Prospect Watch: Siblings to Golden Pal, Mo Town line up

This week's Prospect Watch features a stellar collection of young thoroughbreds with exceptional bloodlines making their debuts during the closing week of November racing, highlighted by the all-2-year-old Stars of Tomorrow card at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Leading the group are several first-time starters with solid family connection. Those include Essential Lady, an Essential Quality half-sister to Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal and Fire Moon, a Justify half-sister to Grade 1 winner Mo Town, the sire of Grade 2-winning millionaire Mystic Lake.

Thursday

Churchill Downs race 8 features Episist, a 3-year-old filly by Outwork making her second career start. She earned her prospect status through her half-brother Epicenter, the Grade 1 winner who earned $2.94 million during his racing career. Episist finished seventh in her debut at Fair Grounds on March 19, earning a 55 Horse Racing Nation speed figure over 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Trainer Steve Asmussen sends her back to the races after an eight-month layoff with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for owner Westwind Farms. The filly will tackle one mile on dirt and has been given morning-line odds of 12-1.

Friday

Essential Lady returns to action in Del Mar race 1 for trainer Tim Yakteen. This 2-year-old filly by Essential Quality is the half-sister to Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal, who earned $1.83 million and seven graded stakes victories. She finished fifth in her debut at Santa Anita on Sept. 26, earning a 52 HRN speed figure while racing six furlongs on turf. The daughter of Grade 3 winner Lady Shipman cuts back to five furlongs on turf with Antonio Fresu riding for Ranlo Investments. Her breeding suggests she should excel on the grass surface where her dam and half-brother, both superstar turf sprinters, shined.

Saturday

Sticker Shock makes her second career start in Churchill Downs race 1 for trainer Brad Cox. This 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo earned her prospect status through her half-sister Fighting Mad, a Grade 1 winner who earned $472,008. She finished third in her debut at Keeneland on Oct. 22, earning a 50 HRN speed figure over about seven furlongs on dirt. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount as she stretches out to 1 1/16 miles on dirt for owners Gary and Mary West.

Churchill Downs race 3 showcases an impressive field of 2-year-old fillies making their debuts, headlined by several with elite family connections. Breaking from post 8 is Noble Glow, who races for Juddmonte. The daughter of Gun Runner is out of Grade 1 winner Summer Love. The homebred filly has the pedigree to make an immediate impact under Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown. Her dam captured two Grade 1 victories in Argentina during her racing career and also won on debut at age 2, providing a strong foundation for this debut effort. 

Powered by Family also debuts in Churchill Downs race 3. The daughter of Quality Road is out of Grade 1 winner Icon Project. The filly represents the potent combination of St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds with Jose Ortiz aboard for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Her dam earned over $660,000 and captured the Personal Ensign (G1), while her half-brother Fashion Business won the Del Mar Handicap (G2). 

My Steel Magnolia, a daughter of Essential Quality, may also join these horses in Saturday's third race at Churchill Downs. She brings the quality through her half-sister Seismic Beauty, a Grade 1 winner who has earned $477,000. Out of the mare Knarsdale, she will be ridden by Jaime Torres for trainer Caio Caramori and owner LCI if she draws in. However, she is four deep on the also-eligible list, drawing no. 16 in a field that can contain at most 12.

Core Memories enters her second career start in Churchill Downs race 6 for trainer Cherie DeVaux. This 2-year-old filly by Yoshida is out of Grade 3 winner How Unusual, who earned $316,057 during her racing career. The homebred for owner Domenic Savides finished fifth in her debut at Keeneland on Oct. 23, earning an 80 HRN speed figure over one mile on turf. Jose Ortiz rides as she tries 1 1/16 miles on turf in her second start.

Several previous Prospect Watch horses are entered in the stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday. Gallivant, winner of the Bowman Mill at Keeneland, looks to add to his stakes record in the listed Ed Brown going 6 1/2 furlongs. Big Dom, a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Abeliefinthislivin is also in the Ed Brown. 

Paige Turner, a half-sister to Malibu (G1) winner Speed Boat Beach steps into stakes company in the Fern Creek Saturday at Churchill Downs. 

In the Golden Rod (G2), three previous Prospect Watch fillies are among the field of 13. Baracca, an Oscar Performance filly is the half-sibling of Grade 1 winner Power Broker. Atropa, the Into Mischief daughter of Grade 3 winner Bellera comes in off a Keeneland maiden win. Finally, Just Singing is the half-sister to Grade 3 winner Danzing Candy making her third lifetime start.

Final War makes his second career start in Fair Grounds race 4 for trainer Jayde Gelner. This 2-year-old colt by Divisidero earned his prospect status through his half-brother Antiquarian, a Grade 1 winner who has earned over $1.01 million. Final War finished eighth in his debut at Keeneland on Oct. 19, earning a 41 HRN speed figure over 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Ben Curtis takes the mount as the colt switches to turf for one mile at 12-1 morning-line odds for owner Norman Stables.

Sunday

Churchill Downs race 3 features Fire Moon making her debut for trainer Cherie DeVaux. This 3-year-old filly by Justify brings outstanding family credentials through her half-brother Mo Town, a Grade 1 winner and sire who earned $520,000 during his racing career. Out of the mare Grazie Mille, she will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for owners John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services. The filly attempts six furlongs on dirt in her first career start.

Prospect Watch