Horses to Watch: Follow these 6 through Preakness weekend

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Dazzling Blue

The Brad Cox trainee Dazzling Blue went 2-for-2 as a juvenile, wiring her debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs before trouncing the Letellier Memorial by three lengths over the same distance at Fair Grounds. At that point, the daughter of Into Mischief looked like a potential Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender in the making.

Unfortunately, Dazzling Blue missed some training time during the winter, but she’s posted half a dozen timed workouts since April and returns to action as the horse to beat in Friday’s second race at Churchill Downs, a $125,000 allowance optional claimer (post time 6:28 p.m. EDT). Returning to the track and six-furlong distance of her debut win should set the stage for Dazzling Blue to visit the winner’s circle.

Faiza

Five starts, five victories. No one has found a way to defeat Faiza, who has rattled off increasingly impressive victories in the Starlet (G1), Las Virgenes (G3), Santa Ysabel (G3) and Santa Anita Oaks (G2). The latter victory came by 6 1/2 lengths, her most dominant performance to date.

Faiza will race outside of California for the first time when she tackles 11 rivals in Friday’s 13th race at Pimlico, the Black-Eyed Susan (G2, post time 5:44 p.m. EDT). A quality field has turned out, but Faiza’s winning profile stamps her as a formidable favorite.

Fort Warren

Fort Warren wired his debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita last fall, defeating next-out winner Spun Intended by half a length. Then, following a three-month layoff, he finished third in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2).

As a son of Curlin out of a Bernardini mare, Fort Warren is bred to run long, so the six-furlong distance of Friday’s eighth race at Pimlico, a $62,500 allowance optional claimer (post time 3:05 p.m. EDT) might be shorter than ideal. But it does look like a good starting point for Fort Warren to return from a layoff and make his first start for trainer Brittany Russell, who has gone 7-for-12 (58 percent) to start the Pimlico meet.

Hurricane Dream

Hurricane Dream impressed in a 1 1/16-mile grass allowance at Keeneland last month, surging from off the pace to dominate by 4 1/2 lengths. That marked a nice rebound from a 10th-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), and the former French campaigner now ranks among the favorites in Saturday’s eighth race at Pimlico, the Dinner Party (G3, post time 2:49 p.m. EDT).

Victory isn’t guaranteed, for Hurricane Dream is squaring off against Atone and Speaking Scout, who finished first and third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf. But Hurricane Dream has posted bullet workouts in preparation for his return to the graded stakes ranks and can’t be counted out of the win picture.

Mage

Mage has made fantastic progress since wiring his Jan. 28 debut sprinting seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park. After finishing fourth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and second in the Florida Derby (G1), Mage elevated his game to a new level in the Kentucky Derby, launching a sweeping rally from behind a fast pace to prevail by one length with a career-best 103 Brisnet Speed rating.

There’s no guarantee Mage will receive a similarly favorable pace when he starts as the favorite in the Preakness, but he might not need one. If he can get off to a better start at Pimlico than he has in his last few starts, Mage can stay closer to the early pace and quite possibly add the Triple Crown’s second jewel to his roster of victories.

Saudi Crown

If you’re a fan of Brisnet speed ratings, then you’re probably confident Saudi Crown will conquer his elders in Sunday’s eighth race at Churchill Downs, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance (post time 4:22 p.m. EDT). Whereas none of his rivals have posted a Brisnet speed rating higher than 98, Saudi Crown threw down a 101 when trouncing a six-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland last month by 4 3/4 lengths.

A son of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming out of a mare by Tapit, Saudi Crown looks like a possible star in the making for trainer Brad Cox. Saudi Crown has cranked out sharp workouts since his debut and looks ready to roll in his second career start.

Off the Watch List

Following Sea

Faded in his first start back from a 17-month layoff, finishing a distant third in an $80,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting seven furlongs on Thursday at Belmont Park. The early fractions were strong (22.45 and 44.94 seconds), but Following Sea ran below his Grade 1-caliber form from 2021. I’ll want to see him run better in his second start back before supporting him again.

Which horses do you have your eyes on?

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.