Horses to Watch: 24 contest Breeders' Cup preps

Recent watch list winners

Agate Road

Agate Road brought his record on turf to a perfect 2-for-2 with a stretch-running score in the 1 1/16-mile Pilgrim (G2) at Belmont at the Big A, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:42.83 over a good course. The victory earned him a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

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Apollo Ten

A sharp maiden winner sprinting six furlongs over the Belmont at the Big A turf course last month, Apollo Ten is a logical contender while sticking to the same conditions for Sunday’s fifth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Futurity (G3, post time 2:44 p.m. EDT).

Awesome Road

Awesome Road’s 2 3/4-length debut win at Ellis Park was flattered when runner-up Stronghold returned to win his next start. This stamps Awesome Road as a major player in Saturday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Breeders’ Futurity (G1, post time 5:14 p.m.).

Bandita

Bandita crushed her Jan. 29 debut in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by 8 3/4 lengths. She’ll end a lengthy layoff in Friday’s third race at Keeneland, an about-seven-furlong allowance (post time 2:04 p.m.), and Bandita will be formidable if she replicates her debut performance.

Didia

Argentinean Group 1 winner was compromised by a slow pace when finishing a close second in the New York (G1) last time out. She’s a logical win threat while shipping west for Saturday’s eighth race at Santa Anita, the Rodeo Drive (G2, post time 7:30 p.m.).

Drum Roll Please

A strong runner-up behind Breeders’ Futurity (G1) favorite Locked in a one-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga, Drum Roll Please figures to graduate while tackling the same distance in Friday’s seventh race at Belmont at the Big A, a maiden special weight (post time 3:48 p.m.).

Endlessly

Talented turf 2-year-old brought his record to 2-for-2 with a rallying triumph in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3). He’ll have every chance to keep his momentum going in Sunday’s sixth race at Santa Anita, the Zuma Beach (G3, post time 6:30 p.m.).

Fierceness

An almost effortless 11 1/4-length debut winner sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga, Fierceness looms as the favorite while stepping up in class and distance for Saturday’s eighth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Champagne (G1, post time 3:46 p.m.).

Haul

A sharp debut winner at Belmont Park, Haul subsequently endured a troubled start when finishing third in the Saratoga Special (G2). A clean break while dropping in class for Saturday’s fifth race at Keeneland, a $100,000 allowance optional claimer (post time 3:08 p.m.) can help Haul rebound.

General Partner

The biggest challenger to Fierceness in the Champagne might be General Partner, who wired a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga last month by four lengths. General Partner is trained by Chad Brown, who has won four of the last seven editions of the Champagne.

In Italian

Four-time Grade 1 winner In Italian wired the 2022 edition of Saturday’s eighth race at Keeneland, the First Lady (G1, post time 4:43 p.m.) and has every chance to post a repeat victory. Trainer Chad Brown has won this race six times, including the last five in a row.

Life Talk

Runner-up by a head in her sprint debut, Life Talk romped by 6 1/2 lengths when stretching out for a one-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga. Sticking to the same distance should make her a player in Saturday’s fifth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Frizette (G1, post time 2:12 p.m.).

Locked

Locked was spectacular in a one-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga, pressing the pace before dashing his final two furlongs in 11.99 and 11.95 seconds to win by 7 1/4 lengths. He’s entered in the Breeders’ Futurity and looks mighty tough to beat.

Master of The Seas

Master of The Seas unleashed a giant finish to dominate last month’s Woodbine Mile (G1) by 3 3/4 lengths. A similar performance in Saturday’s 10th race at Keeneland, the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1, post time 5:45 p.m.) will give him every chance to secure a second straight Grade 1 win.

Nest

Last year’s champion 3-year-old filly suffered a surprise defeat when third to Idiomatic in the Personal Ensign (G1) over a sloppy track at Saratoga. She’ll get a rematch in Sunday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Spinster (G1, post time 5:16 p.m.) and can’t be underestimated while returning to dry footing.

Practical Move

Although unraced since battling to victory in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Practical Move figures to be a clear favorite while dropping in class for Friday’s eighth race at Santa Anita, an $80,000 allowance optional claimer (post time 7:42 p.m.).

Sugar Hi

Sugar Hi faded after setting the pace against a strong field in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, but perhaps she can bounce back while dropping in class and switching to turf for Sunday’s eighth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Matron (G3, post time 4:22 p.m.).

The Wine Steward

The Wine Steward is 3-for-3 and beat a nice colt in El Grande O when overcoming a stumbling start to win the Funny Cide against state-breds at Saratoga. He can’t be counted out of the mix at a nice price in the Breeders’ Futurity.

Timberlake

Hopeful (G1) runner-up Timberlake is cross-entered in the Breeders’ Futurity and Champagne. He’s shown flashes of serious talent and should be a player wherever he runs.

Touchuponastar

Steve Sexton Mile (G3) runner-up Touchuponastar has been almost unstoppable competing against Louisiana-breds and should be tough to beat while returning to the state-bred ranks for Friday’s eighth race at Delta Downs, the Gold Cup (post time 9:31 p.m.).

Up to the Mark

If anyone can beat Master of The Seas in the Coolmore Turf Mile, it’s Up to the Mark, flashy winner of the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) and Manhattan (G1) during the spring. He’s improved by leaps and bounds since trying turf, and his turn-of-foot is consistently strong.

V V’s Dream

Fresh off an 8 3/4-length victory in the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs, V V’s Dream looks like a major win threat while stretching out around two turns for Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Alcibiades (G1, post time 5:16 p.m.), a race trainer Kenny McPeek has won five times.

War Like Goddess

Talented long-distance grass mare War Like Goddess has struggled a little this year, but she won the 2022 edition of Saturday’s fourth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1, post time 1:40 p.m.) and can’t be counted out of the mix while squaring off against males in defense of her title.

Whitebeam

The improving Chad Brown trainee Whitebeam upset stablemate In Italian by a nose in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga last time out and shouldn’t be underestimated while facing In Italian again in the First Lady.

Wine Me Up

Despite being bred to shine running long, Wine Me Up wired his debut dashing six furlongs at Del Mar. The potential he showed sprinting bodes well for his chances while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles for Saturday’s ninth race at Santa Anita, the American Pharoah (G1, post time 8:00 p.m.).

Which horses do you have your eyes on?

In this biweekly series, racing analyst Keeler Johnson shares promising horses from his handicapping watch list, reviewing runners who have recently caught his eye and previewing horses scheduled to run back in the near future.