Horses to Watch: Ky. Derby prospects are among 5 standouts
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.
Upcoming entries
Eyeing Clover
Eyeing Clover got burned up chasing a destructive pace in the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct last month, but to his credit, he fought on gamely down the homestretch to finish fourth behind a trio of deep closers. Eyeing Clover fared clearly best out of three well-bet pace players and figures to vie for victory if he catches an easier pace in Saturday’s eighth race at Oaklawn, the Hot Springs. