Prospect Watch: Lady Eli's colt debuts at Saratoga
Prospect Watch spotlights young thoroughbreds poised to make their mark on the sport. From first-time starters carrying the bloodlines of champions to lightly raced horses showing early promise, these selections represent the next generation of potential stars. Each horse has earned their place through exceptional breeding credentials, featuring connections to Grade 1 winners and stakes-producing dams.
This week features an exceptional collection of debut prospects, highlighted by Dr. Agne, a 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief out of Grade 1 winner Lady Eli racing Friday at Saratoga. This is the champion mare's first foal to race in the U.S. Check out the highlights below.
Tuesday
Salty Ryan opens the week's action at Finger Lakes in race 6. He is a 3-year-old colt by Tom's d'Etat making his career debut. This son of the young stallion has earned his prospect status through his half-sister Skye Diamonds, a Grade 2 winner who earned $690,000. The colt will face 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt in a maiden special weight, with Luis E. Perez aboard for trainer William H. Bartlett. Morning line odds of 5-2 show respect for the breeding credentials and suggest connections believe this colt is ready to make an immediate impact.
Wednesday
Fuzzy makes her debut at Delaware Park race 3. She is a 3-year-old filly by Practical Joke with strong family credentials through her half-sister Bellamore. That Grade 3 winner earned over $716,000, establishing this as a proven female family. The filly will tackle about one mile on turf in a maiden special weight contest, with Jaime Rodriguez riding for trainer Arnaud Delacour. Starting from post 7 in an eight-horse field with 6-1 morning line odds, Fuzzy represents Gainesway Stable in what could be a noteworthy debut performance.
Thursday
Cool Lester Smooth headlines Thursday's action at Horseshoe Indianapolis race 5. This 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride makes his first career start. This son of the proven stallion has earned his prospect ranking through his half-sister Faypien, a Grade 2 winner who earned $445,000. The delayed debut suggests connections have taken time to properly develop this prospect before his racing introduction. Orlando Mojica rides for trainer Chris M. Block, with morning line odds of 4-1 reflecting moderate expectations for the five-furlong turf debut.
Saratoga features two notable first-time starters on Thursday in race 6. Aporia, a 2-year-old filly by War Front, carries exceptional credentials through her half-sister And One More Time, winner of the Grade 1 Natalma who earned $496,000. Their dam, Complicated has also produced 2024 Delware Handicap (G2) winner Honor D Lady and Simply In Front, winner of the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs. The War Front bloodline has proven particularly effective with fillies, especially on turf surfaces. And One More Time is by Utah Beach, a son of War Front, and Simply In Front is sired by Summer Front, also a War Front son. Miguel Clement trains for Manzanita Stable with Flavien Prat in the irons.
So It Begins joins the same Saratoga race 6 as another debut prospect. The 2-year-old filly by Caravaggio is a three-quarter sister to Chilean champion, Il Campione. Il Campione, sired by Scat Daddy, won two legs of the Chilean Triple Crown before making a lone US start. He is a leading sire in Chile. Tom Proctor traines this Glen Hill Farm homebred, and Jose Lezcano will ride.
Resurge makes her second career start at Saratoga race 7. The 3-year-old filly is a Juddmonte homebred by Constitution is out of Grade 1 winner Close Hatches. The filly has a notable half-brother in Tacitus, a Grade 2 winner who earned over $4.2 million. In her first start on June 6, she was fifth beaten 12 lengths going seven furlongs. This stretch-out to 1 1/8 miles could be the distance she needs to excel. Bill Mott trains this prospect and Joel Rosario rides, adding significant appeal to her second-time starter status.
Friday
Dr. Agne headlines Friday's prospects at Saratoga race 6. He is a 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief making his career debut. This son of the leading stallion carries impeccable credentials through his dam Lady Eli, a Grade 1 winner who earned nearly $3 million during her spectacular racing career. Lady Eli captured multiple Grade 1 victories including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Belmont Oaks, establishing herself as one of the premier turf fillies of her generation. The combination of a champion sire and Grade 1-winning dam creates exceptional anticipation for this debut performance. Cherie DeVaux, who played an integral role in Lady Eli's career as an assistant to Chad Brown, takes on the trainer duties herself. Dr. Agne is owned by Madaket Stables, Twin Brook Stables and Belladonna Racing. Jose Ortiz has the ride.
