Prospect Watch: 5 well-bred horses debut at Keeneland
The second week of the Keeneland spring meet brings a bevy of competitive maiden special weights loaded with promising horses.
Let’s highlight five of the best-bred runners slated to debut, including a daughter of champion filly Close Hatches.
Thursday
Keeneland race 1: Maiden special weight (4 1/2 furlongs, 1:00 p.m. EDT)
2-year-old colt
Pedigree: Yoshida–Street Cruizer, by Quality Road
Purchase price: $120,000
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Versatility was a strong suit for Yoshida, who won the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) on turf and the Woodward (G1) on dirt. Perhaps he’ll pass on that versatility to his progeny, beginning with Hob Alwatan. Yoshida’s first starter sold for $120,000 as a yearling and has put together a sharp work tab for Wesley Ward, who is well known for saddling winners in Keeneland’s early-season juvenile sprints. Hob Alwatan has every chance to challenge on Thursday.
Keeneland race 7: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles, 4:12 p.m.)
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Curlin–Berned, by Bernardini
Purchase price: $575,000
Trainer: Ben Colebrook
Queen of the Rodeo brings a classy pedigree to her debut. She’s a daughter of two-time horse of the year and elite sire Curlin out of Molly Pitcher (G3) winner Berned, in turn a daughter of champion and Preakness winner Bernardini. The Curlin/Bernardini cross is already responsible for the high-class fillies and mares Clairiere, Paris Lights and Point of Honor, which may be one reason why Queen of the Rodeo sold for $575,000 as a yearling. She’s posted a sharp series of workouts in preparation for her debut and may outrun her 8-1 morning line odds.
Friday
Keeneland race 1: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:00 p.m.)
4-year-old colt
Pedigree: Violence–Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid
Purchase price: $550,000
Trainer: Bill Mott
Bettors are advised to take a close look at the classy pedigree of Nasty Habit, who sold for $550,000 as a yearling. He’s a son of Violence (the sire of 2022 champion two-year-old male Forte) out of Lemon Belle, which makes Nasty Habit a full brother to this year’s Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain. Also noteworthy, Lemon Belle is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner Unrivaled Belle. Nasty Habit owns a lengthy series of sharp workouts over the slow track at Payson Park and has a shot to outrun her 15-1 morning-line odds.
Saturday
Keeneland race 1: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles, 1:00 p.m.)
3-year-old gelding
Pedigree: Gun Runner–Tiz o’ Gold, by Cee’s Tizzy
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Rusty Arnold
A son of hot young stallion Gun Runner, Braggadocious was produced by Tiz o’ Gold, previously the dam of Risen Star (G2) winner Bravazo. In 11 starts as a 3-year-old, Bravazo placed in the Preakness, Haskell (G1), Travers (G1), Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Clark Handicap (G1), so if Braggadocious boasts half as much talent he’ll do fine as a racehorse. He’s getting a late start, but Braggadocious breezed a bullet half-mile in 47.4 seconds at Keeneland last month and can’t be dismissed from consideration.
Keeneland race 6: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 3:40 p.m.)
3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Bill Mott
One of the best-bred horses debuting this week is Scylla. The daughter of three-time leading North American sire Tapit was produced by Close Hatches, a five-time Grade 1 winner voted champion older female of 2014. As a broodmare, Close Hatches has achieved further renown as the dam of the Tapit colt Tacitus, who placed in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and four other Grade 1 races during an accomplished career. Only time will tell whether Scylla can achieve the same level of success as her full brother, but the Juddmonte homebred has put together an encouraging work tab at Payson Park and warrants watching on Saturday and down the road.
