also half to Spanish Star, the dam of Grade 1 winner Kilwin and Grade 2 winner One Timer. Florent Geroux rides from post 3 for trainer Mark Casse, and Tap This Way is 10-1 on the morning line.

Possible for that Churchill Downs race is Emporium, if she draws into the field. The 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief is out of Grade 1 winner Miss Shop, who earned $1.13 million during her racing career and captured three graded-stakes victories including the 2007 Personal Ensign (G1). Her half-sister Tin Type Gal, by Tapit, earned $292,609 in a career that featured two Grade 3 wins. Trainer Michelle Elliott has the Machmer Hall homebred ready for six furlongs on dirt with Emmanuel Esquivel aboard. She was given 12-1 morning-line odds and will draw into the field if there are four scratches.

Friday

Prize Pick, a 2-year-old colt by Tiz the Law, breaks from the rail in Friday's eighth race at Churchill Downs, a six-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt. He is a half-brother to Tiztastic, winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) and earner of almost $1.6 million. Trainer Brian Lynch named Luis Saez aboard for the Flying Dutchmen color-bearer, who carries 5-1 morning-line odds in the 15-horse field.

Del Mar race 4 features Babe Ruthless, a 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride making his debut. He is out of Grade 1 winner Rutherienne, who earned $1.30 million and captured eight graded-stakes victories during her stellar career. Bred by Payson Stud, Babe Ruthless races for Maciariello, D K Racing and Radley Equine. Trainer Dan Blacker has Armando Ayuso aboard to ride 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt from the rail in an eight-horse field.

Aqueduct race 4 may feature Dark Force making his debut for trainer George Weaver. This 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief is a half-brother to 2016 Test Stakes (G1) winner Paola Queen, who earned $431,490 on the track. Out of the Grade 3-placed Kafwain mare Kadira, Dark Force is entered in the six-furlong maiden special weight for main-track only. John Velazquez is named to ride the George Weaver trainee, a Newtown Anner Stud Farm homebred.

Saturday

Aqueduct race 4 features Royal Quest, a 2-year-old colt by Not This Time making his debut with Grade 1 sibling connections. His half-sister Constellation captured the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes and earned $620,000 during her career. Out of For Royalty, this Summer Wind Equine homebred will tackle 1 1/16 miles on turf with Jose Lezcano aboard from post 1. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott oversees the preparation for this promising turf debut.

Second- and third-time starters

Several lightly raced prospects with Grade 1 connections also compete this week. Quality Ami, a 2-year-old filly by Essential Quality, is a half-sister to the recently retired multiple Grade 1 winner Kopion, who earned $1.20 million. She is also half to Grade 3 winner and Canada champion Amis Gizmo and Grade 3 winner Ami's Flatter. Quality Ami lines up Wednesday for a six-furlong maiden special weight dirt sprint at Horseshoe Indianapolis after earning a 63 HRN speed figure in her previous start Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs. Tom Amoss trains the filly, a third-time starter, for owner Ivan Dalos.

Melody Maker, a 2-year-old filly by Maclean's Music, is out of Grade 2 winner Fiftyshadesofhay, who earned almost $1.1 million and captured four graded-stakes victories. The Tracy Farmer-owned filly makes her third start Wednesday at Churchill Downs race 5 on turf with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard at 7-2 morning-line odds. The Mark Casse trainee will go a mile on the grass and can improve on her return to the lawn.

Project Ace returns for his third career start in the Churchill Downs opener Saturday. This 2-year-old colt by War of Will is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Mr. Money, who earned $1.36 million and captured five graded-stakes victories. After finishing second by a nose in his last start at Keeneland on Oct. 18, earning a 92 Horse Racing Nation speed figure, he returns to dirt for 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Dale Romans has Corey Lanerie aboard for Albaugh Family Stables from post 3 in a field of eight.

Sunday, Churchill Downs race 8 features Fashion Designer making her third career start. This 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief is the younger sister of champion Life Is Good, who earned $4.54 million and captured eight graded stakes, including the 2022 Whitney Stakes (G1) and the 2021 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. After finishing second in her last start at Churchill Downs on Sept. 25, earning a 93 HRN speed figure, Fashion Designer returns for 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt. Trainer Brad Cox has Florent Geroux aboard for Gary and Mary West, and the filly starts from post 6 in a field of 12 plus three also-eligibles.