Horses to Watch: 4 to follow at 4 different tracks
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.
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It’s safe to say Bubble Rock never had a realistic chance to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall. The daughter of More Than Ready hopped at the start, checked and steadied throughout the race while running in tight quarters and got shuffled back to last place at the quarter pole. Despite these obstacles, she closed ground late to finish just 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Bubble Rock had previously won the Matron (G3) sprinting six furlongs on turf at Belmont, so I’m optimistic she’ll be a key contender for victory in Saturday’s seventh race at Turfway Park, the Valdale (post time 9:16 p.m. EST).
A deep field has assembled for the 6 1/2-furlong Valdale, and Bubble Rock will have to be sharp to top the undefeated two-time stakes winner Marissa’s Lady. But Bubble Rock has high-percentage trainer Brad Cox and Turfway’s leading jockey Gerardo Corrales in her corner, so there’s a lot to like about her chances.
Charge It
Charge It ran too good to lose in a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park last month. After dueling for the lead from start to finish, Charge It finished second by a neck against the Grade 1-experienced Volcanic while pulling 12 1/2 lengths clear of the third-place runner.
Charge It will stick to the same distance and class level for Saturday’s ninth race at Gulfstream Park, a one-mile maiden special weight (post time 4:05 p.m.).
The son of Tapit descends from a productive female family that has produced Grade 1 winners Take Charge Indy, Will Take Charge, Take Charge Brandi and Omaha Beach, so Charge It has the pedigree to develop into a top-class racehorse for hot trainer Todd Pletcher. He’ll be widely expected to win on Saturday.
Got Thunder
Expectations were high for Got Thunder in his first two starts on the California circuit. He was favored at 19-10 to win his Nov. 28 debut dashing six furlongs at Del Mar, but ran second behind future two-time Grade 3 winner Newgrange. Then Got Thunder was favored at 7-10 to nab a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Dec. 31 at Santa Anita, only to finish second behind subsequent Sham (G3) third-place finisher Wharton.
Perhaps the third time will be the charm for Got Thunder, who looms as the 4-5 morning line favorite to win Saturday’s eighth race at Santa Anita, a one-mile maiden special weight (post time 7:13 p.m.). He’s bred to relish stretching out around two turns (half-brother Heart to Heart won a Grade 1 over 1 1/8 miles), so I’m optimistic the longer trip is exactly what Got Thunder needs to shine under hot jockey Flavien Prat.
Nest
Demoiselle (G2) winner Nest has always had the pedigree to thrive running long and improve with maturity. Sire Curlin was twice voted Horse of the Year, while dam Marion Ravenwood is a daughter of long-winded Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner A.P. Indy. The mating of Curlin and Marion Ravenwood previously produced Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) hero Idol.
That’s why I’m excited to see Nest kick off her sophomore campaign in Saturday’s eighth race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Suncoast (post time 3:49 p.m.). The one-mile and 40-yard distance is probably a little shorter than Nest prefers, but she’s the most accomplished entrant on paper and figures to use this Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier as the starting point to a productive season. It’s worth noting Nest has been nominated to the Triple Crown–could the Belmont Stakes conceivably be in her future?
Which horses caught your eyes last week?