Horses to Watch: 7 graded winners plus a maiden
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.
Upcoming Entries
Dynamic One was an impressive winner of the 1 1/4-mile Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park two months ago, overcoming a slow pace to rally from last place and defeat First Captain (see below) by a nose. Dynamic One will stick to the same distance for Saturday’s 11th race at Saratoga, the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at 5:45 p.m. EDT and arguably comes in as an underrated win threat. He’s steadily progressing in the right direction and has Saratoga’s leading jockey Irad Ortiz aboard.
First Captain lost the Suburban by a nose to Dynamic One, but he didn’t run badly by any means, sprinting the final quarter mile in about 23.77 seconds. That’s a strong fraction coming at the end of 1 1/4 miles, and First Captain previously demonstrated a similar turn-of-foot to win the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special (G3), so the improving son of Curlin figures to be flying down the homestretch of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Four starts, four blowout victories. Two spectacular Grade 1 wins. Flightline has been unstoppable as a sprinter/miler, and we’ll find out if he can handle two turns and 1 1/4 miles in Saturday’s 10th race at Del Mar, the Pacific Classic (G1) at 8:30 p.m. EDT. The challenges are significant, but Flightline is arguably the most talented and exciting horse in training. If he shows the same brilliance over 1 1/4 miles, then the Breeders’ Cup Classic (for which the Pacific Classic offers a “Win and You’re In” berth) is his to lose.
Hawker is a son of Triple Crown winner Justify and a half-sibling to Belmont Stakes runner-up Commissioner, so running long is bound to be his strong suit. That’s why it was exciting to see Hawker rally strongly to finish second by a neck in his debut sprinting five furlongs at Del Mar, counting next-out winner Carmel Road among his beaten rivals. Hawker will stretch out over 6 1/2 furlongs for Saturday’s sixth race at Del Mar, a maiden special weight (post time 6:30 p.m. EDT) and should be right in the hunt for victory.
Nearly 10 months have passed since Lieutenant Dan finished a strong second behind Golden Pal in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Lieutenant Dan hasn’t run since, but if he’s ready to roll off the long layoff, the 6-year-old gelding will be tough to beat in Sunday’s ninth race at Del Mar, the Green Flash Handicap (G3) at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Lieutenant Dan trounced this race last year as part of a three-race win streak, and his 3: 2-1-0 record sprinting five furlongs on turf at Del Mar (with his lone loss coming in the Breeders’ Cup) stamps him as a horse-for-the-course standout.
Naughty Gal has already nabbed one graded stakes at Saratoga, wiring the Adirondack (G3) by 2 1/2 lengths despite racing greenly off the turn and down the homestretch. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee will attempt to pick up another big win in Sunday’s 11th race at Saratoga, the Spinaway (G1) at 6:11 p.m. EDT, which would give Naughty Gal a head start on earning champion Two Year Old Filly honors at the Eclipse Awards.
Jockey Club Gold Cup entrant Olympiad completely misfired in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga last month, finishing fourth out of five while beaten 9 1/4 lengths. But the son of Speightstown had previously won five straight races (including four graded stakes), so on his best day Olympiad is a threat to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His pedigree indicates 1 1/4 miles won’t be an issue, and two starts back he finished strongly to win the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster (G2) by 2 1/4 lengths.
War Like Goddess has been on a roll dating back to the spring of 2021, recording six graded stakes wins from her last seven starts. Her lone defeat came by half a length in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and she enters off an easy victory in the Glens Falls (G2) at Saratoga, so the daughter of English Channel is clearly the mare to beat in Saturday’s 10th race at Saratoga, the Flower Bowl (G2) at 5:09 p.m. EDT. Remember, War Like Goddess won this race last year and is 3-for-3 at Saratoga.
Which horses do you have your eyes on?