Horses to Watch: 4 to follow at Santa Anita and Oaklawn
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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Edgeway wasn’t the most heralded female sprinter to campaign in 2021, but she was certainly among the most productive. Victorious in the Grade 2 Rancho Bernardo Handicap and Carousel Stakes, Edgeway wrapped up her season with sharp runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Wasting no time, Edgeway will kick off her 2022 campaign in Sunday’s third race at Santa Anita, the Kalookan Queen (post time 4:00 p.m. EST). Only four other fillies and mares have entered the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, so Edgeway figures to start as a clear favorite under hot jockey John Velazquez. She’s the fastest mare on paper (as far as Brisnet Speed ratings are concerned) and will have every chance to kick off the season on a winning note.
Full Impact
This day has been a long time coming. After spending 13 1/2 months on the sidelines, Full Impact will finally return to action in Sunday’s eighth race at Oaklawn, a $50,000 allowance optional claimer (post time 4:46 p.m.).
Full Impact showed plenty of promise in two starts during the fall of 2020. After wiring a six-furlong maiden special weight at Monmouth Park (where he defeated a pair of next-out winners by 2 1/4 lengths), Full Impact shipped to Aqueduct for a 6 1/2-furlong allowance, where he employed pace-tracking tactics to romp by 4 1/2 lengths.
Full Impact hasn’t run since, but he’s put together an encouraging work tab in preparation for his return. He’s also switched barns and is slated to debut for Brad Cox, a 39 percent winner at Oaklawn so far this meet. Throw in the presence of hot jockey Florent Geroux (a 25 percent winner when teaming up with Cox), and Full Impact can’t be dismissed, even off the long layoff. If he recaptures his old form, Full Impact is fast enough to vie for victory.
Got Thunder
When Got Thunder debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Nov. 28 at Del Mar, he carried high expectations. The gray colt was favored at 19-10 after selling for $750,000 and putting together a sharp series of workouts for trainer John Sadler.
Got Thunder didn’t win his debut, but he didn’t run badly by any means, dueling for the lead before fighting on to finish second by just 1 1/2 lengths against Newgrange (see below). Considering Got Thunder is a son of late-maturing Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate and a half-brother to the durable Heart to Heart (a Grade 1 winner at age 7), it’s safe to say Got Thunder is bred to improve with maturity.
Perhaps Got Thunder can break through with a victory in Friday’s sixth race at Santa Anita, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight (post time 6:00 p.m.). He’ll have to deal with a couple of unraced Bob Baffert trainees, but considering how well Got Thunder performed against Newgrange, he should be capable of making his second start a winning one. The fact hot jockey Flavien Prat is riding adds to the appeal.
Newgrange
After defeating the highly regarded Got Thunder in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar, Newgrange looms as a key contender for victory in Saturday’s seventh race at Santa Anita, the Sham (G3, post time 7:00 p.m.).
With only one sprint run under his belt, Newgrange will be facing a challenging task stepping up in class and distance for the one-mile Sham. But on the bright side, Newgrange looms as one of only two clear speed horses in a small field, which should ensure he receives a favorable trip on the front end.
There are other positives in Newgrange’s corner. Trainer Bob Baffert has won seven of the Sham’s 21 renewals, including the last two editions with Authentic (2020) and Life Is Good (2021). And both Authentic and Life Is Good were likewise stepping up in class and distance off debut sprint wins at Del Mar, so if Newgrange follows their precedent, he can deliver a winning run in the Sham.
Which horses do you have your eyes on this week?