By Alan Carasso
2nd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, post time: 1:32 p.m. ET
One need look no further than the rail for the fanciest pedigree in this field of 12, as SCORPIUS (Into Mischief) is the full-brother to Mandaloun, who overcame an eventful trip on his six-furlong debut at this track to become a 'TDN Rising Star' during the fall meeting in 2020 and went on to win the GII Risen Star Stakes before going on to be promoted to the victory in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Stakes in 2021. The colts' dual group-winning dam Brooch (Empire Maker) is a half-sister to SW & MGSP Caponata (Selkirk), the dam of this year's G3 Prestige Fillies Stakes third-place finisher Merrily (No Nay Never). This is the female family of Group 1 winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), who has been supplemented to Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. TJCIS PPs
3rd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 2:04 p.m. ET
A $550,000 Keeneland September purchase by Belladonna Racing in 2022, PRODIGIEUX (Uncle Mo) makes a belated first trip to the races here. The Feb. 7 foal is one of two of racing age for her dam Splashy Kisses (Blame), runner-up in the GII Pocahontas Stakes at two in 2018 and later placed in the GIII Sweet Life Stakes on the grass. The collective braintrust surrounding Belladonna apparently liked this filly so much that they gave $220,000 for the now 2-year-old half-sister to Prodigieux, As You Wish (Volatile), at last year's KEESEP sale. The deeper female family includes champion and GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Tempera (A.P. Indy). Thanksgiving (Uncle Mo) is a full-sister to 2020 Pocahontas heroine Girl Daddy and her dam is a half-sister to SW & GSP Abby's Angel (Touch Gold), who produced GSW & G1SP Comicas (Distorted Humor). Thanksgiving was a $625,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. TJCIS PPs
4th-KEE, $110k, AOC, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:36 p.m. ET
Stonestreet homebred ECLATANT (Into Mischief) could scarcely have been more impressive on her career debut, striking from close range to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs June 21 while earning a lofty 82 Beyer Speed Figure. The victory came at the expense of La Cara (Street Sense), an eight-length maiden winner at Saratoga Aug. 11 and subsequently the 3/4-length victress of this year's Pocahontas Sept. 14. The homebred filly is a full-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq, victorious in the GII Bourbon Stakes over the local grass course in 2020 and winner on dirt of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. Her female family also includes GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day). Winchell homebred Tapit First (Tapit), a nose winner of a 4 1/2-furlong maiden here back in April, is out of a half-sister to Fioretti (Bernardini), who took the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on opening weekend here in 2015. TJCIS PPs
6th-KEE, $110k, Alw, 3yo/up, 7f, 3:40 p.m. ET
AIR OF DEFIANCE (Quality Road) was the distant runner-up in the Saratoga maiden won by 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) in the Saratoga mud last August and earned the same honor when drilling a field of local maidens by six lengths last Oct. 18. The $400,000 KEESEP yearling, a son of GSW/GISP Faypien (Ghostzapper), switches from the barn of Brad Cox to Chad Summers for this sophomore debut. He takes on Montalcino (Take Charge Indy), who Beyered 91 when taking out a Saratoga maiden by 1 1/2 lengths Sept. 1. TJCIS PPs
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