Horses to Watch: 3 winners and 2 in the entries
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.
New to the Watch List
Did you happen to catch the spectacular debut victory from Love Reigns on Friday at Keeneland? The Wesley Ward-trained 2-year-old filly absolutely smashed 11 rivals (including stablemate Rivka) in a powerful performance that suggests Royal Ascot is in her future.
Favored at 22-10 to win the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, Love Reigns wasn’t the fastest filly into stride, but she recovered quickly to seize the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 22.04 seconds. Love Reigns then widened her advantage through a half-mile in 45.22 seconds and powered clear while eased up late to win by 9 3/4 lengths in 1:02.33.
Love Reigns is a well-bred daughter of multiple Group 1 winner U S Navy Flag out of Humble And Proud, which makes Love Reigns a half-sister to Sword Dancer (G1) winner Glorious Empire. Don’t be surprised if Love Reigns wins a stakes (perhaps several) before the year is over.
The 3-year-old filly Midnight Memories is getting started far too late to pursue a Kentucky Oaks start, but after delivering an impressive debut victory on Saturday at Santa Anita, it’s not unrealistic to think the Sean McCarthy trainee could develop into a Grade 1 type during the summer and fall.
Sent off as the 4-5 favorite against five rivals (including stablemate and fellow first-time starter Valiancy), Midnight Memories wasn’t in any great hurry to get going, settling a couple lengths off fast early fractions of 21.64 and 44.45 seconds. But Midnight Memories unleashed a powerful finish down the homestretch, taking command through six furlongs in 1:08.96 before forging clear to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:15.31.
Runner-up Valiancy pulled nine lengths clear of the rest, reiterating the strength of Midnight Memories’ performance. Midnight Memories is bred to run long (both sire Mastery and dam Tiz Midnight won graded stakes over 1 1/16 miles), so she’s eligible to run even better when stretching out around two turns down the road.
Recent Watch List winners
A four-time graded stakes winner in 2021, War Like Goddess kicked off her 2022 campaign on a winning note in the Bewitch (G3) at Keeneland.
Favored at 1-5 while facing only four rivals, the 5-year-old mare didn’t get the best trip early on, fighting her jockey while rating inside and behind rivals through extremely slow fractions of 26.71, 53.77 and 1:19.88 seconds. But down the homestretch, War Like Goddess battled her way between foes and surged clear late, running her final quarter-mile in about 22 seconds (an excellent time) to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
War Like Goddess is clearly back in fine form, and the Bewitch is unlikely to be her only graded win this season. I’m excited to see what her year has in store.
Upcoming entries
King Adrock was much the best in his debut dashing 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland last month, tracking the early pace before pulling away to win by five lengths. The son of Uncaptured will seek to keep his perfect record intact when stepping up in class for Thursday’s ninth race at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Juvenile (post time 5:11 p.m. EDT).
A deep field has been entered in this five-furlong dash for juveniles, but King Adrock looks like one of the best on paper. Uncaptured won five stakes at age 2, so King Adrock has the pedigree to compete against classy competition from an early age.
Tobys Heart
Did you know Tobys Heart is undefeated in three starts sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on turf? But it’s been a while since the 4-year-old filly last tackled this configuration, so perhaps we’ll get a good price on Tobys Heart when she returns to her favorite distance for Thursday’s 10th race at Churchill Downs, the Unbridled Sidney (post time 5:45 p.m.).
Tobys Heart won her debut over this course and distance in June 2020, and her resume sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs has since grown to include wins in the Limestone Turf Sprint at Keeneland and the Music City at Kentucky Downs. Most recently third behind Brooke Marie in the 6 1/2-furlong Monrovia (G2) over the downhill course at Santa Anita, Tobys Heart will have to reckon with Brooke Marie again on Thursday. But the shorter distance (and presumably quicker pace) might be all Tobys Heart needs to turn the tables.
Here is my complete, updated list of Horses to Watch