Prospect Watch: McGaughey debuts $1.7 million 2-year-old

I'm going all out for this week’s edition of Prospect Watch. With Churchill Downs, Los Alamitos and Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) all opening for action, it's difficult to keep track of all the promising 2-year-olds slated to debut.

Let’s check out nine of the best-bred and most expensive youngsters in the entries:

Thursday

Churchill Downs race 5: Maiden special weight (one mile, 6:56 p.m. EDT)

No. 10 Tiz Twenty Twenty

Age: 2

Pedigree: Tiznow–Healthy Addiction, by Boston Harbor

Purchase price: N/A

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

There’s a lot to like about the pedigree of Tiz Twenty Twenty. Sire Tiznow won two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Classic and enjoyed strong success as a source of stamina at stud, while dam Healthy Addiction won the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1) and previously foaled Vanity (G1) winner My Sweet Addiction.

Tiz Twenty Twenty is debuting with blinkers and picking up apprentice jockey Rene Diaz, who rides with a five-pound weight allowance. Tiz Twenty Twenty is a 15-1 long shot on the morning line, but perhaps he can outrun expectations for trainer Michael McCarthy, who has gone 6-for-33 (18 percent) saddling first-time starters this year.

Friday

Belmont at the Big A race 1: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:00 p.m.)

No. 4 Signator

Age: 2

Pedigree: Tapit–Pension, by Seeking the Gold

Purchase price: $1.7 million

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Sold for $1.7 million earlier this year, Signator is bred top and bottom for stakes success. He’s a son of three-time leading North American sire Tapit out of the Seeking the Gold mare Pension, previously the dam of Mystic Lake Derby winner Giant Payday, Futurity (G2) winner Annual Report, and Adirondack (G2) heroine Thoughtfully.

Both Annual Report and Thoughtfully secured their signature victories at age 2, and Tapit has sired multiple juvenile champions, so Signator has the pedigree to win from an early age. He warrants watching under hot jockey Joel Rosario.

No. 6 Quick Hammer

Age: 2

Pedigree: Mor Spirit–Malibu Cove, by Malibu Moon

Purchase price: $100,000

Trainer: Brad Cox

Although Quick Hammer sold for only $100,000 earlier this year, his pedigree carries a lot of class. Sire Mor Spirit was a brilliant winner of the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), and dam Malibu Cove already has foaled La Brea (G1) winner Kalypso.

Quick Hammer has shown speed in the mornings at Saratoga, and trainer Brad Cox has been strong with first-time starters this season, going 23-for-91 (25 percent). Don’t be surprised if Quick Hammer fires a strong shot in his debut.

Churchill Downs race 5: Maiden special weight (one mile, 2:45 p.m.)

No. 5 Prosecution

Age: 2

Pedigree: Justify–Singita, by Holy Bull

Purchase price: $220,000

Trainer: Ron Moquett

A son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify (who is siring 22 percent debut winners, according to Brisnet statistics), Prosecution was produced by Singita, whose six previous starters include the long-winded Possibly Perfect winner Lemoona.

Both Justfy and Lemoona won stakes racing 1 1/4 miles (and even 1 1/2 miles in Justify’s case), so Prosecution has the potential to thrive racing one mile on debut. He has put together a lengthy work tab at Churchill Downs highlighted by five furlongs in a quick 1:00.8, so don’t count Prosecution out of the mix.

No. 6 Cyclone Mischief

Age: 2

Pedigree: Into Mischief–Areyoucominghere, by Bernardini

Purchase price: $450,000

Trainer: Dale Romans

You can usually count on Dale Romans to campaign a talented 2-year-old during the fall. In recent years, Giant Game, Sittin On Go, Dennis’ Moment, Free Drop Billy, Brody’s Cause and Not This Time all have enjoyed strong juvenile seasons under Romans’s care. Perhaps Cyclone Mischief will follow suit.

A son of three-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Cyclone Mischief has been training with promise at Churchill Downs, even clocking a bullet five furlongs in 59.2 seconds on Sept. 2. This $450,000 yearling acquisition looks ready to challenge on debut and maybe even develop into a Breeders’ Futurity (G1) contender.

Saturday

Churchill Downs race 5: Maiden special weight (6 1/2 furlongs, 2:45 p.m.)

No. 5 Loggins

Age: 2

Pedigree: Ghostzapper–Beyond Blame, by Blame

Purchase price: $460,000

Trainer: Brad Cox

It’s easy to see why Loggins sold for $460,000 as a yearling. The bay colt is a son of 2004 Horse of the Year and successful sire Ghostzapper out of Beyond Blame, winner of the Regret (G3) and a daughter of champion Blame.

Both Ghostzapper and Blame won the Breeders’ Cup Classic, so Loggins has the pedigree to stretch out in distance. But first he’s debuting in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint, and his morning workouts (including a couple of bullet five-furlong moves at Churchill Downs last month) suggest he’s fast enough to vie for victory.

No. 12 Create Trouble

Age: 2

Pedigree: Into Mischief–No Curfew, by Curlin

Purchase price: $870,000

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Create Trouble appears to have a perfect pedigree for pursuing the Triple Crown. Into Mischief has sired Kentucky Derby winners Authentic and Mandaloun, and Curlin’s classic stars include Preakness winner Exaggerator, Belmont Stakes hero Palace Malice, and Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic.

Create Trouble sold for $870,000 as a 2-year-old in training and doubtlessly brings high hopes to his debut. His work tab isn’t overly flashy, but he has been breezing steadily since mid-May and should be fit for a competitive run in his first try under colors.

Los Alamitos race 9: Maiden special weight (one mile, 7:28 p.m.)

No. 7 Nielson

Age: 2

Pedigree: Curlin–My Wandy’s Girl, by Flower Alley

Purchase price: $850,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Bob Baffert doesn’t often debut juveniles racing one mile or farther, but he’ll make an exception with Nielson, who sold for a hefty $850,000 as a yearling.

A son of Curlin, Nielson was produced by My Wandy’s Girl, an accomplished Puerto Rican campaigner who won the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2) after shifting to the U.S. My Wandy’s Girl already has made noise as a broodmare, foaling Swale (G3) winner My Prankster, so there’s speed in Nielson’s pedigree to balance the stamina of Curlin. This chestnut colt is shaping up as a promising prospect.

No. 9 Gandolfini

Age: 2

Pedigree: Justify–Dorothy’s Aurora, by Simon Pure

Purchase price: $470,000

Trainer: Bob Baffert

In addition to Nielson, Baffert is slated to debut Gandolfini, a son of Baffert’s Triple Crown winner Justify. Gandolfini has been cranking out fast workouts at Del Mar, including a near-bullet five furlongs in 59.4 seconds last Sunday. He also boasts a trio of quick six-furlong workouts on his record. Justify is off to a promising start at stud, so Gandolfini has the potential to make his debut a winning one.