Prospect Watch: Lady Aurelia’s first foal debuts at Keeneland
The first foal produced by globetrotting multi-Group 1 winner Lady Aurelia ranks among the most exciting horses slated to debut this week.
Gulfstream Park and Keeneland have high-quality maiden special weights on the agenda, so let’s dig into the entries and highlight five first-time starters worth following.
Thursday
Gulfstream Park race 1: Maiden special weight (4 1/2 furlongs, 12:40 p.m. EDT)
No. 1 Sun Azteca
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Sharp Azteca–Northern Netti, by City Zip
Purchase price: $110,000
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Sun Azteca looks ready to challenge for victory. The daughter of Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) winner and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Sharp Azteca was produced by Bouwerie winner Northern Netti, previously the dam of Untapable winner North County. According to Brisnet statistics, trainer Jose D’Angelo wins at a 30 percent rate with horses debuting in maiden special weights, so the stats suggest Sun Azteca will fire a competitive shot on debut.
Keeneland race 2: Maiden special weight (4 1/2 furlongs, 1:32 p.m.)
No. 8 American Rascal
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–Lady Aurelia, by Scat Daddy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Wesley Ward
American Rascal is a Stonestreet Stables homebred born from the mating of two Stonestreet stars. Sire Curlin won a bevy of Grade 1 prizes and two horse of the year titles thanks to his prowess running long on dirt, and Lady Aurelia was an early-maturing turf sprinter who won the Prix Morny (G1) and King’s Stand (G1) in Europe. Curlin didn’t race at age 2, but Lady Aurelia won her debut as a juvenile during the Keeneland spring meet, a feat American Rascal will try to replicate. American Rascal has trained with promise for Wesley Ward, who also conditioned Lady Aurelia, and he has a strong chance to visit the winner’s circle.
Friday
Gulfstream Park race 3: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:42 p.m.)
No. 4 Party Favor
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Practical Joke–Lucky Rose, by Lookin At Lucky
Purchase price: $520,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Although Party Favor is a daughter of three-time Grade 1-winning sprinter-miler Practical Joke, the bottom half of her pedigree is a bit stouter. Her dam sire is two-time champion Lookin At Lucky, winner of the Preakness and the sire of long-winded racers such as 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House and 2018 champion older dirt male Accelerate. This combination of speed and stamina offers potential for success over a variety of distance, so Party Favor might turn out to be a nice filly for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Saturday
Keeneland race 6: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 3:40 p.m.)
No. 4 Mr. Keating
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Carpe Diem–Tweeterdini, by Bernardini
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Norm Casse
Triple Crown nominee Mr. Keating warrants respect in this maiden sprint for 3-year-olds. His sire won the Blue Grass (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, and Mr. Keating has shown speed in the mornings, most notably clocking a bullet half-mile from the Fair Grounds starting gate in 47.2 seconds. Throw in the fact he’ll be ridden by four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., and Mr. Keating can’t be dismissed from win consideration.
No. 7 Class Actor
3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Ghostzapper–Acting Class, by Distorted Humor
Purchase price: $230,000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox has been on fire at Keeneland, going 7-for-18 (39 percent) to start the spring meet, and he could keep his momentum rolling with Class Actor. A son of 2004 Horse of the Year and versatile sire Ghostzapper, Class Actor was nominated to the Triple Crown and put together a promising work tab in preparation for his debut. He clocked a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 at Keeneland earlier this week and looks like yet another promising colt from Cox’s deep barn.