Horses to Watch: Ky. Derby hopefuls lead 3 at Fair Grounds

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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Echo Again

After fading to finish seventh in the Iroquois (G3) and third in the Remington Springboard Mile on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, it’s tempting to peg Echo Again as a sprinter in the making. But the Springboard Mile was a fast race, and Echo Again was only beaten 4 1/4 lengths, so he has a chance to exceed expectations while sticking to the Derby trail for Saturday’s 14th race at Fair Grounds, the Lecomte (G3, post time 7:30 p.m.).

Certainly Echo Again’s pedigree (by Gun Runner out of a Tapit mare) is geared toward success running long, so perhaps this gray colt is still a work in progress who will start putting everything together at Fair Grounds.

Instant Coffee

The horse to beat in the Lecomte is Instant Coffee, whose Road to the Kentucky Derby exploits have already produced a decent fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and a rallying success in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).

According to approximate calculations, Instant Coffee ran the final five-sixteenths of a mile in the Kentucky Jockey Club in less than 30 seconds, a genuinely fast fraction for 2-year-old racing on dirt. Now 3 years old, Instant Coffee can reaffirm his status as a key Road to the Kentucky Derby player if he repeats his fast finish in the Lecomte.

Run Classic

Run Classic didn’t quite see out 1 1/8 miles in the Tinsel at Oaklawn last month, fading down the homestretch to finish fourth against a quality field, Perhaps cutting back to 1 1/16 miles for Saturday’s 13th race at Fair Grounds, the Louisiana (G3, post time 7:00 p.m.) can help him rebound.

Run Classic previously finished second by a head after dueling hard for the lead in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs, so it’s not unrealistic to think he can stay this trip. He actually broke his maiden racing 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds back in February 2021. Run Classic must reckon with some formidable rivals on Saturday, including 2022 Kentucky Derby starter Zozos, but he can’t be counted out of the mix for hot trainer Bret Calhoun.

Off the Watch List

Colonel Liam

Two-time Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) winner Colonel Liam is retiring to stud with earnings of $1,812,565. He joined my watch list during the summer of 2020 and contributed five stakes wins (including three Grade 1s) during a productive run. I wish him the best as a stallion.

Which horses do you have your eyes on?