Prospect Watch: Trio of intriguing maiden races at Churchill Downs
On a huge holiday weekend of racing across North America, let’s double down on our typical preview of talented 2-year-olds and feature a baker’s dozen of promising prospects entered to race at Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Saratoga:
Thursday, Sept. 3
Churchill Downs Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles, 4:16 p.m. ET)
#10 King Fury
Between 2014 and 2016, Taris proved her worth as a top-class sprinter, winning half a dozen stakes (five of them graded) in addition to placing third in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The talented mare capped off her career with a rousing victory in the Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs, and on Thursday, her first foal — King Fury — will take to the same track for his debut.
Considering Taris was best as a sprinter, it’s ironic to see King Fury debuting over 1 1/16 miles. But Taris did win the La Canada (G2) over this distance, and King Fury is a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, so stretching out around two turns should be within reach for this $950,000 yearling purchase. Trainer Kenny McPeek doesn’t win often with first-time starters, but King Fury is training forwardly and is one to watch for the future, based on pedigree alone.
Friday, Sept. 4
Churchill Downs Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (6 furlongs, 11:30 p.m. ET)
#1 Distorted Verve
Trainer Dallas Stewart has plenty of experience training Distorted Verve’s closest relatives. A daughter of Distorted Humor out of the Unbridled mare Verve, Distorted Verve is a half-sister to the Stewart trainees Verve’s Tale (winner of the Grade 3 Comely Stakes) and Tale of Verve (runner-up in the Grade1 Preakness Stakes). Both were slow-maturing runners, and Distorted Verve figures to follow the same path. But look for this Charles Fipke homebred to show gradual improvement as she gains experience.
As a yearling, Salty as Can Be sold for a hefty $850,000 — understandable, given the quality of her pedigree. A daughter of leading sire and prominent speed influence Into Mischief, Salty as Can Be was produced by the stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Theycallmeladyluck, previously the dam of La Troienne (G1) winner Salty. Conditioned by Mark Casse, Salty as Can Be doesn’t bring the flashiest work tab to the mix, but she’s posted a couple of quick half-mile moves in the past and has the breeding to be a win-early type.
Churchill Downs Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (6 furlongs, 1:10 p.m. ET)
#4 Miss Malibu
Another promising daughter of Into Mischief, Miss Malibu was produced by the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Pier, a three-time graded stakes winner running long on turf. Malibu Pier already has found success as a broodmare, foaling 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Coasted, so Miss Malibu has the potential to develop into a classy turf filly even if she fails to fire over the main track on Saturday.
If Three Tipsy Chix takes after her dam, On Fire Baby, she ought to relish debuting over the Churchill Downs main track. On Fire Baby won three graded stakes over Louisville’s famous oval, including the 2014 La Troienne (G1), and Three Tipsy Chix should certainly find the footing familiar after posting 14 workouts at Churchill Downs. Trainer Ian Wilkes rarely wins with first-time starters, but look for this stoutly bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro to show improvement down the road.
#12 Peace Broker
The Montjeu mare Coin Broker could potentially enjoy a banner day at Churchill Downs. A few hours before her 3-year-old daughter Donna Veloce competes in the Kentucky Oaks, her 2-year-old filly Peace Broker will debut over the same track. A daughter of War Front conditioned by high-percentage trainer Bret Calhoun, Peace Broker has been breezing steadily since mid-June and turned in a quick breeze over a muddy track at Churchill on Aug. 22, clocking 6 furlongs in 1:12 3/5. Brian Hernandez will guide the bay filly from a wide draw.
Saturday, Sept. 5
Churchill Downs Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (6 furlongs, 12:35 p.m. ET)
#5 Essential Quality
A Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality is a son of three-time leading sire Tapit out of the Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality, who placed in eight stakes (including the G3 Bed o’ Roses Handicap) while sprinting. With a combination of speed and stamina in his pedigree, Essential Quality is an intriguing long-term prospect with the potential to develop into a classy route runner. His work tab isn’t overly eye-catching, but he’s been training steadily since June and should be fit for a solid effort on debut.
#13 Cool Quest
Cool Quest will need a scratch in order to draw in off the also-eligible list, but he has the pedigree to factor if he does get to compete. Hailing from the first crop of brilliant Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Frosted, Cool Quest was produced by the unraced Coronado’s Quest mare Val Marie, previously the dam of G3-winning juvenile and Nearctic Stakes (G1) runner-up Grand Adventure. Sold for $220,000 as a yearling, Cool Quest has displayed speed during the mornings for trainer Brian Lynch, cranking out fast half-miles in :47 1/5 and :47 3/5 at Churchill Downs in recent weeks. Four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano has been named to ride.
Saraotga Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (7 furlongs, 2:01 p.m. ET)
#1 Munqad
A half-brother to 2016 Gotham (G3) winner and Kentucky Derby participant Shagaf, Munqad is a son of the versatile and popular stallion War Front. A Shadwell Farm homebred trained by Todd Pletcher, Munqad fired off a fast workout at Saratoga last Saturday, sprinting 4 furlongs from the starting gate in :47 1/5. Produced by an Unbridled’s Song mare, Munqad has the pedigree to win early and perhaps flourish with maturity, stamping this bay colt as one to watch with Irad Ortiz in the saddle.
Saratoga Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 3:11 p.m. ET)
#3 Mo Heat
It’s interesting to see Mo Heat debuting on a turf race, considering his sire (Wood Memorial winner Outwork) and dam (25-time stakes-winning sprint Xtra Heat) both excelled racing on dirt. But Outwork’s progeny have gone 2-for-5 on grass so far, and trainer George Weaver has breezed Mo Heat three times over the Saratoga lawn, so perhaps there’s more turf potential here than first meets the eye.
#4 Hardison
It’s safe to say Hardison is bred to be an elite racehorse. A son of three-time leading sire Tapit, Hardison was produced by the Unbridled’s Song mare Octave, a multiple G1 winner who placed in the Kentucky Oaks and a pair of Breeders’ Cup events. A Godolphin homebred trained by Bill Mott, Hardison is bred to improve with maturity and thrive running long on dirt, so Saturday’s turf test seems more like a starting point than anything else for this gray colt.
From top to bottom, Sifting Sands is bred to excel running long on turf. A son of three-time Group 1 winner and elite sire Dubawi, Sifting Sands was produced by the Montjeu mare Yummy Mummy, previously the dam of British classic winner and 2015 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Legatissimo. Owned by Peter Brant and trained by Chad Brown, Sifting Sands has been breezing like clockwork at Saratoga since the end of June, even working four times over the turf course. With Saratoga’s leading jockey, Jose Ortiz, in the saddle, Sifting Sands is a threat to win on debut and develop into a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Del Mar Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 4 p.m. ET)
#4 Beautiful Gift
A Baoma Corp homebred, Beautiful Gift boasts a remarkably stout pedigree. A daughter of successful sire and stamina influence Medaglia d’Oro, Beautiful Gift was produced by the A. P. Indy mare Sea Gift, previously the dam of Sunland Derby (G3) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) starter Chitu. Sea Gift herself is a daughter of Ocean Queen, who defeated males in the Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Derby (G3) racing 1 1/8 miles on turf.
With all of this in mind, Beautiful Gift seems unlikely to be at her best sprinting on debut at Del Mar, but the Bob Baffert-trained filly has nevertheless flashed serious speed in the mornings. On Aug. 24 she rocketed 5 furlongs in a bullet :58 4/5 from the Del Mar staring gate, suggesting Beautiful Gift is a filly worth watching both on Saturday and down the road.