Prospect Watch: Half to Cody's Wish is 1 of 7 newcomers
You don’t want to miss the 2-year-old racing action at Del Mar, Ellis Park and Saratoga this week. A half-brother to popular Breeders’ Cup champion Cody’s Wish is among the many well-bred juveniles in the entries.
Let’s highlight seven of the most interesting newcomers to know.
Friday
Ellis Park race 6: Maiden special weight, seven furlongs, 3:18 p.m. EDT
No. 1 Charlottesapproval
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Curlin’s Approval, by Curlin
Purchase price: $1 million
Trainer: Mark Casse
It’s no wonder why Charlottesapproval sold for $1 million as a yearling. She’s a daughter of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of Curlin’s Approval, a three-time graded stakes-winning daughter of two-time horse of the year Curlin. Charlottesapproval enters off fast half-mile workouts at Ellis Park (including a bullet move in 47.6 seconds from the starting gate), and if she’s inherited a fraction of the talent in her illustrious pedigree, she’ll be a fine racehorse.
No. 6 Floored
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Curlin–Baffled, by Distorted Humor
Purchase price: $350,000
Trainer: Victoria Oliver
As a son of Curlin out of Baffled, Floored is a beautifully bred half-sister to Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1) winner Constitution, who is perhaps best known as the sire of Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law. Floored enters her debut off a sharp series of workouts at Keeneland for hot trainer Victoria Oliver, who has gone 4-for-15 (27 percent) at Ellis Park since July 7, so don’t count this chestnut filly out of the win picture.
Saturday
Saratoga race 1: Maiden special weight, six furlongs, 1:10 p.m. EDT
No. 1 Risk It
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Wedding Jitters, by Broken Vow
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is set to debut Risk It, a son of 2017 horse of the year and hot young stallion Gun Runner. Risk It sold for $500,000 as a yearling and has put together an encouraging work tab highlighted by five furlongs over the Saratoga training track in 1:01.20 seconds, so this Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm colorbearer looks like a promising prospect.
No. 3 Hunt Ball
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Dance Card, by Tapit
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
Godolphin homebred Hunt Ball is the latest starter produced by Gazelle (G1) winner Dance Card, who is best known for foaling 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and fan favorite Cody’s Wish. Hunt Ball has put together a lengthy series of half-mile workouts over the Saratoga training track starting gate and ranks as one of the most exciting juveniles debuting this week.
No. 6 Act of Mutiny
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Quality Road–Sea Gull, by Mineshaft
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
The stoutly bred Act of Mutiny brings a productive pedigree to his debut. Sire Quality Road won four Grade 1 races, dam sire Mineshaft was voted 2003 horse of the year and dam Sea Gull has foaled Ben Ali (G3) winner Eagle, five-time Grade 2 winner Catalina Cruiser and Beldame (G2) heroine Royal Flag. Act of Mutiny is cut out for stardom and brings 16 timed workouts to his debut, though his pedigree suggests we’ll see his best efforts sometime down the road.
Del Mar race 7: Maiden special weight, 6 1/2 furlongs, 8:00 p.m. EDT
No. 1 Tamara
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro–Beholder, by Henny Hughes
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Tamara is the fourth starter produced by four-time Eclipse Award winner and three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder, whose previous foals include Señorita (G3) winner Teena Ella. Trained (like Beholder and Teena Ella) by Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, Tamara has put together a flashy work tab highlighted by five furlongs from the Del Mar starting gate in 59.20 seconds, suggesting this bay filly has talent.
No. 7 Flynn’s Chance
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro–Venetian Sonata, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $675,000
Trainer: Richard Mandella
The second Mandella trainee debuting in this field is Flynn’s Chance, a daughter of elite sire Medaglia d’Oro out of Mandella’s Las Virgenes (G3) winner Venetian Sonata. Flynn’s Chance sold for $675,000 as a yearling and clocked a quick five furlongs from the Del Mar starting gate in 59.80 seconds last month, so this Spendthrift Farm colorbearer has plenty of potential.