Prospect Watch: Full brother to Roy H debuts at Churchill
Churchill Downs continues to card high-class maiden special weights for juveniles with impressive regularity. Among the notable entrants this week is a full brother to Breeders’ Cup winner Roy H.
But I also have to highlight a beautifully bred youngster debuting at Belmont at the Big A in this week’s action-packed edition of Prospect Watch.
Thursday
Churchill Downs race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 7:25 p.m. EDT)
No. 2 Devils Red
Age: 2
Pedigree: More Than Ready–Elusive Diva, by Elusive Quality
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Although Devils Red is listed at 8-1 on the morning line, he’s well worth watching. Trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill, Devils Red is a son of internationally successful stallion More Than Ready out of Elusive Diva, which makes Devils Red a full sibling to two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Roy H.
Devils Red has been training fast at Keeneland, most recently clocking five furlongs in a bullet 59.8 seconds. That moved followed a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate in 1:00.4. It appears this Calumet Farm homebred has talent to accompany his impressive pedigree.
No. 5 Tres Soles
Age: 2
Pedigree: Justify–Chocolate Souffle, by Tapit
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
A son of Triple Crown winner and hot young stallion Justify, Tres Soles was produced by a Tapit mare, giving the chestnut colt a pedigree geared top and bottom toward success over classic distances.
Bettors shouldn’t necessarily expect Tres Soles to fire his strongest shot sprinting six furlongs on debut, though the $400,000 yearling acquisition has shown a bit of speed in the mornings for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Any sort of encouraging effort on Thursday could be a sign of big things to come for this Winchell Thoroughbreds color bearer.
No. 8 Double Barrel
Age: 2
Pedigree: Gun Runner–She’s All Scat, by Scat Daddy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Gun Runner is siring winners left and right these days, so take heed when Double Barrel debuts for two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. As a son of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare She’s All Scat, Double Barrel’s pedigree is packed with class.
Double Barrel worked a bullet five furlongs from the Ellis Park starting gate in 1:00.6 earlier this month and did it easily, earning a “handily” tag from the clocker. Cox has debuted many good horses on the Kentucky circuit (including classic winners Mandaloun and Essential Quality), and Double Barrel could well be the next Triple Crown type to emerge from Cox’s barn.
Friday
Churchill Downs race 5: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 2:45 p.m.)
No. 6 Nomadic Pride
Age: 2
Pedigree: Flatter–Cayala, by Cherokee Run
Purchase price: $325,000
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Although Nomadic Pride doesn’t boast the flashiest pedigree at first glance, there’s a lot of class in her bloodlines. Sire Flatter is responsible for champion West Coast and Grade 1 winners Flat Out, Taris, Search Results and Paola Queen, while dam Cayala has foaled Southwest (G3) winner One Liner and Woody Stephens (G1) third-place finisher Provocateur.
Nomadic Pride has been cranking out quick workouts at Churchill Downs, highlighted by a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate in 1:00.8. Don’t be surprised if she fires a winning shot on debut for hot trainer Tom Amoss.
Churchill Downs race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:50 p.m.)
No. 6 Miss Quest
Age: 2
Pedigree: Nyquist–Marissa’s Joy, by Cee’s Tizzy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: William Morey
One of the best-bred youngsters slated to debut this week is Miss Quest. The gray filly is a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of Marissa’s Joy, the dam of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Richard’s Boy and four-time stakes-winning sprinter Marissa’s Lady.
Although Nyquist achieved his greatest victories running long, he matured early enough to win the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1) and earn champion 2-year-old male honors at the Eclipse Awards, so Miss Quest has the pedigree to show speed from an early age. She’s put together a lengthy work tab at Churchill Downs and can’t be dismissed from contention on debut.
Saturday
Belmont at the Big A race 5: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 3:05 p.m.)
No. 4 Limits of Power
Age: 2
Pedigree: Good Magic–Modification, by Vindication
Purchase price: $575,000
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Could Limits of Power be the next graded-stakes star for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey? The son of champion juvenile and Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic is a half-brother to Forego (G1) winner Yaupon, so Limits of Power’s pedigree blends stamina and speed with a double dose of class.
Limits of Power fired off a bullet work over the Belmont Park training track on Sept. 17, clocking half a mile from the starting gate in a swift 47 seconds. This pricey $575,000 yearling acquisition looks like a good one.