Thursday's Insights: Pair of American Pharoah Juveniles Debut in Churchill Opener

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

1st-CD, $79K, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, post time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Trainer Wesley Ward will look to get his juvenile mojo back when he saddles Magic Cap Stable's firster TEQUILA QUEEN (AMERICAN PHAROAH). The daughter of graded stakes winner Agave Kiss (Lion Heart) was a $325,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will also be represented in the race by Winchell Thoroughbreds' Mad Maddy. The first foal out of the unraced Tiger Tale (Tale of the Cat), the Steve Asmussen trainee was a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase.

The 4 1/2-furlong race also features juveniles by several first crop sires: Hopeful Princess (Not This Time); Prettyhappy (Runhappy); Shake it out West (Speightster); and Cool Enough (Tamarkuz). TJCIS PPs.

2nd-GP, $65K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, post time: 1:15 p.m. ET
Gary Barber's GREAT WARRIOR (IRE) (WAR FRONT), the first foal out of French group winner Great Page (Ire) (Roderic O'Connor), debuts for trainer Mark Casse. The filly was a 185,000gns weanling purchase at Tattersalls December in 2018. Casse also saddles the first starter for graded-stakes winning freshman sire Upstart#tot">Upstart in Barber's Baby Mo. TJCIS PPs