Horses to Watch: 6 return at Keeneland and Oaklawn

In this biweekly series, racing analyst J. 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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Didia

Didia has won six of her eight starts since arriving in the United States from Argentina, including the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2), Rodeo Drive (G2) and Modesty (G3). She also finished a pace-compromised second in the New York (G1) and was beaten only 4 1/2 lengths when 10th in a deep edition of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Perhaps Didia can secure her first U.S. Grade 1 win in Saturday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Jenny Wiley (G1), post time 5:16 p.m. EDT. She’s facing a tough field, but many of her rivals are late runners, and the tactical speed Didia showed in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf last time out may lend her an advantage.

Integration

Some bettors may jump off the Integration bandwagon as a result of his fifth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) to start 2024, but it’s worth noting Integration lacked racing room until very late in that fast 1 1/8-mile contest, and he was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths at the wire.

Integration had previously trounced Pegasus World Cup Turf runner-up I’m Very Busy by five lengths in the Hill Prince (G2) at Aqueduct, a race in which he rocketed his final furlong in a blazing 10.85 seconds. With an unencumbered trip in Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1), post time 5:16 p.m. EDT, Integration has every chance to win.

Love Reigns

Love Reigns isn’t the most consistent filly in training, but when she’s at her best, she’s a tough turf sprinter. She’s 2-for-2 dashing 5 1/2 furlongs over the Keeneland turf course, which includes an eye-catching Limestone victory during an abbreviated 2023 campaign. In the Limestone, Love Reigns ran into traffic, but found room between rivals and burst through to prevail by half a length.

Love Reigns is returning to that course and distance for Saturday’s seventh race at Keeneland, the Giant’s Causeway (G3), post time 4:12 p.m. EDT. She hasn’t raced since last August, but she’s run well fresh in the past and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Master of The Seas

The horse to beat in the Maker’s Mark Mile is Master of The Seas, runner-up by a nose in the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) over this course and distance last fall. Master of The Seas sandwiched that defeat in between impressive stretch-running victories in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Master of The Seas sprinted his final furlong in approximately 10.60 seconds to gain 5 3/4 lengths and prevail by a nose over England’s 1,000 Guineas (G1) winner Mawj. If Master of The Seas brings his A-game to his 2024 debut, he’ll be tough to hold off down the homestretch.

Skelly

Skelly’s seven-race win streak came to an end in the Feb. 24 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) in Saudi Arabia, but the 5-year-old gelding ran well in defeat, finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths. He’ll be formidable while returning to the United States for Saturday’s eighth race at Oaklawn, the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), post time 4:56 p.m. EDT.

After all, Skelly has won each of his last six starts at Oaklawn in gate-to-wire fashion, and that includes a 2 1/4-length victory in the 2023 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. Assuming Skelly brings his best, he shouldn’t have much difficulty defending his Count Fleet title.

The Wine Steward

The Wine Steward showed an abundance of potential as a juvenile. He won his first three starts, including the Bashford Manor and Funny Cide, then finished second by half a length in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The Wine Steward pulled 3 3/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher, and the winner (Locked) came back to finish third in a deep edition of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The Wine Steward hasn’t started since the Breeders’ Futurity, but he’s been steadily turning in timed workouts since mid-February and should be ready for a competitive showing in Saturday’s 10th race at Keeneland, the Lexington (G3), post time 5:48 p.m. EDT. Sticking to the same track and distance as the Breeders’ Futurity should suit the son of Vino Rosso just fine.