Horses to Watch: Follow these 10 at Saratoga and beyond
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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Efficiency looked like a star in the making when dominating a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Belmont Park back in May. The well-bred son of Gun Runner pressed the early pace over a sloppy track, then took command and drew off to win by 11 lengths.
Efficiency can keep his momentum rolling in Friday’s seventh race at Saratoga, a 1 1/8-mile allowance (post time 4:29 p.m. EDT). Key rival Keepmeinmind is returning from an 11-month layoff, so the stage is set for Efficiency to spring a mild surprise for hot trainer Chad Brown.
Four starts, four victories. Jack Christopher has been untouchable so far, winning the Champagne (G1), Woody Stephens (G1), and Pat Day Mile (G2) by a minimum of 2 3/4 lengths. His Woody Stephens score last month was achieved under a hand ride by 10 lengths.
Jack Christopher will attempt to stretch his speed around two turns for the first time in Saturday’s 12th race at Monmouth Park, the Haskell (G1) (post time 5:45 p.m. EDT). If Jack Christopher handles the unfamiliar 1 1/8-mile distance, his brilliance can win the day.
In the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park last month, a terrific finish between two stretch runners saw Clairiere edge Malathaat by a head. But the tables could be turned in Sunday’s fifth race at Saratoga, the Shuvee (G2) (post time 3:21 p.m. EDT).
The Ogden Phipps saw Malathaat race closer to a destructive early pace than Clairiere. There are only four fillies entered in the Shuvee (and none are speed horses), so a relaxed tempo could give Malathaat the edge she needs to win. Remember, Malathaat finished ahead of Clairiere in all four of their meetings in 2021, when Malathaat won three Grade 1s and the Eclipse Award for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
A blowout victory in the Ashland (G1), a quietly troubled runner-up finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and a game second-place effort against males in the Belmont Stakes. Nest has been on a roll for trainer Todd Pletcher, and the stoutly bred filly figures to factor again in Saturday’s fifth race at Saratoga, the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) (post time 3:16 p.m. EDT).
Nest is getting a rematch with Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath (see below), and since Nest had to wait in traffic at a key moment around the far turn of the Kentucky Oaks, it’s possible an unencumbered trip at Saratoga will allow Nest to turn the tables.
Three months ago, Pipeline was spectacular in a one-mile allowance at Aqueduct. Making his 2022 debut, the Chad Brown-trained 4-year-old led all the way to dominate by nine lengths.
Pipeline hasn’t run since, but he enters Saturday’s eighth race at Monmouth Park, the Monmouth Cup (G3) (post time 3:29 p.m. EDT) off an encouraging series of workouts. The Monmouth Cup hasn’t drawn the toughest field on paper, so this looks like a perfect opportunity for Pipeline to secure his first stakes win.
Although Search Results was beaten to third place in the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park last month, she ran out of her skin in defeat. After pressing champion Letruska through blazing fractions of 22.75, 45.23 and 1:09.23, Search Results fought on gamely down the lane to finish just 2 1/4 lengths behind proven Grade 1 winner Clairiere and champion Malathaat.
Search Results will encounter easier competition in Saturday’s 10th race at Monmouth Park, the Molly Pitcher (G3) (post time 4:38 p.m. EDT). Assuming the pace is a bit more controlled, Search Results can bounce back to the winner’s circle under hot jockey Flavien Prat.
Time after time, race after race, Secret Oath has displayed the ability to launch an eye-catching rally around the far turn. This strategy carried her to a two-length victory over Nest in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and Secret Oath has every chance to repeat the feat in Saratoga’s Coaching Club American Oaks.
Secret Oath endured a significantly troubled trip when coming home fourth against males in the Preakness two months ago. Drawing the outside post while facing only four rivals at Saratoga should help Secret Oath work out a clean trip and bounce back to peak form.
Shirl’s Speight didn’t run badly when trying dirt in the Salvator Mile (G3) last month, finishing third behind Grade 1 winners Mind Control and Hot Rod Charlie. But returning to grass for Saturday’s eighth race at Woodbine, the Connaught Cup (G2) (post time 4:51 p.m. EDT) figures to be right up Shirl’s Speight’s alley.
Shirl’s Speight unleashed a terrific closing kick to win the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) over the Keeneland turf course three starts back, and a repeat of that effort would make Shirl’s Speight dangerous at Woodbine. Breaking from the far outside post in a field of 14 is a concern, but Shirl’s Speight can’t be dismissed as a win contender.
If anyone can take down Jack Christopher in the Haskell, it’s surely Taiba, the slim morning line favorite. An impressive winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) during the spring, Taiba has trained strongly since recording a 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, most recently clocking five furlongs in a snappy 59.4 seconds at Santa Anita.
Trainer Bob Baffert has saddled 13 starters in the Haskell, recording a phenomenal record of nine wins and four seconds. If Taiba bounces back to his Santa Anita Derby form, a top-two finish is well within reach.
Tobys Heart never had a chance to win the Intercontinental (G3) sprinting six furlongs at Belmont last month. Early trouble left Tobys Heart racing in last place, and fast finishing fractions made catching up impossible.
Nevertheless, Tobys Heart was only beaten four lengths, and she can rebound with a clean trip and a fair setup in Saturday’s 10th race at Saratoga, the Caress (G3) (post time 6:13 p.m. EDT). Tobys Heart is undefeated in four starts over the 5 1/2-furlong distance of the Caress, stamping her as a live longshot worth supporting.
Which horses do you have your eyes on?