Prospect Watch: Rachel Alexandra's brother debuts

This week's Prospect Watch features a select group of promising young horses with elite bloodlines making their debuts across the U.S.

The headliner is Epic d'Oro, a 2-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro who is a full brother to hall of fame inductee and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra.

Friday

Gulfstream Park race 1 features Highlands Way, a 3-year-old colt by Not This Time making his career debut. The colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Bell's the One, who earned over $2 million during her brilliant racing career. Trainer Todd Pletcher has the colt ready for one mile on turf with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount for owners Robert E. and Lawana L. Low. Though Bell's the One made her name sprinting on the dirt, they are out of the Street Sense mare Street Mate, who also produced King Cause, a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/8 miles on grass. Sire Not This Time has had a breakout year on grass as well, meaning the distance and surface align well with the breeding profile of this colt bred by Bret Jones.

Saturday

Gulfstream Park's seventh on Saturday brings the week's most impressive debut prospect in Epic d'Oro. This 2-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro out of Grade 2-placed Lotta Kim is a full brother to champion Rachel Alexandra, who earned over $3.51 million and captured five Grade 1 victories including the 2009 Preakness and 2009 Haskell. Trainer Todd Pletcher has the colt ready for 1 1/16 miles on turf with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount for owner Epic Horses. The combination of a superstar sibling and a top trainer creates significant expectations for this highly anticipated debut.

Lotta Kim broodmare record

The same Gulfstream race also features C J Star, a 2-year-old colt by Uncle Mo out of South Africa Group 1 winner Do You Remember. Trainer Mark Casse has the colt ready and John Velazquez has the ride. The colt races for CJ Stables and was bred by Michael de Broglio.

Fair Grounds race 3 showcases Golden Tempo, a 2-year-old colt by Curlin out of Grade 3-winning dirt router Carrumba, by Bernardini. The homebred colt represents a powerful collaboration between Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, with trainer Cherie DeVaux preparing him for six furlongs on dirt. Jose Ortiz has the mount on this promising prospect, whose morning-line odds are set at 4-1 for his debut.

Also at Fair Grounds in race 4, White Smoke makes her debut for trainer Cherie DeVaux. This 2-year-old filly by Essential Quality is out of the Curlin mare Mira Alta, making her a half-sister to 2021 Peter Pan (G3) winner winner Promise Keeper. Owned by a partnership including Belladonna Racing, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing and B C W T, she will tackle six furlongs on dirt with Emanuel Nieves aboard at morning-line odds of 6-1.

Second and third-time starters

Market Runner returns for his second career start Saturday at Fair Grounds race 12 after finishing fourth in his debut at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. This 2-year-old colt by Gun Runner is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Showcase and earned a 95 Horse Racing Nation speed figure in his debut effort. Trainer Tom Amoss has him entered for 1 1/16 miles on dirt with Declan Cannon aboard for Double Down Horse Racing.

Thunder Buck also makes his second start in that same Fair Grounds race after finishing fourth at Keeneland on Oct. 16. This 2-year-old colt by Gun Runner is out of Grade 3 winner Oxy Lady and earned a 107 HRN speed figure in his debut. The Calumet Farm homebred will be ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Brad Cox, bringing powerful credentials to his second career attempt.

Mister Punch steps up to stakes company in Saturday's Gun Runner stakes after breaking his maiden impressively at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. This 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner United, who earned over $1.81 million. The colt won his debut by 4 3/4 lengths and earned a 100 HRN speed figure for trainer Brad Cox and owner Novogratz Racing Stables.