Prospect Watch: Meet Maximum Security’s half-sister
In 2019, Maximum Security famously crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby, only to be disqualified and placed 17th for causing interference. He missed out on history but won a bevy of other Grade 1 races during his accomplished career.
Now Maximum Security’s half-sister Greatest Gift is slated to debut. Whether she can replicate the success of her older brother remains to be seen, but from a pedigree perspective she’s bred like a star.
Greatest Gift is one of a half-dozen 2-year-olds, who will be 3 as of New Year’s Day, I cover in my final Prospect Watch of 2023.
Saturday
Aqueduct race 1: Maiden special weight (one mile, 12:20 p.m. EST)
No. 7 Greatest Gift
2-year-old filly
Pedigree: Curlin–Lil Indy, by Anasheed
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Linda Rice
The beautifully bred Greatest Gift is a son of two-time horse of the year and elite sire Curlin out of Lil Indy, the dam of 2019 champion 3-year-old male Maximum Security. This is a pedigree geared toward success over classic distances, so it’s easy to understand why trainer Linda Rice is debuting Greatest Gift over one mile. A bright future awaits if this Summer Wind Equine homebred lives up to her pedigree.
Fair Grounds race 8: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 5:15 p.m.)
No. 5 Louis the Champ
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Justify–Victory Party, by Yankee Victor
Purchase price: $390,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
A son of Triple Crown winner Justify, Louis the Champ sold for $390,000 as a yearling. He hasn’t put together the flashiest work tab for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, but he did breeze four furlongs from the Louisiana Downs starting gate in 49.2 seconds earlier this month, the second-fastest of 24 morning workouts over that distance.
Gulfstream Park race 1: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 12:10 p.m.)
No. 1 Bail Us Out
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Lookin At Lucky–Joffe’s Run, by Giant’s Causeway
Purchase price: $700,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher tends to saddle many debut winners during the winter, and he has two chances to win this maiden special weight sprint for juveniles. His first entrant is Bail Us Out, a son of two-time champion and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, the sire of 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House. Bail Us Out breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.33 at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday and looks like a possible road to the Kentucky Derby type in the making.
No. 8 Born Noble
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Constitution–Zapperkat, by Ghostzapper
Purchase price: $725,000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
The second Pletcher trainee debuting in this field is Born Noble, a son of Pletcher’s Florida Derby (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1) winner Constitution, who is best known as the sire of Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law. Produced by the stakes-placed Ghostzapper mare Zapperkat, Born Noble has put together a sharp work tab highlighted by a bullet half-mile in 48.6 seconds at Palm Beach Downs, suggesting he has talent. Look for Born Noble to challenge for victory under four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
Monday
Fair Grounds Race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 4:15 p.m.)
No. 1 Who's Ticket
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Quality Road–Take Charge Brandi, by Giant’s Causeway
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Talk about a classy pedigree. Who’s Ticket is a daughter of four-time Grade 1 winner and successful sire Quality Road out of champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi, who previously foaled Jerome winner Courvoisier. Sold for $450,000 as a weanling, Who’s Ticket has turned in a long series of five-furlong workouts in preparation for her debut, stamping the Steve Asmussen trainee as a viable win threat.
No. 3 Tipsy Tammy
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Arrogate–Peggy May, by Lemon Drop Kid
Purchase price: $600,000
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Four furlongs in 47 seconds. Four furlongs in a bullet 46.4 seconds. Five furlongs from the starting gate in a bullet 59.4 seconds. Tipsy Tammy has been cranking out fast workouts at Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds, suggesting this $600,000 yearling acquisition has the talent to win on debut. The speed she’s shown in training is particularly exciting since she’s a daughter of champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Peggy May, previously the dam of two-time stakes-winning route racer Doc Boy. This is a pedigree geared top and bottom toward success running long, so if Tipsy Tammy is fast enough to win her debut sprinting, we could be looking at a star in the making.