Prospect Watch: First foals by Nyquist, Frosted ready to run

With Oaklawn Park closed for the season, and with a widespread reopening of tracks in the U.S. and Europe still a week or so away, we’re heading into a brief lull on the racing calendar.

Fortunately, Gulfstream Park will bridge the gap with a series of prominent races for youngsters this week. Among the highlights are a handful of quality maiden races for 2-year-olds, in which Grade 1 winners Nyquist and Frosted will be represented by their first starters.

Let’s add a few new names to our watch lists:

Friday

Gulfstream Park Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs, 1:35 p.m. ET)

#1 Carson City Kid (2-year-old)

A son of Uncaptured out of the Carson City mare Classy City Lady, Carson City Kid doesn’t have the most commercially popular pedigree, but he nevertheless sold for a respectable $140,000 as a weanling. His purchase price is owed in part to the success of his full sister Catherinethegreat, an early maturing filly who won the 2018 Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga as a juvenile. Mark Casse conditioned Catherinethegreat and likewise trains Carson City Kid, who has turned in a trio of three-furlong workouts in preparation for his debut. It’s hard to know what to expect off such a light work tab, but Carson City Kid has the pedigree and connections to enjoy success from an early age.

#2 Bailey (2-year-old)

It’s safe to say this Florida-bred son of Brethren hails from a winning family — his dam, Horah for Bailey, has produced nine winners from nine starters, including four-time stakes winner Bernie the Maestro and the graded stakes-placed Richard the Great. Owner/breeder Arindel, trainer Juan Alvarado and jockey Emisael Jaramillo have already enjoyed success in juvenile races at Gulfstream this spring, teaming up to score a pair of upset victories in races with favorites from the Wesley Ward barn. Bailey has been training steadily for his first test, cranking out a dozen workouts, so expect him to be right in the thick of things on debut.

#5 Breakthrough (2-year-old)

Now here’s an exciting prospect. Sold for $330,000 as a yearling, Breakthrough is set to become the first starter for 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. Under the care of the high-percentage trainer Ward, who strikes frequently with early-maturing juveniles, Breakthrough has turned in seven workouts at four tracks (including one turf course), so he already has quite a bit of experience under his belt.

A half-brother to stakes winner Red Vine, who placed in three Grade 1 races between a mile and 1 1/4 miles, Breakthrough will be ridden by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., guaranteeing that he’ll attract plenty of attention. Just take note: He’s cross-entered in Saturday’s second race at Gulfstream, so we’ll have to wait and see where Breakthrough winds up running.

#7 Prisoner (2-year-old)

Trainer Todd Pletcher and hot jockey Luis Saez will team up with Prisoner, a son of Violence out of the End Sweep mare Al Max Diner. Prisoner’s work tab isn’t overly eye-catching, but he did fire off a bullet half-mile in :48 2/5 over the slow track at Palm Beach Downs on April 17, suggesting he has more speed than first meets the eye. Sold for $175,000 just two months ago, Prisoner is a half-brother to the versatile Suncoast Stakes winner Manuka Honey, who placed in the Fantasy (G3) on dirt and the Miss Grillo (G3) on turf. Running long might ultimately prove to be Prisoner’s forte, so if he shows potential on Friday, expect improvement down the road.

Saturday

Gulfstream Park Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs, 12:45 p.m. ET)

#2 Restored Order (2-year-old)

Purchased for $420,000 just two months ago, Restored Order has wasted no time gearing up for his debut. Conditioned by Pletcher for the partnership of St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable, Restored Order has posted five workouts since the beginning of April and picks up Luis Saez for his debut. Produced by the Forestry mare Taboo, Restored Order is the first foal sired by brilliant Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Frosted to reach the races. Considering his lofty purchase price, plenty will be expected from Restored Order this Saturday.

#4 Breakthrough (2-year-old)

Cross-entered in Friday’s second race at Gulfstream; see above.

Gulfstream Park Race 11: Allowance Optional Claiming (6 furlongs, 5:31 p.m. ET)

#3 Tap It to Win (3-year-old)

Tap It to Win showed promise sprinting at Saratoga last summer for trainer Mark Casse. After finishing second in his debut on turf, the speedy son of Tapit romped home in a six-furlong dirt dash, winning by 3 1/2 lengths with strong speed figures (86 Beyer, 92 Brisnet). Tap It to Win subsequently faltered badly when finishing last in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Street Sense Stakes. But after taking the winter off, he’s come back to post a series of sharp workouts, culminating with five furlongs from the Palm Meadows starting gate in a bullet 1:00.00 on Apr. 24. Saturday’s allowance sprint for Florida-breds looks like a perfect spot for Tap It to Win to get back on track.