Prospect Watch: Son of Justify, Rags to Riches debuts this week

The anticipation of witnessing the next generation of racing stars is one of the sport's greatest thrills. Horse Racing Nation’s Prospect Watch scans all upcoming entries for starters early in their careers who sold for more than $500,000 at their most recent auction or whose dams or siblings are graded-stakes winners.

This week, we're spotlighting several promising newcomers with championship bloodlines, along with emerging talents who already have begun their careers. From siblings of Grade 1 winners to offspring of champion mares, these horses carry the weight of exceptional pedigrees.

Wednesday

Don't Cross Alexis: Daughter of Grade 1 Winner Lady of the House

At Turfway Park race 5, this daughter of Twirling Candy returns after a strong second-place finish in her December 27 debut, when she was beaten just three-quarters of a length while earning an 86 HRN speed figure. Out of South African Grade 1 winner Lady of the House, she's trained by Kelsey Danner and will be ridden by Adam Beschizza. The 9-5 morning line favorite stretches out slightly to 6 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic surface.

Thursday

Half-brother to Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson debuts at Gulfstream

At Gulfstream Park in race 1, Asbury makes his career debut for trainer Christophe Clement. This 3-year-old son of Munnings is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson. The WinStar Farm and China Horse Club colorbearer drew post 4 in a field of 7 for this maiden claiming sprint at six furlongs on the main track. Listed at 5-2 on the morning line, he'll be guided by Luis Saez.

Half-sister to Grade 2 winner Gold Medal Dancer starts career

At Fair Grounds in race 9, Tyler's Turn, a first-time starter by Improbable, begins his career for trainer Kenny McPeek. This 3-year-old comes from the same dam as Grade 2 winner Gold Medal Dancer. He'll tackle a maiden optional claimer at about 1 1/16 miles on turf, breaking from post 2 in a field of 12 under Colby J. Hernandez. The morning line is set at 12-1.

Love Song: Full sister to Grade 1 winner Mystic Guide

At Fair Grounds race 8, Love Song returns after a promising runner-up effort in her January 19 debut, where she finished 7 1/2 lengths behind the winner going 1 1/16 miles. The Ghostzapper filly, out of Grade 1 winner Music Note, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Mystic Guide. Trained by Michael Stidham for Godolphin, she'll remain at the same distance under Axel Concepcion at 6-1 on the morning line. As a homebred for the powerful Godolphin operation, she merits attention with this logical placement.

Miss Authentic: Half-sister to Grade 2 winner Vertical Oak

At Fair Grounds race 8, Miss Authentic makes her third career start for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The daughter of Authentic is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Vertical Oak and enters off a solid third-place finish on December 29, when she earned an 85 speed figure while finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner. She stays at 1 1/16 miles with Jareth Loveberry in the irons, listed at 6-1 on the morning line.

Friday

Half-brother to Grade 2 winner Run Away ready for first start

Aqueduct presents an intriguing first-time starter in race 8 with Tiote, a Brad Cox trainee by Authentic. The 3-year-old colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Run Away and will make his debut for Calumet Farm in a maiden special weight at seven furlongs on the main track. Jose Lezcano takes the mount from post 4 in a field of 10.

Son of Grade 3 winner Neversaidiwassweet debuts

Also in Aqueduct's race 8, Mo for the King, by King for a Day, makes his first start for trainer David P. Duggan. The 3-year-old colt is out of Grade 3 winner Neversaidiwassweet and will break from post 6 under Romero Maragh for Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable.

Half-sister to Grade 2 winner Spectator ready at Santa Anita

At Santa Anita Park in race 8, Pristine, a daughter of Improbable, debuts for trainer Philip D'Amato. This 3-year-old filly is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Spectator and will start from post 4 with Serafin Carmona aboard in a maiden special weight at six furlongs.

Daughter of Grade 2 winner Acting Happy makes first start

Also in Santa Anita's race 8, Putonahappyface begins her career for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. The 3-year-old Mo Town filly is out of Grade 2 winner Acting Happy and will be ridden by Lanfranco Dettori from post 5. She was bred by her owner, Jay Em Ess Stable.

Daughter of Grade 2 winner Waltzing Matilda debuts

At Tampa Bay Downs in race 5, Come a Waltzing makes her first start for trainer Chad J. Stewart. The 3-year-old daughter of Always Dreaming is out of Grade 2 winner Waltzing Matilda and will try one mile on turf. Jose A. Batista rides from post 2 in a full field of 14.

Son of Grade 2 winner Ekati's Phaeton ready to run

Also at Tampa Bay Downs, race 7 features the debut of Blistering, a son of American Pharoah out of Grade 2 winner Ekati's Phaeton. The Eric Reed trainee drew post 5 for this maiden special weight at one mile on turf. Charle Oliveros has the mount for owner-breeder Tan Wilbert.

Half-sister to Grade 2 winner Stacked Deck debuts

At Turfway Park in race 2, Late for Mass, a daughter of Catholic Boy, begins her career for trainer Ethan W. West. The 3-year-old filly is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Stacked Deck, and is also out of Grade 2 winner Bel Air Beauty. She'll break from post 8 under Victor Lebron in this maiden claiming event at one mile on the synthetic surface.

