Horses to Watch: Maker's new speed demon joins the list
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.
New to the Watch List
He is 2-for-13 sprinting, 3-for-3 running long. Sayyaaf has turned into a front-running speed demon since stretching out in distance for trainer Todd Pletcher, who took over training duties last fall.
Check out the eye-catching performance Sayyaaf delivered in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race over the Gulfstream Park turf course on Saturday. Sent straight to the lead by jockey Javier Castellano, Sayyaaf escaped with a modest opening quarter in 23.86, then picked up the pace through a half mile in 46.60 and a swift six furlongs in 1:09.69.
Coming off the final turn, Sayyaaf put the race to bed with a blazing seventh furlong in 11.05. Still full of run down the lane, Sayyaaf drew away under a vigorous hand ride, sprinting the final furlong in 11.43 to trounce his pursuers by 4 1/4 lengths. His final time of 1:32.17 missed the course record by less than one second, and Sayyaaf counted graded stakes winners Noble Indy and Hay Dakota among his beaten rivals.
Sayyaaf was claimed on Saturday by trainer Mike Maker, who looks to have a very nice prospect on his hands. Sayyaaf appears capable of jumping back into stakes company next time out – just as long as he continues running one mile or farther.
Recent Watch List winners
Another start, another stakes win. Annex put his relentless turn-of-foot to good use once again in Saturday’s one-mile Cutler Bay Stakes over the Gulfstream Park turf course, recording his third victory from as many starts.
One of three winners saddled by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on a productive Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream, Annex flashed a bit more tactical speed than usual, settling in fourth place as the leaders carved out modest splits of :24.06, :47.78, and 1:11.45. When the pace accelerated sharply in the final quarter, Annex had his work cut out to deliver on expectations as the 11-10 favorite. But the son of Constitution was up to the task, dashing the final two furlongs in 11.2 and 11.34 to score by a neck in 1:34.33.
With a pair of stakes wins under his belt already, Annex is emerging as one of the best young turf horses in training, with the Belmont Derby (G1) surely looming as a lucrative long-term goal.
Adding blinkers has clearly worked wonders for Known Agenda, who delivered a resounding victory in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. After saving ground a few lengths behind splits of 23.43, 47.73 and 1:12.29, the son of Curlin shifted out for racing room, rallied past the pacesetting Soup and Sandwich, and forged clear to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
Produced by Vanity Handicap (G1) winner Byrama, Known Agenda is bred to improve with distance and maturity, so the chestnut colt still has plenty of upside. The Kentucky Derby looms as the next target for Known Agenda, and if he improves again five weeks from now, victory could well be within reach.
A son of Ghostzapper out of the A.P. Indy mare Music Note, Mystic Guide always had the pedigree to thrive running 1 1/4 miles as an older horse. He got his chance in the 2,000-meter Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan, and the result was exactly what pedigree handicappers anticipated – Mystic Guide tracked the pace, took over in the homestretch, and relentlessly edged away to score by 3 3/4 lengths.
The key to Mystic Guide’s victory was a strong second 800 meters, which he clocked in an excellent 47.52. This carried him to command over the pacesetting Hypothetical, after which a 24.81 final 400 meters ensured no one else could draw within shouting range of Mystic Guide.
At this point, Mystic Guide has to be considered North America’s leading older horse in training. The Dubai World Cup may have been his first Grade 1 win, but if Mystic Guide keeps progressing through the summer, it won’t be his last.
Stretching back out over 1 3/8 miles worked wonders for War Like Goddess in the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream Park, her second start of the season. After spending a mile racing in eighth place, the daughter of English Channel unleashed a furious rally down the homestretch, gaining 2 1/2 lengths in the final furlong to catch heavy favorite Always Shopping and prevail by a head.
Conditioned by Bill Mott, War Like Goddess is still lightly raced with just four starts under her belt. She still has a lot of upside and may develop into one of the leading older turf mares of 2021.
Worth another try
Although Greatest Honour was beaten 5 3/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite in the Florida Derby, I think his effort was better than it appears at first glance. After enjoying unencumbered outside rallies in the Holy Bull (G3) and Fountain of Youth (G2), Greatest Honour spent most of the Florida Derby racing inside and behind runners, at times waiting in traffic when he really needed to be advancing.
I suspect Greatest Honour might be more comfortable rallying outside of rivals, so I won’t judge his Florida Derby effort too harshly. He’s exactly the type of runner who can capitalize on a fast pace to rally and finish in the Kentucky Derby superfecta. So if you liked Greatest Honour prior to Saturday, I wouldn’t jump off the bandwagon just yet.
Here is my complete, updated list of Horses to Watch.