Prospect Watch: Full sibling to champ Essential Quality debuts

This week's Prospect Watch highlights young horses with exceptional pedigrees making their racing debuts or returning for their second and third starts. 

The headliners include first-time starters such as Delightfully, a Tapit filly who is a full sister to Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality, and Sayula, an Into Mischief filly out of the dam of Grade 1 winner Letruska. The 2-year-olds include several making their debuts with promising connections.

Tuesday

Horseshoe Indiana race 4 showcases Tarzana, a 3-year-old filly by Street Boss making her second career start. She is out of Glittering Jewel and is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Encino. Trainer Brad Cox has the Godolphin homebred ready for one mile on dirt with Marcelino Pedroza Jr. taking the mount at 2-1 morning-line odds. Her debut came at Fair Grounds on March 13, where she finished seventh beaten 10 3/4 lengths in a maiden special weight on turf, earning an 88 Horse Racing Nation speed figure.

Also at Horseshoe Indy race 2, Al Mustaneera makes her third career start in an allowance race. This 3-year-old filly by Munnings is out of Grade 3 winner Summer in Saratoga. She won her last start at Mahoning Valley on March 23 by 6 1/2 lengths, earning a 103 HRN speed figure. Trainer Andrew McKeever has her ready for six furlongs on dirt with Danny Sheehy aboard for Shadwell Farm at 8-1 morning-line odds.

Wednesday

Keeneland race 5 features Join, a 3-year-old colt by Connect making his third start in maiden claiming company. He is out of Amen Again and is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Sprawl. Tom Drury Jr. trains the Claiborne Farm homebred, who will tackle six furlongs on dirt with Jose Ortiz aboard at 15-1 morning-line odds. His last race was at Turfway Park on Feb. 14, where he finished seventh in a maiden special weight on synthetic, earning an 89 HRN speed figure.

Keeneland race 8 presents Vermelho, a 4-year-old colt by Constitution making his second start in maiden special weight company. He is out of Grade 3-placed Ruby Lips and is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Lone Rock. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has the homebred ready for 1 1/8 miles on turf with Jose Ortiz riding at 10-1 morning-line odds. His debut came at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28, where he finished eighth beaten 11 3/4 lengths, earning a 74 HRN speed figure.

Also at Keeneland race 8, Intuitive Wisdom makes his third career start. This 4-year-old colt by American Pharoah is out of Grade 1 winner Unbridled Mo and is trained by Nicholas Vaccarezza. The homebred for Red Oak Stable will run 1 1/8 miles on turf with Mario Gutierrez aboard at 20-1 morning-line odds. His last outing was a third-place finish at Delaware Park on Oct. 12, where he was beaten two lengths and earned an 89 HRN speed figure.

Thursday

Aqueduct race 1 features Asked and Answered, a first-time starter by Tapit making his debut in maiden claiming company. The 3-year-old colt is out of Grade 2 winner Faypien and is trained by Chad Summers for Gold Square. Luis R. Rivera Jr. will ride the Stonestreet-bred colt six furlongs on dirt. 

Aqueduct race 3 showcases Pomerance, a 3-year-old filly by Curlin making her third career start. She is out of Grade 2 winner Pomeroys Pistol and is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Thousand Words. Trainer Chad Brown has the Jeff Drown and Don Rachel homebred ready for one mile on turf with Manny Franco aboard. Her last race was a third-place finish at Aqueduct on March 6, where she was beaten three lengths and earned a 90 HRN speed figure.

Aqueduct race 4 features several notable prospects, including Flying Hawley, a first-time starter by Curlin out of Grade 2 winner Vault. Trainer Shug McGaughey has the Stonestreet homebred ready for seven furlongs on dirt with Edgard Zayas riding for DATTT Stable.

Gulfstream Park race 3 presents Delightfully, a first-time starter by Tapit who is a full sister to Belmont Stakes winner and champion Essential Quality. The 3-year-old filly is out of Grade 3-placed Delightful Quality and will make her debut for trainer Brad Cox with Samy Camacho aboard at 8-5 morning-line odds. She is a homebred for Godolphin.

Keeneland race 6 features Episodic, a first-time starter by Uncle Mo who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Obligatory. The 3-year-old filly is out of Uno Duo and will make her debut for trainer Bill Mott with Flavien Prat taking the mount at 8-1 morning-line odds. She races for Juddmonte and was bred by the same operation.

Oaklawn race 7 showcases Champagne Liberal, a 3-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro making his second start. He is out of Grade 3 winner Chart and will tackle one mile on dirt for trainer Donnie Von Hemel with Abel Cedillo aboard at 10-1 morning-line odds. His last race was a second-place finish at Oaklawn on April 9, where he was beaten 2 1/2 lengths in maiden claiming company and earned a 97 HRN speed figure.

Friday

Keeneland race 4 presents Damascus Steel, a 3-year-old colt by Mitole making his third start in claiming company. He is out of Just Fine and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Amani. Trainer Brad Cox has the colt ready for 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for Sumaya U.S. Stables. His last race was a victory at Fair Grounds on Feb. 21, where he won by 1 1/4 lengths and earned a 107 HRN speed figure.

Keeneland race 6 showcases Tesouro de Pirata, a 4-year-old filly by Accelerate making her second start in allowance company. She is out of Grade 1 winner Colorado Girl and won her last start last June at Los Alamitos, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths and earning a 110 HRN speed figure. Trainer Jose Luiz Aranha has the Brownwood Farm homebred ready for about seven furlongs on dirt with Gabriel Saez aboard.

Saturday

Gulfstream Park race 1 features Sayula, a first-time starter by Into Mischief who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Letruska. The 3-year-old filly is out of Grade 2-placed Magic Appeal and will make her debut for trainer Todd Pletcher with Joe Bravo aboard. She races for Saint George and was bred by St. George Stables. The turf debut at one mile is unusual for this family.

Also in Gulfstream Park race 1, Aporia makes her third career start. This 3-year-old filly by War Front is out of Complicated and is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Simply in Front. Trainer Miguel Clement has her ready for one mile on turf with Paco Lopez aboard for Manzanita Stables. Her last race was a second-place finish at Tampa Bay Downs on March 29, where she was beaten 6 1/4 lengths and earned a 99 HRN speed figure.

Lone Star Park race 9 presents Bye Bye Palmer, a 3-year-old filly by Uncle Mo making her second start in allowance company. She is out of Grade 2 winner My Wandy's Girl and is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner My Prankster. Trainer Todd Fincher has the Stonestreet-bred ready for one mile on turf with Christian Ramos aboard for owner B4 Farms. Her last race was a victory at Sunland Park on March 22, where she won by 1 3/4 lengths and earned an 86 HRN speed figure.

Sunday

Gulfstream Park race 10 features Silent Impact, a 3-year-old colt by Gun Runner making his second start. He is out of Soothing Touch and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Emollient. Trainer Bill Mott has the Juddmonte homebred ready for one mile on turf with Edwin Gonzalez aboard. His last race was a sixth-place finish at Gulfstream Park on March 28, where he was beaten 33 3/4 lengths in maiden special weight company and earned a 52 HRN speed figure.