Saturday
Atropa headlines Saturday's debuts at Saratoga race 2. A 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief out of Grade 3 winner Bellera, this daughter of the top stallion represents a proven female family, as Bellera earned $327,000. The Into Mischief bloodline has shown exceptional success with 2-year-old fillies, making this debut particularly noteworthy. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has taken time to properly develop this prospect before her racing introduction. Stonestreet bred this filly, who is owner by a partnership of Belladonna Racing, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing and B.C.W.T.
Fancy Footwork enters Saratoga race 2 as another strong debut prospect, being a 2-year-old filly by Curlin out of Grade 1 winner Tara's Tango. The dam earned over $806,000 during her racing career and has continued her success as a broodmare, producing Grade 3 winner Capensis. Curlin's offspring typically show improvement with maturity and distance, suggesting this debut could serve as a foundation for future success at longer trips. Rising trainer Amelia Green conditions this filly with significant pedigree credentials.
Ginger Ale completes the trio of Saturday debuts at Saratoga race 2. This 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief has impressive family credentials through her half-sister Search Results. That Grade 1 winner earned over $1.9 million and captured multiple elite victories, establishing this as one of racing's premier female families. The Into Mischief sire line continues to produce exceptional juveniles, making this debut particularly interesting. Rodolphe Brisset trains this prospect for what promises to be a competitive maiden special weight contest.
Three Sixty rounds out Saturday's Saratoga prospects in race 6, a 2-year-old filly by Twirling Candy out of Grade 3 winner Two Sixty. The dam earned $479,000 during her racing career and has proven herself as a producer of quality runners. Anthony Dutrow trains this filly, who carries the breeding credentials to make an immediate impact in her debut performance.
| Date | Track | Type | Horse | Div | Sire | Dam | Trainer | Top Sibling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-time starters | ||||||||
| 7/8 | FL | MSW | Salty Ryan | 3M | Tom's d'Etat | Exonerated | William H. Bartlett | Skye Diamonds (G2) |
| 7/9 | DEL | MSW | Fuzzy | 3F | Practical Joke | Smart N Soft | Arnaud Delacour | Bellamore (G3) |
| 7/10 | IND | MSW | Cool Lester Smooth | 3M | Candy Ride | Mighty Eros | Chris M. Block | Faypien (G2) |
| 7/10 | SAR | MSW | Aporia | 2F | War Front | Complicated | Miguel Clement | And One More Time (G1) |
| 7/10 | SAR | MSW | So It Begins | 2F | Caravaggio | Global Gold | Tom Proctor | Il Campione (G1) |
| 7/11 | GP | MSW | Princess Milly | 3F | Gift Box | Princesa Coqueta (G1) | Manny Real | |
| 7/11 | SAR | MSW | British Invasion | 2M | Lope de Vega | Paraphernalia | Miguel Clement | Max Vega (G3) |
| 7/11 | SAR | MSW | Dr. Agne | 2M | Into Mischief | Lady Eli (G1) | Cherie DeVaux | |
| 7/11 | SAR | MSW | Honoree | 2M | Code of Honor | Figure of Beauty | Shug McGaughey | Vergara (G3) |
| 7/12 | SAR | MSW | Atropa | 2F | Into Mischief | Bellera (G3) | Cherie DeVaux | |
| 7/12 | SAR | MSW | Fancy Footwork | 2F | Curlin | Tara's Tango (G1) | Amelia J. Green | Capensis (G3) |
| 7/12 | SAR | MSW | Ginger Ale | 2F | Into Mischief | Co Cola | Rodolphe Brisset | Search Results (G1) |
| 7/12 | SAR | MSW | Three Sixty | 2F | Twirling Candy | Two Sixty (G3) | Anthony W. Dutrow | |
| 7/13 | ELP | MSW | Equator | 2M | Uncle Mo | Moiety | Eoin G. Harty | Verity (G2) |