Initialize: Half-brother to Grade 3 Winner Antoinette

At Fair Grounds race 7, this War Front colt returns for Godolphin and trainer Brendan Walsh after a solid fourth-place finish on November 29, beaten 4 3/4 lengths while earning a career-best 91 HRN speed figure. The half-brother to Grade 3 winner Antoinette stays at about 1 1/16 miles on turf and gets Ben Curtis in the saddle at 9-2 on the morning line.

Starship Beauty - Half-sister to Grade 1 Winner Power Squeeze

At Turfway Park race 6, this Hard Spun mare makes her second career start after a promising runner-up finish on January 18, when she was beaten 2 1/2 lengths sprinting six furlongs. The Kelsey Danner trainee is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Power Squeeze and will stretch out to 6 1/2 furlongs under Sophie Doyle.

Wondrous: Half-sister to Grade 1 winner Maxfield

Making her second start in Turfway's race 7, the Cincinnati Trophy, Wondrous steps up to stakes company after an eye-catching debut victory on January 17, when she won by 2 1/4 lengths going six furlongs. The Uncle Mo filly, trained by Brendan Walsh for Godolphin, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Maxfield. She stretches out to a mile while facing winners for the first time, breaking from post 13 with Luan Machado aboard.

Saturday

Half-brother to Grade 1 winner Guarana in Oaklawn debut*

The spotlight at Oaklawn Park falls on race 5, where Cornucopian, a half-brother to Grade 1-winning millionaire Guarana, makes his debut. The 3-year-old Into Mischief colt, trained by Bob Baffert for a partnership including SF Racing and Starlight Racing, drew post 7 in a field of 12 for this maiden special weight at six furlongs. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount.

Hypnus: Son of Grade 1 winner Dream Tree

At Oaklawn Park race 11, the Rebel (G2), Hypnus takes an ambitious step up to stakes company after an impressive maiden victory on January 18 at Fair Grounds, where he drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths going 1 1/16 miles. The Kenny McPeek trainee is royally bred, being by Into Mischief out of Grade 1 winner Dream Tree. His dam was a multiple graded stakes winner who captured the Starlet Stakes (G1) and Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) among her three graded victories. Owned by Brookdale Racing, Hypnus retains the services of Brian Hernandez Jr. and will break from post 4 in a field of 14 while staying at the 1 1/16 miles distance. His maiden win suggests he's inherited his dam's ability to handle two turns.

Porches: Half-brother to Grade 1 Winner Union Strike

At Fair Grounds race 2, Porches enters off a dominant 8 1/2-length maiden victory on January 26 going a mile. The son of Authentic, trained by Brad Cox, is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Union Strike and sold for $500,000 at Keeneland September. He faces winners for the first time while stretching out slightly to 1 mile and 70 yards under Florent Geroux.

Half-brother to Grade 1 winner Express Train steps out

At Turfway Park in race 5, Nantucket, a son of Munnings, debuts for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The 3-year-old colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Express Train and races for WinStar Farm and CHC Inc. Luan Machado will ride from post 8 in this maiden special weight at 6 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic surface.

Half-sister to Grade 3 winner By Your Side debuts

Also at Turfway Park in race 10, Tiz Glo, a daughter of Tiz the Law, makes her career debut for trainer Riley Mott. The 3-year-old filly is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner By Your Side and drew post 12 in a field of 14 for this maiden claiming event at 6 1/2 furlongs. Rafael Manuel Hernandez has the riding assignment.

Sunday

Daughter of Grade 2 winner Highway Star unveils

At Gulfstream Park in race 10, Into Stardom, a daughter of Into Mischief, debuts for trainer Chad Brown. The 3-year-old filly is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Highway Star and was bred by her owners, Chester and Mary Broman. She'll break from post 4 with Manny Franco aboard in this maiden special weight at six furlongs.

Son of Grade 3 winner Golden Award steps out

Also at Gulfstream Park in race 1, Proud American makes his first start for trainer Kathleen O'Connell. The 3-year-old American Pharoah colt is out of Grade 3 winner Golden Award and will try a mile on dirt under Reylu Gutierrez from post 1.

Daughter of Grade 2 winner Cambodia debuts

In Gulfstream's race 2, Theravada, a regally-bred daughter of Tapit, makes her career debut for trainer Rusty Arnold. The 3-year-old filly is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Cambodia and will tackle 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. Edgard Zayas rides from post 10 in a full field.

Half-sister to Grade 2 winner Fast Boat ready to run

Also in race 2 at Gulfstream, Uncommon, a Quality Road filly trained by Christophe Clement, begins her career. The 3-year-old is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Fast Boat and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 8.

Son of racing legends Justify, Rags to Riches

In Gulfstream's race 10, Richly Deserved, a 4-year-old son of Triple Crown winner Justify, makes his long-awaited debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. He's out of the legendary Grade 1 winner Rags to Riches, heroine of the 2007 Belmont Stakes. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 10 in this maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Brown Sugar: Half-sister to Grade 1 Winner Rombauer

At Gulfstream Park race 2, this Twirling Candy filly makes her third start after a strong second-place finish on January 26, when she was beaten 4 1/2 lengths going a mile on turf. A half-sister to 2021 Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer, she's trained by Ignacio Correas IV and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. while cutting back slightly to 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

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.