Prospect Watch: 4 debuts, including Olympiad’s half-sister
The first week of 2023 is stacked with competitive maiden special weights for newly turned 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Promising prospects are debuting from coast to coast, with Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Tampa Bay Downs offering some of the best events.
Let’s explore four of the most notable newcomers in the entries:
Friday
Aqueduct race 1: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 12:20 p.m. EST)
No. 1 Uncorrelated
Age: 3
Pedigree: Arrogate–Harlan’s Romance, by Harlan’s Holiday
Purchase price: $170,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown has been known to debut talented colts at Aqueduct. His Preakness winners Cloud Computing and Early Voting both graduated at first asking over New York’s winter racing oval.
Perhaps Uncorrelated can progress down a similar path. Owned by Klaravich Stables (which previously campaigned Early Voting and also Cloud Computing in partnership). Uncorrelated has put together a decent work tab over the Belmont Park training track. He clocked a quick half-mile from the starting gate in 47.63 seconds on Dec. 15 and looks ready to challenge on debut.
No. 2 Register
Age: 3
Pedigree: Super Saver–Champagne Sue, by Elusive Quality
Purchase price: $170,000
Trainer: David Donk
A son of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Register was produced by Champagne Sue, who already has found success as the dam of Saratoga Special (G2) winner High Oak.
Super Saver and High Oak both won graded stakes at age 2, so Register has the pedigree to mature from an early age. He’s getting off to a late start after failing to race as a juvenile, but Register has recorded quick workouts (including a couple of bullet moves) over the Belmont Park training track and warrants watching on Friday.
Santa Anita race 2: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:30 p.m.)
No. 2 Coffee in Bed
Age: 3
Pedigree: Curlin–Sumptuous, by Hennessy
Purchase price: $500,000
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella is set to debut Coffee in Bed, who sold for half a million dollars as a yearling. The daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin is a half-sister to Great Stuff, a talented sprinter who won the Toboggan (G3) and ran third in the Carter Handicap (G1).
Coffee in Bed has put together a lengthy work tab in preparation for her first start, including six furlongs in 1:14 seconds. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith is named to ride, further cementing Coffee in Bed as a filly worth watching.
Saturday
Tampa Bay Downs race 2: Maiden special weight (seven furlongs, 1:02 p.m.)
No. 1 La Pachanga
Age: 3
Pedigree: War Front–Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d’Oro
Purchase price: $450,000
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Arguably the most exciting horse debuting this week is the filly La Pachanga. A daughter of internationally successful sire War Front, La Pachanga was produced by Tokyo Time, who made headlines in 2022 as the dam of five-time graded stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Olympiad.
Under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, La Pachanga has turned in a handful of half-mile workouts at Payson Park in recent weeks. Emulating a sibling as accomplished as Olympiad will be difficult, but La Pachanga is worth watching on pedigree alone.