Horses to Watch: Bishops Bay makes return Monday

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.

Results

Friday

Delta Downs, race 8: Touchuponastar was beaten for the first time in six starts at Delta Downs when finishing third by 6 3/4 lengths in the Delta Mile, a race he won last year. But we won’t judge his defeat too harshly.

After all, Touchuponastar was returning from a nearly 5 1/2-month layoff, and when he won the 2023 Delta Mile he had the benefit of a prep race. Secondly, the Delta Mile is a non-state-restricted race, and much of Touchuponastar’s success has come against Louisiana-bred competition.

With a comeback effort under his belt, I expect to see Touchuponastar resume his dominance of the Louisiana-bred stakes ranks this winter. I’ll keep him on my watch list.

Saturday

Churchill Downs, race 9: Remember Track Phantom? He enjoyed ample success on the 2023-24 Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Gun Runner and Lecomte (G3) before finishing second in the Risen Star (G2). In the latter race, Track Phantom was beaten only half a length by future Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone while finishing ahead of Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom, Wood Memorial (G2) hero Resilience and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) 1-2 finishers Honor Marie and Real Men Violin.

A pure pace player, Track Phantom didn’t relish stretching out over classic distances for the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Kentucky Derby, finishing fourth and 11th. But after taking six months off, he returned with a fine try in a seven-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer on Saturday at Churchill Downs. After tracking and dueling with the pacesetter through quick fractions of 22.92 and 45.40 seconds, Track Phantom took a narrow lead in midstretch, only to be run down by a rival who had eyed the speed duel from third place.

Track Phantom was beaten only three-quarters of a length in the solid time of 1:22.36. He earned a respectable 96 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form and should improve off this comeback effort, especially once he stretches out over slightly longer distances. Track Phantom is unbeaten in three starts over 1 1/16 miles, and I think he’ll be formidable in 1 1/16-mile graded stakes this winter, perhaps at Fair Grounds and/or Oaklawn. That’s why he’s new to my watch list.

Entries

Monday

Horseshoe Indianapolis, race 9: It’s been a long time since Bishops Bay last participated in a race. He’s been on the sidelines for about 16 1/2 months. But the beautifully bred son of Uncle Mo may yet develop into a graded stakes winner for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.

It’s hard to believe Bishops Bay has yet to win a stakes. He’s certainly proven to be a stakes-caliber competitor. In his debut sprinting six furlongs at Fair Grounds, he defeated First Mission, who has since won the Alysheba (G2), Essex Handicap (G3) and Lexington (G3). Later, Bishops Bay finished second by a head to future Belmont winner Arcangelo in the Peter Pan (G3). In his most recent effort, Bishops Bay ran second against Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s in the Ohio Derby (G3).

There are reasons to believe Bishops Bay can recapture that strong form when returning Monday in a one-mile and 70-yard $50,000 allowance optional claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Cox wins at a 28 percent with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more per Brisnet statistics, so that’s encouraging. So is the fact Bishops Bay has posted a trio of bullet workouts in the last month or so, capped off by five furlongs in 59.8 seconds. He’ll be tough to beat if he brings anywhere near his A game.