Prospect Watch: Half-sibling to Sandman debuts for Brown

This week's Prospect Watch highlights an impressive collection of horses with elite bloodlines making their debuts and early starts. The featured prospects include offspring of champion dams and horses with Grade 1-winning siblings. Several first-time starters carry prestigious pedigrees with connections to champion families, as second- and third-time starters look to build on promising early efforts.

Among the week's headliners, Pure Joy debuts as a daughter of Gun Runner out of the brilliant mare Pure Clan, who earned nearly $2 million and captured six graded stakes, including the Grade 1 American Oaks. Code Review is a 3-year-old full brother to the late Grade 2 winner and sire Laoban, and Spartacus is a full brother to Grade 1 winner Nest.

Wednesday

Tampa Bay Downs race 5 presents Paiute, a 3-year-old filly by Dubawi out of Grade 2 winner Homerique. The filly represents strong European breeding for trainer Chad Brown, who has her entered to go one mile on turf for owner Peter Brant. Homerique earned $783,000 and captured three graded stakes during her career. Morning-line odds of 2-1 reflect the confidence in this debut performance with Samy Camacho aboard from post 8.

Thursday

Fair Grounds race 7 features Pure Joy, the most impressive pedigree prospect of the week. This 3-year-old filly by Gun Runner is out of Pure Clan, a champion-level mare who earned $1.99 million and captured six graded stakes. The homebred from Three Chimneys Farm represents a partnership with Whisper Hill Farm and is trained by Steve Asmussen. Pure Clan also produced the listed stakes winner Princesa Carolina, a daighter of Tapit. Jose Ortiz has the mount for the 1 1/16-mile dirt debut, with morning-line odds of 5-2 reflecting high expectations from post 3.

Friday

Gulfstream Park race 8 showcases She Be Smooth, a 3-year-old filly by Lexitonian out of Grade 1 winner Seattle Smooth. Seattle Smooth is a Quiet American mare who earned $1 million and won four graded stakes, including the Ogden Phipps (G1). Trainer Todd Pletcher has secured Irad Ortiz Jr. for the one-mile dirt debut from post 2 for the Calumet Farm homebred. Seattle Smooth's success at the highest level provides strong foundation credentials for this first-time starter in a competitive maiden field.

Saturday

Fair Grounds race 7 presents Damascus Steel, a 3-year-old colt by Mitole with international pedigree credentials. This colt is a half-brother to Amani, a multiple Grade 1 winner in Chile who earned $385,000 and won eight graded stakes. Out of the Chilean mare Just Fine, Damascus Steel represents Sumaya Stables and is trained by Brad Cox. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. takes the mount for the six-furlong dirt debut from post 9, as the colt looks to translate his impressive family credentials to American racing.

Gulfstream Park race 2 features Beneficence, a 3-year-old filly by Into Mischief. She brings strong family credentials through her half-sister Jouster, a Grade 2 winner who earned $343,000 during her career. Out of the mare Playtime, this St. Elias Stable homebred is trained by Todd Pletcher with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard from post 3. The six-furlong dirt debut provides an opportunity to showcase the talent that runs through this accomplished female family.

Sam Houston race 7 features the debut of Clockin In, a 3-year-old colt by Not This Time out of Grade 1-winning dam Tiz Miz Sue. The daughter of Tiznow was a homebred for CresRan and earned over $1.13 million winning three graded stakes during her racing career. Trainer Kari Craddock has the colt ready for six furlongs on dirt with Deshawn L. Parker aboard at morning-line odds of 10-1.

Sunday

Gulfstream Park race 3 begins Sunday's action with Code Review making his debut. This 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo is out of the Speightstown mare Chattertown and boasts Grade 2 winner and sire Laoban as his top sibling. The late Jim Dandy (G2) winner earned $526,000 during his racing career and was a leading young sire before his untimely death. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for the partnership of C2 Racing Stable, Ken Reimer, JRM Stables and Tami Bobo, Code Review drew the outside post 8 with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount. The six-furlong dirt distance provides a suitable test for this well-connected newcomer.

Gulfstream Park race 7 brings together an exceptional collection of first-time starters with elite pedigrees. Spartacus, a 3-year-old colt by Curlin, headlines as a full brother to champion filly Nest, who earned $2.17 million and won multiple Grade 1 stakes. Out of Marion Ravenwood, this Coolmore partnership colt is trained by Todd Pletcher with John Velazquez from post 1. 

In the same Gulfstream race is Hickman Creek, a 3-year-old colt by Constitution trained by Brad Cox. The Juddmonte homebred earns his prospect status through his half-brother Laurel River, a Grade 1 winner who has earned $7.51 million during his stellar career. Hickman Creek will tackle one mile on dirt with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard from post position 2.

Finally, Canaletto makes his debut in the same race. The 3-year-old colt by Into Mischief is trained by Chad Brown. Bred by Lothenbach Stables, he races for the powerful ownership group of Mrs. John Magnier, Peter M. Brant, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Brook T. Smith. His Tapit half-brother Sandman captured the Arkansas Derby (G1) and earned $1.53 million, setting high expectations for this debut effort with Tyler Gaffalione taking the mount from the outside post.

Second- and third-time starters

Consider Me First makes her second career start at Tampa Bay Downs on Wednesday after finishing sixth in her debut at Belmont at Aqueduct on Oct. 16. This 3-year-old filly by Uncle Mo is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Mucho Unusual, who earned $957,000. Consider Me First earned a 73 HRN speed figure in her debut and will be ridden by Daniel Centeno for trainer Bill Mott with morning-line odds of 9-2.

Life and Times makes his third start in Saturday's Gulfstream Park race 8, the Fred Hooper (G3) after winning his last start by 6 3/4 lengths on Dec. 6. This 5-year-old horse by Justify is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Restless Rider, who earned $894,000. He earned a massive 132 HRN speed figure in his last victory and will be ridden by Jose Lezcano for trainer Todd Pletcher from post 1. His workmate, Accelerize, just won the Louisiana Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.