Prospect Watch: McGaughey's $1 million juvenile + 6 more
A $1 million yearling acquisition trained by Shug McGaughey ranks among the most notable juveniles slated to debut during the first week of December.
Let’s explore seven new names to know.
Friday
Aqueduct race 5: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 2:14 p.m. EST)
No. 3 Kathynmarissa
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: American Pharoah–La Dalila, by Milt’s Overture
Purchase price: $200,000
Trainer: Rick Dutrow
A daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of Chile’s Group 1 Las Oaks Carlos Hirmas Atala heroine La Dalila, Kathynmarissa sold for $200,000 as a yearling and has put together a lengthy series of five-furlong workouts for hot trainer Rick Dutrow. American Pharoah sires a respectable 11 percent winners from first-time starters, according to Brisnet statistics, so there’s quite a bit to like about this well-bred filly.
No. 4 Very Practical
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Practical Joke–With Intention, by Mr. Greeley
Purchase price: $180,000
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Practical Joke was an early-maturing juvenile who won the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) before training on to nab the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at age 3. With Intention is the dam of Maftool, winner of the Somerville (G3) as a juvenile and the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (G3) as a 3-year-old. Very Practical has the pedigree to win early and improve as a sophomore for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who sent out the bay filly to work a swift half-mile from the Belmont Park starting gate in 48.8 seconds last Saturday.
No. 5 Whocouldaskformo
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Uncle Mo–Midnight Belle, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
The second McGaughey trainee debuting in this field is Whocouldaskformo, who also clocked a half-mile from the Belmont Park starting gate in 48.8 seconds last Saturday. The daughter of champion and successful sire Uncle Mo sold for $450,000 as a yearling and is slated to be ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, who has gone 3-for-5 teaming up with McGaughey over the last two months. There’s a lot to like about Whocouldaskformo’s chances, both on Friday and in the long run.
Saturday
Aqueduct race 2: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 12:20 p.m.)
No. 3 Vino Barbarino
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Vino Rosso–Sweet Temper, by Stormy Atlantic
Purchase price: $70,000
Trainer: Raymond Handal
Vino Barbarino sold for only $70,000 as a 2-year-old in training, but he’s a son of hot young sire Vino Rosso out of Sweet Temper, who previously foaled West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Colonelsdarktemper. This is a classy pedigree with plenty of potential, and Vino Barbarino’s workouts, including a half-mile from the Belmont Park starting gate in 48.6 seconds, suggest he has at least a little ability.
No. 4 Conquest Warrior
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: City of Light–Tea Time, by Pulpit
Purchase price: $1 million
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Sold for $1 million as a yearling, Conquest Warrior is a son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light, who is the sire of early 2024 Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, out of two-time stakes winner Tea Time. A swift half-mile workout from the Belmont Park starting gate in 47.2 seconds on Nov. 11 suggests this Shug McGaughey trainee has talent. The fact City of Light sires 16 percent debut winners stats adds to the appeal.
No. 5 Hop Sing
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Curlin–Sweet Assassin, by Tapit
Purchase price: $300,000
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Two-time horse of the year Curlin is the sire of Hop Sing, a $300,000 2-year-old-in-training acquisition produced by the unraced Tapit mare Sweet Assassin. Hop Sing has posted a trio of bullet workouts since the end of September, including five furlongs at Belmont Park in 1:00.8 seconds, so dismiss this stoutly bred bay colt at your own risk. He has the pedigree to shine running long and could develop into a road to the Kentucky Derby type next year.
Fair Grounds race 2: Maiden special weight (one mile on turf, 2:15 p.m.)
No. 6 Jam's Paper Moon
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Oscar Performance–Justaroundmidnight, by Danehill Dancer
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
There’s a lot to like about the pedigree of Jam’s Paper Moon. She’s a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Oscar Performance out of Justaroundmidnight, the dam of American Oaks (G1) winner Duopoly. This is a pedigree geared strongly toward success on turf, so it’s easy to see why Jam’s Paper Moon is debuting over the Fair Grounds lawn. She’s eligible to outrun her 12-1 morning-line odds.