Horses to Watch: Baffert juvenile, Mott filly join the list
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.
New to the watch list
A 2-year-old son of five-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Citizen Bull delivered a sharp performance when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight Saturday at Del Mar. Sent off as the 2.60-1 second choice in a six-horse field, Citizen Bull broke well under jockey Martin Garcia and pressed fractions of 22.10 and 45.17 seconds set by Smash It. The two leaders then engaged in a prolonged homestretch battle, with Citizen Bull gradually taking command and edging away through quick closing fractions to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Citizen Bull stopped the clock at a respectable 1:03.42 while Smash It pulled seven lengths clear of the third-place finisher, so Citizen Bull’s performance was stronger than his margin of victory implies. Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Citizen Bull looks like a stakes horse in the making.
Just how talented is Nic’s Style? There’s no way to know, because she’s yet to be headed or challenged in three widely spaced starts.
Nic’s Style made her debut as a young 2-year-old in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on May 5, 2022, at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Uncaptured carved out fractions of 21.99 and 45.19 seconds on her way to victory by 6 1/4 lengths in 51.33 seconds, missing the track record by only 0.47 seconds.
Nic’s Style didn’t race again until Dec. 9, 2023, when she again led all the way to obliterate a 6 1/2-furlong $20,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park by 10 1/4 lengths, stopping the clock at a quick 1:16.17 seconds. Then, following an eight-month break, Nic’s Style returned to action in a six-furlong allowance at Saratoga on Saturday and led from start to finish to win by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:09.57.
Hopefully Nic’s Style can put together a full campaign from here on out. Her latest victory earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form, suggesting she has the talent to make noise against graded-stakes competition for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
Off the watch list
Bandita
In her return from an 18 1/2-month layoff, flashy debut winner Bandita ran below expectations as the 7-5 favorite in a six-furlong allowance Saturday at Saratoga. She failed to show early speed on her way to finishing fifth by 9 1/4 lengths. I’ll want to see Bandita bounce back with a stronger run before recommending her again.
She Feels Pretty
She Feels Pretty tried hard to win the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga, but down the lane she couldn’t quite outkick Grayosh, finishing second by a neck. After two straight defeats, I’ll drop She Feels Pretty from my watch list.
Here is my complete, updated list of Horses to Watch.