Horses to Watch: 3 to follow and 1 to drop
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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.
Upcoming Entries
Idol
It’s been a while since Idol last visited the winner’s circle, so it’s easy to forget how well he’s capable of running on his best day. In the 2021 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap racing 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita, Idol produced a determined late charge to beat future 2022 Santa Anita Handicap winner Express Train and two-time Grade 1 winner Maxfield, earning a powerful 110 Brisnet Late Pace rating.
Idol has only run once in the interim, finishing sixth against a deep field in the Grade 1 Awesome Again on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita. But on the bright side, Idol has been training steadily in preparation for his 2022 debut (even clocking five furlongs in a bullet 59.8 seconds last month), so there’s a good chance he’ll outrun his 6-1 morning line odds in Saturday’s 11th race at Oaklawn, the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap (post time 6:41 p.m. EDT).
The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Oaklawn Handicap is possibly a bit shorter than Idol wants to run, and the field has come up deep with four graded stakes winners among Idol’s seven rivals. But if Idol brings his A-game, watch out: he’s bound to be closing ground down the homestretch.
Malathaat
Eight starts, six victories, one second, one third. Four graded stakes wins, three Grade 1 wins. Malathaat has been a sustained star for trainer Todd Pletcher, earning 2021 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors after rattling off stretch-running victories in the Grade 1 Ashland, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Alabama, in addition to narrow defeats in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Malathaat will kick off her 4-year-old campaign in Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare (post time 5:16 p.m.). With four straight triple-digit Brisnet Speed Ratings under her belt (including a 108 from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff), Malathaat is the fastest horse in the field and should be tough to beat off the layoff. She’s been training sharply at Palm Beach Downs, and it’s worth noting she kicked off her 3-year-old campaign by winning the Ashland over the same track and distance as the Doubledogdare.
With a little bit of racing luck, Malathaat can start her 4-year-old season on a winning note and quite possibly embark on a second championship campaign.
Pizza Bianca
Pizza Bianca was a force to reckon with last season. After rallying to victory in her debut at Saratoga, the Christophe Clement trainee ran second in the Grade 1 Natalma before unleashing a terrific rally through traffic to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by half a length.
Pizza Bianca will kick off her sophomore season in Sunday’s eighth race at Aqueduct, the Memories of Silver (post time 5:01 p.m.). The 1 1/16-mile turf test is shaping up as a perfect opportunity for Pizza Bianca to get a comeback run under her belt and build toward major summer targets like the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.
Off the Watch List
Greyes Creek
Failed to fire his best shot when returning from a long layoff in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance on Wednesday at Keeneland, tracking the early pace from fourth place and launching a mild rally before weakening to finish seventh. Greyes Creek was only beaten three lengths in a race featuring quick finishing fractions, but at this point Greyes Creek has missed the board in four straight starts. Until he bounces back with a more competitive effort, I’ll reluctantly drop him from my watch list.
Which horses do you have your eyes on this week?
Upcoming Entries
Idol
Idol has only run once in the interim, finishing sixth against a deep field in the Grade 1 Awesome Again on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita. But on the bright side, Idol has been training steadily in preparation for his 2022 debut (even clocking five furlongs in a bullet 59.8 seconds last month), so there’s a good chance he’ll outrun his 6-1 morning line odds in Saturday’s 11th race at Oaklawn, the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap (post time 6:41 p.m. EDT).
The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Oaklawn Handicap is possibly a bit shorter than Idol wants to run, and the field has come up deep with four graded stakes winners among Idol’s seven rivals. But if Idol brings his A-game, watch out: he’s bound to be closing ground down the homestretch.
Malathaat
Malathaat will kick off her 4-year-old campaign in Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare (post time 5:16 p.m.). With four straight triple-digit Brisnet Speed Ratings under her belt (including a 108 from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff), Malathaat is the fastest horse in the field and should be tough to beat off the layoff. She’s been training sharply at Palm Beach Downs, and it’s worth noting she kicked off her 3-year-old campaign by winning the Ashland over the same track and distance as the Doubledogdare.
With a little bit of racing luck, Malathaat can start her 4-year-old season on a winning note and quite possibly embark on a second championship campaign.
Pizza Bianca
Pizza Bianca will kick off her sophomore season in Sunday’s eighth race at Aqueduct, the Memories of Silver (post time 5:01 p.m.). The 1 1/16-mile turf test is shaping up as a perfect opportunity for Pizza Bianca to get a comeback run under her belt and build toward major summer targets like the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.
Off the Watch List
Greyes Creek
Failed to fire his best shot when returning from a long layoff in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance on Wednesday at Keeneland, tracking the early pace from fourth place and launching a mild rally before weakening to finish seventh. Greyes Creek was only beaten three lengths in a race featuring quick finishing fractions, but at this point Greyes Creek has missed the board in four straight starts. Until he bounces back with a more competitive effort, I’ll reluctantly drop him from my watch list.
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