Prospect Watch: Preakness week brings elite newcomers

As the racing world turns its attention to Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes, our exclusive Prospect Watch data has identified several exceptionally well-bred horses making their debuts or early career starts during this action-packed week.

From siblings to Grade 1 winners to offspring of accomplished mares, these promising prospects could be racing's next stars. Here's your insider's guide to the horses worth watching this week. Four of them are competing at Pimlico, and one is in the Preakness.

Thursday

First Captain's sister makes anticipated debut

At Churchill Downs race 2, Americathegreat makes her career debut for trainer Mark Casse. This 2-year-old Curlin filly is out of Grade 3 winner America and is a full sister to Grade 3 winner First Captain, who has earned $662,000. She'll be ridden by Jose Ortiz and is listed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for this five-furlong dirt maiden special weight. She was bred by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds and races for a partnership of Gary Barber and D.J. Stable.

Ag Bullet's half-sister finally ready for racing

Break Even's daughter tries turf after promising main track efforts

Also at Churchill Downs race 3, Debt Free makes her third career start for trainer Cherie DeVaux. This 3-year-old Not This Time filly is out of Grade 2 winner Break Even, who earned $534,000 during her racing career. In her most recent start on April 7 at Keeneland, she finished sixth, beaten by 7 3/4 lengths, earning a 95 HRN speed figure. She's switching to turf for this five-furlong maiden special weight with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard and is listed at 4-1 on the morning line. She is a homebred for Klein Racing.

March to the Arch's half-brother tries dirt route

At Churchill Downs race 8, Mo Jackson makes his second career start for trainer Michael Tomlinson. This 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner March to the Arch, who earned $1.34 million. In his debut last August at Laurel Park, he finished third, beaten 13 3/4 lengths, earning a 64 HRN speed figure. He'll be ridden by Axel Concepcion and is listed at 10-1 on the morning line for this seven-furlong dirt maiden claiming race. He was bred by CHC Inc. and races for a partnership of Metropolitan Thoroughbreds and Scott Leavitt.

Verrazano's half-sister looking to move forward

At Belmont at Aqueduct race 4, High Note makes her third career start for trainer Chad Brown. This 3-year-old Curlin filly is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Verrazano, who earned $1.88 million. In her most recent start on April 6 at Keeneland, she finished fourth, beaten 13 3/4 lengths, earning a 103 HRN speed figure. She'll be ridden by Dylan Davis and is listed at 6-1 on the morning line for this one-mile dirt maiden special weight. She was bred by White Birch Farm and races for Jeffrey and Rachel Drown and Don Rachel.

Highway Star's daughter off maiden win

Friday

Background's brother moves up after maiden win

At Churchill Downs race 7, Backtrack makes his third career start for trainer Joe Sharp in a starter allowance race. This 3-year-old Khozan colt is a full brother to Grade 3 winner Background, who earned $558,000. In his most recent start on April 17 at Keeneland, he broke his maiden by a neck, earning an impressive 115 HRN speed figure. He'll be ridden by Frankie Dettori and is listed at 5-2 on the morning line for this six-furlong dirt race. He was bred by Brent and Crystal Fernung and races for a partnership of Giddyup Stables and Tom Lambro.

Vegas Magic's half-sister takes Grade 3 shot in Miss Preakness

At Pimlico race 10, Family makes her third career start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes. This 3-year-old Sharp Azteca filly is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Vegas Magic, who earned $247,000. In her most recent start on March 29 at Turfway Park, she finished second by a head, earning a stellar 126 HRN speed figure. She'll be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and is listed at 6-1 on the morning line for this six-furlong dirt stakes race. She was bred by Machmer Hall and races for a partnership of C2 Racing Stable and Machmer Hall Thoroughbreds.

Caravel's half-sister returns on Preakness undercard

Saturday

Waves of Mischief's half-brother ready to run

At Belmont at Aqueduct race 6, Stars and Stripes makes his career debut for trainer Bill Mott. This 3-year-old Not This Time colt is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Waves of Mischief, who has earned $618,000. He'll be ridden by Jose Lezcano in this one-mile dirt maiden special weight. He was bred by Pam and Martin Wygod and races for Frassetto Stables.

