Horses to Watch: Keep your eyes on 9 from the weekend

New to the Watch List

Catching Freedom

Catching Freedom wasn’t in any hurry to get going during the early stages of the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, trailing the 11-horse field through modest fractions of 23.49, 48.33 and 1:12.54. But the Brad Cox trainee was full of run around the far turn and down the homestretch, gobbling up ground to win by one length in 1:56.16. Catching Freedom finished fast on the clock and defeated an accomplished field, so he heads to Churchill Downs as a Kentucky Derby win threat.

I’m Very Busy

Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) runner-up I’m Very Busy picked up his first graded-stakes win in impressive fashion, closing from 10th place to win the Muniz Memorial Classic presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2) racing 1 1/8 miles over the Fair Grounds turf course. The Chad Brown-trained 4-year-old ran his final furlong in about 11.56 seconds to dominate by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:47.57, a decisive victory that suggests I’m Very Busy will be a force to reckon with this year. The Turf Classic (G1) at 1 1/8 miles over the Churchill Downs lawn could be ripe for conquest by I’m Very Busy.

In Theory

Purchased for $800,000 as a 2-year-old in training, In Theory made her belated debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Saturday. The result was impressive, as the daughter of Mendelssohn set fractions of 21.89 and 45.18 seconds before edging away to beat older rival Queen of Naples by three lengths in 1:11.59. In Theory was easing up at the finish and appeared capable of winning by more, so a bright future may await this Bob Baffert trainee.

Recent Watch List winners

Endlessly

Endlessly was visually spectacular in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park, roaring from seventh place to beat a large field by four lengths. He ran the final furlong in a sharp 12.22 seconds to complete the 1 1/8-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in 1:50.15, in the process earning his fourth stakes win from six starts.

Nash

After running well without winning in a trio of starts at Fair Grounds, including a couple of road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers, Nash traveled to Oaklawn and smashed the one-mile Hot Springs for 3-year-olds. He settled in midfield behind splits of 23.15, 47.64 and 1:12.56 before seizing command under a hand ride to dominate by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:38.49. A beautifully bred Brad Cox trainee, Nash might yet develop into a Triple Crown type, with the Preakness seemingly a good fit for his current racing schedule.

Ova Charged

Ova Charged is turning into an absolute beast of a turf sprinter. The Louisiana-bred 6-year-old mare started as the 1-10 favorite in the Page Cortez sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the Fair Grounds turf and led all the way through splits of 21.55 and 44.22 seconds to dominate by 12 1/2 lengths in the blazing time of 1:01.90. She’s 3-for-3 on turf and has won four stakes in a row, so at this point there’s no telling how talented Ova Charged might be. We’ll get a better idea roughly six weeks from now, as it sounds like the May 3 Unbridled Sidney (G3) sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the Churchill Downs lawn is next on the agenda.

Tarifa

With relentless determination, Rachel Alexandra (G2) winner Tarifa tracked pacesetter Our Pretty Woman in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and eventually wore her down to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:43.24. Having won the two most important road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifiers at Fair Grounds, Tarifa has a strong chance to give trainer Brad Cox his third Kentucky Oaks (G1) win in seven years.

Worth another try

Carbone

Couldn’t keep pace with Nash in the Hot Springs but held on for second place after tracking the early pace. Carbone has lost three straight stakes, but all were routes, and I believe this son of 2019 champion male sprinter Mitole could develop into a stakes-caliber sprinter if he cuts back in distance.

Touchuponastar

Louisiana-bred sensation made a rare start against graded-stakes company in the New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds and ran gamely in defeat, setting strong fractions of 23.16, 46.87 and 1:11.17 before holding on for second place against deep closer Red Route One. Touchuponastar was beaten only two lengths in the good time of 1:49.14 for 1 1/8 miles, so we’ll view his effort in a positive light.

Off the Watch List

Agate Road

Although I’m still optimistic Agate Road can develop into a quality turf horse this year, his seventh-place finish in the Louisiana Derby on dirt marked his fourth straight defeat. I’ll want to see him reverse his losing streak before returning him to my watch list.

Botanical

Botanical suffered her first defeat at Turfway from six starts when finishing fifth without an obvious excuse in the Latonia. This marked a clear regression from her previous Turfway form, and since the meet is coming to an end soon, she won’t have a chance to bounce back at Turfway until the end of this year. Botanical is 0-for-3 at other tracks, so for now I’m dropping her from my watch list.

Hall of Fame

After finishing a troubled seventh in the Risen Star (G2), Hall of Fame received a cleaner trip in the Louisiana Derby, only to tire and finish 10th. I’ll want to see better before backing him again.

Pretty Liam

Pretty Liam stepped up in class for the Melody of Colors sprinting five furlongs over the Gulfstream Tapeta and suffered her second straight defeat, finishing third by 3 1/2 lengths. I was hoping for a sharper showing.

Vote No

Vote No finished off the board for the second straight race in the six-furlong Animal Kingdom at Turfway, settling for sixth after failing to mount a rally. He appears to be off his best form at the moment.

Upcoming Entries

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge was breathtaking when debuting in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last November, sticking within a couple lengths of the early lead before finishing fast (final three furlongs in about 36.52 seconds) to romp by 10 1/2 lengths. He hasn’t run since, but Knightsbridge has put together an encouraging work tab in preparation for Thursday’s sixth race at Gulfstream Park, a one-mile $75,000 allowance optional claimer, with post time 3:40 p.m. EDT. If he picks up where he left off, a big season could be in the offing.

Here is my complete, updated list of Horses to Watch.

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.