| 7/13 | ELP | MSW | Gelato | 2M | Candy Ride | Layreebelle | Mark Casse | Three Witches (G2) |
| 7/13 | ELP | MSW | Way Beyond | 2M | Twirling Candy | On My Way | Steve Asmussen | King Zachary (G3) |
| 7/13 | PRM | MSW | Ole Mikey Bagels | 2M | Honor A. P. | Cianchetta | Tanner Tracy | Angel Nadeshiko (G3) |
| Second-time starters | ||||||||
| 7/8 | IND | MCL | Emissary | 3F | Cloud Computing | Peace Opportunity | Anna M. Meah | First Peace (G2) |
| 7/8 | IND | MCL | Tarshea | 3F | Sottsass | Annabelle Ja | Brad Cox | Libranno (GB) (G2) |
| 7/9 | BTP | MCL | My Kentucky Lily | 3F | Frosted | My Kentucky Rose | John Ennis | Uncharacteristic (G3) |
| 7/9 | CNL | MSW | Rodina | 3F | More Than Ready | Emma Spencer | Ignacio Correas, IV | Nagirroc (G3) |
| 7/9 | CNL | MSW | Town Light | 3F | City of Light | Tafaneen | Phil Schoenthal | Safeen (G3) |
| 7/9 | DEL | MSW | Panama Canal | 3F | English Channel | La Extrana Dama (G1) | Horacio De Paz | |
| 7/9 | IND | ALW | Beach Chat | 4F | Omaha Beach | Discreet Chat | Justin Wojczynski | Discreet Lover (G1) |
| 7/10 | CNL | MSW | Montador | 3M | Nyquist | Lady Montdore (G2) | Michael Stidham | |
| 7/10 | SAR | MSW | Chrysalism | 2F | Liam's Map | Pachattack (G3) | Graham Motion | Liquid Amber (G3) |
| 7/10 | SAR | MSW | All the Feels | 3F | Into Mischief | Positive Spirit (G2) | Danny Gargan | |
| 7/10 | SAR | MSW | Lost Horizon | 3F | Into Mischief | Wow Cat (G1) | Chad Brown | |
| 7/10 | SAR | MSW | Resurge | 3F | Constitution | Close Hatches (G1) | Bill Mott | Tacitus (G2) |
| 7/11 | PRM | MCL | Barn Buster | 3M | Isotherm | Phoenicia | David D. McShane | Cool Arrow (G3) |
| 7/11 | SAR | MSW | Epic Desire | 2M | Uncle Mo | Brooklynsway (G3) | Todd Pletcher | Adare Manor (G1) |
| 7/12 | FP | MCL | Chica Con Suerte | 3F | West Coast | Stately (G3) | Jada C. Schlenk | |
| 7/12 | PRM | MSW | Clearly Clover | 2F | Thousand Words | Solid Scam | Lynn Chleborad | Chancheng Glory (G3) |
| 7/12 | SAR | MSW | Tater Tot | 3F | Complexity | Street Minstrel | Miguel Clement | Street Band (G1) |
| 7/13 | LS | MSW | Michiga | 2F | Shancelot | Big Sink Star | Ronnie E. Cravens III | Calgary Cat (G2) |
| Third-time starters | ||||||||
| 7/9 | CNL | MSW | Sutton Suzie | 3F | Twirling Candy | Adventure | Jane Cibelli | Laughing Lashes (G2) |
| 7/9 | CNL | ALW | Evershed | 3F | Churchill | Balankiya | Arnaud Delacour | Bayrir (G1) |
| 7/9 | IND | MSW | Gotanotiontodrink | 3M | Notional | Tanquerray | Randy Klopp | Leave No Trace (G1) |
| 7/10 | HAW | MCL | Rodavlas | 3M | More Than Ready | La Tia (G1) | Elias Lopez | |
| 7/11 | CNL | MOC | More Than Cute | 2M | More Than Ready | Battling Brook | Carlos Munoz | Warrior's Charge (G3) |
| 7/11 | GP | MSW | Bon Vivant | 3F | Union Rags | Simply Confection | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Simplification (G2) |
| 7/11 | SAR | STK | Flat Out Time | 3F | Not This Time | Flat Out Speed (G3) | George Weaver | |
| 7/11 | SAR | MCL | Holy Dancer | 3M | Munnings | Slow Sand | Nicholas P. Zito | King Guillermo (G2) |
| 7/11 | SAR | AOC | Asbury Park | 3M | Frankel | Limonar | Chad Brown | Spanish Mission (G2) |
| 7/12 | ELP | ALW | Magic Escapade | 4F | Medaglia d'Oro | Don't Leave Me (G3) | Tom Drury, Jr. | |
| 7/13 | ELP | MSW | Wartank | 3M | Tapit | Unenchantedevening | Kenny McPeek | Moonshine Memories (G1) |
Legend:
Div: Age and sex. 2F for 2-year-old fillies, 2M for 2-year-old males (colts/geldings), etc.
Top sibling (highest graded stakes): The sibling with the highest level of graded stakes won (G1, G2, G3) followed by the most money won if two siblings are at the same level.
Bolded names are mentioned in the article.