Prospect Watch: Pletcher's next debuting 3-year-old to know
Promising 3-year-olds are entered to race in maiden special weight flights across the country Saturday, and we’ve whittled the list down to six names to know.
Want to follow along with all the action, but not sure where to look? Here’s the latest Prospect Watch…
Gulfstream Park Race 2
Maiden Special Weight (6 furlongs, 12:34 p.m. ET)
#1 Ellis Island
The high-profile partnership of WinStar Farm and China Horse Club teams up with this $180,000 yearling purchase. Under the care of Todd Pletcher, the Will Take Charge colt has been training consistently at Palm Beach Downs, most notably firing off a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 on Jan. 12. Pletcher has been hot with first-time starters, winning with four of his last 12 debut runners, including the 3-year-old Market Analysis last Saturday at Gulfstream. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has been named to ride this one, too. With such a powerful team in his corner, Ellis Island warrants respect.
#3 Ajhar
Classic breeding is abundant in Ajhar’s pedigree. Sire Tapit is responsible for three winners of the Belmont Stakes, while dam Jojo Warrior is a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, runner-up in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Jojo Warrior herself was a classy two-turn runner, nabbing victories in the Summertime Oaks (G2) and Torrey Pines Stakes (G3), so from top to bottom Ajhar is bred to relish running long. In that respect, a six-furlong sprint may be too short for Ajhar, who sold for $800,000 as a yearling. But if this Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt shows any signs of talent on debut, expect improvement down the road.
#8 Conformity
Conformity is the first foal produced from the Curlin mare Maria Maria, a stout runner with the longevity to run third in the 1 1/2-mile Bewitch Stakes (G3) on grass at Keeneland. Conformity figures to inherit additional stamina from sire Honor Code, winner of the Whitney (G1) and a son of long-winded Belmont Stakes winner A.P. Indy. As with Ajhar, we shouldn’t really expect Conformity to fire his best shot sprinting on debut, but he comes to this race thoroughly prepared with a dozen workouts under his belt since November. At the very least, this $200,000 yearling purchase out of the Mark Hennig barn will be one to watch in the future.
Santa Anita Race 2
Maiden Special Weight (7 furlongs, 4 p.m. ET)
#2 Clivetty
Plenty will be expected from this pricey daughter of Into Mischief, who sold for $900,000 as a 2-year-old in training. Conditioned by Don Chatlos for Larry Best’s OXO Equine, Clivetty was produced from the unraced Indian Charlie mare Rosemonde, which makes her a full sister to 2018 Del Mar Futurity (G1) runner-up Rowayton. Clivetty’s work tab isn’t especially eye-catching, but she’ll debut with blinkers and has hot jockey Joel Rosario named to ride.
A daughter of American Pharoah, My Happy Girl is the second foal produced by the Tiz Wonderul mare My Happy Face, winner of the 2012 Tempted Stakes (G3) and runner-up in such important prizes as the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Frizette Stakes (G1). A $300,000 yearling purchase, My Happy Girl has been training forwardly at Santa Anita, capping off a sharp series of workouts with a bullet half-mile from the starting gate in :47 2/5. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert conditions My Happy Girl and has named Drayden Van Dyke to ride, a combination winning at a 45% rate over the last two months. My Happy Girl will be widely expected to prevail at a short price.
Fair Grounds Race 8
Maiden Special Weight (6 furlongs, 4:53 p.m. ET)
#5 Steely Danza
We featured Steely Danza prior to his Dec. 28 debut at Fair Grounds, where he endured a deceptively tricky trip making multiple moves into a hot pace before fighting on to finish second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. The winner, Digital, came back to finish a game second against the promising Blackberry Wine in an allowance race at Fair Grounds, suggesting Steely Danza was beaten by a quality colt. With a more reasonable trip on Saturday, this son of Danza could graduate for trainer Steve Margolis and be on to bigger things.