Horses to Watch: 6 to follow in weekend stakes action

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

Granted, Edgeway faltered when finishing fourth by a wide margin in the Great Lady M (G2) at Los Alamitos last month. But we won’t judge her effort too harshly since she was squaring off against reigning champion female sprinter Gamine and returning from a three-month layoff.

Edgeway had previously won the Carousel at Oaklawn Park over multiple graded stakes winner Frank’s Rockette, and a return to this level of form will make her dangerous in Friday’s sixth race at Del Mar, the Rancho Bernardo (G3, post time 9:30 p.m.). Edgeway has been training sharply at Del Mar and figures to fire a big effort in her second start of the summer.

Express Train

I suppose you can argue the 1 1/4-mile distance of Saturday’s 10th race at Del Mar, the Pacific Classic (G1, post time 9:33 p.m.) might be a bit farther than Express Train really wants to run. After all, the two-time graded stakes winner has done his best work over 1 1/8 miles or less, and he’s 0-for-2 racing 1 1/4 miles.

But Express Train’s defeats were placed efforts against top-class competition—he finished second in the Santa Anita (G1) and third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). It’s also worth noting Express Train boasts a near-perfect 4-3-1-0 record at Del Mar, so if he’s ever going to stay 1 1/4 miles, Saturday is surely the day.

Going Global

Four-time stakes winner Going Global was hardly disgraced in the one-mile San Clemente (G2) at Del Mar last month, finishing second by half a length after moving earlier into a hot pace than the victorious Madone. So when Going Global and Madone meet again in Saturday’s ninth race at Del Mar, the Del Mar Oaks (G1, post time 9:03 p.m.), I’m optimistic Going Global will turn the tables.

Stretching out over 1 1/8 miles shouldn’t be an obstacle for Going Global, considered she dominated the Honeymoon (G3) over this distance at Santa Anita two starts back. Among her beaten rivals was Madone, so don’t be surprised if Going Global bounces right back to the winner’s circle under hot jockey Flavien Prat.

Malathaat

Although Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Malathaat suffered her first defeat when beaten to second place in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga last month, I’m confident the daughter of Curlin can rebound in Saturday’s 10th race at Saratoga, the Alabama (G1, post time 6:13 p.m.).

Malataat received a tricky trip in the Coaching Club American Oaks, carving out a pressured pace before succumbing in the final strides to lose by a head. Normally a late runner, Malathaat figures to return to her preferred tactics while breaking from an outside post in the Alabama, setting the stage for a return to glory. Certainly the 1 1/4-mile distance should be right up her alley, since she’s a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out of a mare by Belmont (G1) hero and stamina influence A.P. Indy.

Mo Forza

The wait is over. Five-time graded stakes winner Mo Forza will finally return from an injury-induced layoff in Saturday’s seventh race at Del Mar, the Del Mar Mile (G1, post time 8:04 p.m.).

Mo Forza was sensational during a brief summer/fall campaign last season, dominating the 2020 Del Mar Mile by 4 1/4 lengths before waltzing to a fast victory in the City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita. There’s no telling whether he can replicate those efforts off the layoff, but Mo Forza is the field’s fastest runner in terms of Brisnet Speed ratings and will be tough to beat if he brings his A-game.

Stellar Sound

Edgeway’s stiffest competition in the Rancho Bernardo may come from Stellar Sound. The daughter of Tapit placed in the Las Virgenes (G2) and Bayakoa (G3) running one mile or farther last season, but she ran better than ever when cutting back in distance for a six-furlong allowance at Del Mar last month.

Which horses do you have your eyes on this week?