At Churchill Downs race 11, Lady Scuderia makes her career debut for trainer Bill Mott. This 3-year-old Uncle Mo filly is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil, who earned $2.78 million during an illustrious career that included eight graded stakes wins. She'll be ridden by James Graham in this six-furlong dirt maiden special weight. She was bred by WinStar Farm and races for Resolute Racing.

Juddmonte's Spring in the Air daughter debuts

Also at Churchill Downs race 11, Temperate makes her career debut for trainer Michael McCarthy. This 3-year-old Constitution filly is out of Grade 1 winner Spring in the Air, who earned $910,000 during her racing career. She'll be ridden by Gerardo Corrales in this six-furlong dirt maiden special weight. She was bred by her owner Juddmonte, making her a homebred from one of racing's most prestigious breeding operations.

Winter Power's half-brother takes stakes shot after maiden win

At Gulfstream Park race 9, Ortley Avenue makes his second career start for trainer George Weaver in the Roar Stakes. This 3-year-old Bungle Inthejungle colt is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Winter Power, who earned $458,000. In his impressive debut April 6 at Gulfstream Park, he won by 2 1/4 lengths on the synthetic track, earning a 99 HRN speed figure. He'll be ridden by Edwin Gonzalez in this five-furlong turf stakes race. He was bred in Ireland by Newlands House Stud and races for Bona Venture Stables.

Serengeti Empress's son faces Sir Barton test

At Pimlico race 10, Invictus makes his third career start for trainer Brad Cox in the Sir Barton Stakes. This 3-year-old Into Mischief colt is out of Grade 1 winner Serengeti Empress, who earned $2.18 million during her stellar career that included winning the Kentucky Oaks. In his most recent start April 8 at Keeneland, he broke his maiden impressively by 2 1/2 lengths, earning a stellar 126 HRN speed figure. He'll be ridden by Flavien Prat and is listed as the 9-5 morning line favorite. He was bred by Joel Politi and races for the partnership of WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.

Fastest Maidens feature horse contests Preakness Stakes

At Pimlico race 13, Goal Oriented makes his third career start for trainer Bob Baffert in the Preakness Stakes. This 3-year-old Not This Time colt is out of Grade 3 winner Bizzy Caroline, who earned $348,000 during her racing career. In his most recent start on May 3 at Churchill Downs, he won an allowance optional claiming race by 3/4 length, earning an impressive 124 HRN speed figure. He'll be ridden by Flavien Prat and is listed at 6-1 on the morning line for this 1 3/16-mile dirt classic. He was bred by Runnymede Farm and CWC Investment 2 and races for a high-powered partnership including SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables.

Sunday

Conquest Panthera's half-brother debuts for Repole

At Churchill Downs race 9, Reaction makes his career debut for trainer Joe Sharp. This 3-year-old Uncle Mo colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Conquest Panthera, who earned $570,000 on the track. He'll be ridden by Jose Ortiz in this six-furlong dirt maiden special weight. He was bred by Magnolia Bloodstock & Lynch Bages and races for Repole Stable.

Monday

National Treasure's half-sister returns after promising debut

At Horseshoe Indianapolis race 4, Renoir makes her second career start for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. This 3-year-old Authentic filly is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner National Treasure, who has earned over $5.58 million including a victory in the Preakness. In her debut on April 22 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, she finished second, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, earning a 76 HRN speed figure. She'll be ridden by Alex Achard in this 1 mile and 70 yards dirt maiden special weight. She was bred by her owner Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds.

First Mission's half-brother makes class drop

At Parx Racing race 5, Foil makes his third career start for trainer Paul Conrad. This 3-year-old Street Sense colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner First Mission, who has earned $2.06 million. In his most recent start April 25 at Laurel Park, he finished 11th, beaten 17 lengths, earning a 67 HRN speed figure. He'll be ridden by Andy Hernandez in this one-mile dirt maiden claiming race. He was bred by International Equities Holding and races for Colts Neck Stables.

These are just some of the noteworthy newcomers in the entries this week. See more in the chart below.

Legend: Div: Age and sex. 2F for 2-year-old fillies, 2M for 2-year-old males (colts/geldings), etc.

Top sibling (highest graded stakes): The sibling with the highest level of graded stakes won (G1, G2, G3) followed by the most money won if two siblings are at the same level.

Bolded names are mentioned in the article.