Prospect Watch: 7 promising juveniles to follow at 3 tracks
This week, some of the most notable maiden special weights for 2-year-olds are taking place at Gulfstream Park, where several competitive grass contests are on the agenda.
But there also are intriguing maiden heats taking place at Aqueduct and Oaklawn, so let’s dig in and highlight seven new names to follow.
Thursday
Aqueduct race 9: Maiden special weight (1 1/8 miles, 1:18 p.m. EST)
No. 6 Rye Tigress
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Take Charge Indy–Uchitel, by Afleet Alex
Purchase price: $82,000
Trainer: Rob Atras
There’s a lot of class in the pedigree of Rye Tigress. Take Charge Indy won the Florida Derby (G1) and is the sire of Preakness runner-up Everfast plus the graded stakes-winning Kentucky Derby participants Long Range Toddy and Noble Indy. Uchitel is the dam of Southwest (G3) winner and Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher Suddenbreakingnews. Afleet Alex won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and is the sire of Breeders’ Cup winners Texas Red and Afleet Again. Whether all that class will translate to racing success for Rye Tigress remains to be seen, but any way you slice it she’s bred to handle racing 1 1/8 miles.
Friday
Oaklawn race 5: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:22 p.m.)
No. 10 Crushed It
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Dialed In–Pinch Hit, by Harlan’s Holiday
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brad Cox
Crushed It has been crushing his morning workouts at Churchill Downs. Half a mile from the starting gate in 47.6 seconds. Five furlongs in 1:00.8. Five furlongs in 1:00.6 from the starting gate. And five furlongs in 1:00.8. This Klein Racing homebred looks ready to challenge for victory while debuting for trainer Brad Cox, a 27 percent winner with first-time starters this year.
No. 13 Guarani
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Speightstown–Czechers, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: $425,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Guarani is an also-eligible entrant who needs a scratch to compete. If he draws in, the son of Champion Sprinter and successful sire Speightstown is an intriguing contender. Sold for $425,000 as a yearling, Guarani is a full-brother to the speedy Switzerland, a durable sprinter who won the 2022 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
Saturday
Gulfstream Park Race 8: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 3:32 p.m.)
No. 5 Carnival Dancer
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Ghostzapper–Santa Monica, by Mastercraftsman
Purchase price: $200,000
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Carnival Dancer is a son of 2004 horse of the year and successful sire Ghostzapper out of Santa Monica, a capable British-bred mare who won the Dance Smartly (G2), Sheepshead Bay (G2) and Orchid (G3) running 1 1/4 miles or farther on turf. Carnival Dancer is bred to improve with maturity and shine racing around two turns, so there’s long-term potential here.
No. 6 Wartime Recess
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: War Front–Sabbatical, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
A Phipps Stable homebred conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, Wartime Recess is a son of accomplished stallion War Front, who sires 14 percent winners from first-time turf starters per Brisnet stats. A long series of half-mile workouts at Belmont Park should have Wartime Recess fit for his debut, and his pedigree suggests racing one mile on turf will be right up his alley.
No. 15 I See You Lookin
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: City of Light–Economy of Motion, by Pleasantly Perfect
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
I See You Lookin is the second also-eligible entrant in this field and might opt to race on Sunday instead. (See below.) But regardless of where he runs, I See You Lookin warrants respect. The son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light sold for $400,000 as a yearling and breezed a half-mile over the Palm Beach Downs turf course last Saturday, so perhaps he showed enough in that workout to suggest a turf debut is suitable, even though his pedigree at first glance is geared toward success on dirt.
Sunday
Gulfstream Park Race 6: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 2:34 p.m.)
No. 2 I See You Lookin
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: City of Light–Economy of Motion, by Pleasantly Perfect
Purchase price: $400,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
I See You Lookin has made the main body of the field in Sunday’s contest and is slated to be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, who has gone 3-for-7, or 43 percent, teaming up with trainer Todd Pletcher in the last 60 days, according to Brisnet statistics. Don’t count I See You Lookin out of the mix.
Gulfstream Park race 6: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 2:34 p.m.)
No. 10 Royal Ascot
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Justify–Secret Thoughts, by War Front
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Are expectations high for Royal Ascot? Perhaps her connections hope the daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify will be able to compete at England’s prestigious Royal Ascot meeting someday. Certainly her pedigree suggests that’s a possibility. Justify is the sire of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Hard to Justify and three other Grade or Group 1 grass winners. Secret Thoughts paced in the Silver Flash (G3) on turf in Ireland, and War Front is responsible for a multitude of prominent grass stars. If Royal Ascot runs to her awesome pedigree, we may well see her compete at Royal Ascot in 2024.