Prospect Watch: Pletcher, Brown, Cox send top prospects

This week's Prospect Watch spotlights a solid collection of young horses making their racing debuts during the first week of May.

Wednesday

Startin Trouble returns for her second career start at Horseshoe Indy in race 6 after finishing seventh in her debut at Fair Grounds on March 13. The 3-year-old Practical Joke filly earned a 70 Horse Racing Nation speed figure in that dirt debut and now stretches out to one mile on turf. She is a half-sister to Naughty Gal, who earned $153,000 and captured the Grade 3 Gardenia. Trainer Whit Beckman has the filly ready to go with Jareth Loveberry in the irons at 10-1 morning-line odds.

Thursday

Belmont at Aqueduct race 5 features If Ever, a 3-year-old colt by Not This Time out of Jenda's Agenda. The colt brings notable family credentials through his half-sister Just Cindy, who earned $174,000 and captured the Adirondack (G3). Trainer Shug McGaughey has the colt ready for 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt with Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard. If Ever races for West Point Thoroughbreds and partners from post position 6.

Friday

Santa Anita race 1 showcases Moon, a 3-year-old colt by Munnings out of Grade 2 winner Harvest Moon, who earned $385,000 during her racing career. Trainer Simon Callaghan has the homebred ready for six furlongs on dirt with Victor Espinoza taking the mount. Moon is 6-1 on the morning line for owners Bamford or Tabor and draws post position 1 in a field of five runners.

Santa Anita race 5 presents Stay Bossy, a 2-year-old filly by Stay Thirsty making her debut in a stakes race. The filly is a half-sister to Phantom Boss, who captured the Alphabet Soup (G3) and earned $172,000. Trainer Steven Miyadi has the filly ready for 4 1/2 furlongs on dirt with Cesar Belmont aboard. Stay Bossy is 8-1 on the morning line and draws the rail in a field of eight 2-year-old fillies.

Saturday

Gulfstream Park race 6 features Blackjack, another 2-year-old, making his career debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile stakes. The American Freedom colt is a half-brother to Black Forza, who earned $185,000 and captured a Grade 2 at Goodwood as a 2-year-old. Trainer Carlos David has Blackjack ready for five furlongs on turf with Diego Herrera riding from post position 2. The colt races for Arindel in a field of nine juveniles.

Dreaming of Joy makes her third career start at Gulfstream Park race 10 after finishing 11th in her last start on April 12. The 3-year-old Into Mischief filly is out of Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia, who earned $875,000, and is a half-sister to champion Malathaat, who earned $3.79 million. Despite disappointing results in her first two starts, the elite breeding keeps her on the prospect radar. Trainer Brad Cox has her ready for Diego Herrera as she tries 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Code makes her second career start at Gulfstream Park race 10 after finishing fourth in her debut on April 11. The 3-year-old Tiz the Law filly earned an 89 HRN speed figure in that synthetic debut and now tries 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. She is a half-sister to Locked, the Grade 1 winner who earned $1.91 million. Trainer Todd Pletcher has the filly ready for Joe Bravo, racing for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm.

Arizona Territory makes his third career start at Belmont at Aqueduct race 2 after breaking through with a victory in his last start at Tampa Bay Downs on March 27. The 3-year-old Tapit colt is out of Grade 3 winner Cafe Americano and earned a strong 111 HRN speed figure in that maiden-breaking win. Trainer Chad Brown has the colt ready for allowance company over 1 1/16 miles on turf with Flavien Prat aboard for owner Peter Brant.

Woods also graduates to allowance company at Belmont at Aqueduct race 2 after winning his last start at Gulfstream Park on April 11. The 3-year-old Twirling Candy colt is out of Grade 2 winner Irish Jasper, who earned $560,000 and captured multiple graded stakes. Woods earned a 98 HRN speed figure in his maiden win and now tries 1 1/16 miles on turf. Trainer Todd Pletcher has him ready for Kendrick Carmouche in the competitive six-horse allowance field.