Horses to Watch: 3 include a champion and a debut runner
New to the watch list
Mirahmadi
I’m not sure I’ve ever added an unraced horse to my watch list, but I’ll make an exception for Mirahmadi. Purchased for $1.05 million as a yearling, the 2-year-old son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief has been cranking out sharp workouts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, including a bullet five furlongs from the Santa Anita starting gate in 58.80 seconds. He looks like a possible star in the making.
Upcoming entries
Caramel Swirl
Caramel Swirl has shown an appreciation for the Belmont Park main track, where she’s compiled a record of two wins and a second from three starts. In last month’s Vagrancy (G3) sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont, Caramel Swirl rallied from sixth place behind a slow pace to win easily by 2 1/2 lengths.
Caramel Swirl looms among the key win contenders while facing only four rivals in Saturday’s ninth race at Belmont, the seven-furlong Bed o’ Roses (G2, post time 5:19 p.m. EDT). But the 5-year-old mare will have to be sharp to beat reigning champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive, who defeated Caramel Swirl by 2 3/4 lengths in the Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Saratoga last summer.
Goodnight Olive
Goodnight Olive’s seven-race win streak came to an end in the seven-furlong Derby City Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs last month, but we won’t judge her third-place finish too harshly. Goodnight Olive was facing a tough field and found herself boxed in with absolutely nowhere to run down the homestretch.
Goodnight Olive had previously won the Ballerina, Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and Madison (G1) in succession, so if she gets a clean trip in the Bed o’ Roses, she’ll have every chance to bounce back into the winner’s circle.
Mirahmadi
One of the reasons I’m adding Mirahmadi to my watch list is the fact he’s entered to debut in Saturday’s seventh race at Santa Anita, the Fasig-Tipton Futurity (post time 7:00 p.m. EDT). It isn’t every year that Baffert prepares a juvenile to debut this early, and the fact Mirahmadi is skipping the maiden ranks in favor of a stakes is encouraging. Under hot jockey Juan Hernandez (a 26 percent winner at Santa Anita this meet), Mirahmadi is favored at 4-5 on the morning line and looks ready to win.
Off the watch list
Loggins
Loggins showed great potential in his first two starts, dominating a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 8 1/2 lengths before stepping up in class and distance to finish second in Keeneland’s 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1), beaten only a neck by eventual champion 2-year-old male Forte. Among the rivals finishing far behind Loggins that day were future stakes winners Red Route One, Instant Coffee, Newgate and Two Phil’s.
Unfortunately, Loggins never ran again. He went to the sidelines after the Breeders’ Futurity, and his retirement was announced at the end of May. It’s a shame we won’t get to see the full extent of his talent, but here’s hoping Loggins finds success at stud.
Which horses do you have your eyes on?
In this biweekly series, racing analyst J. 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.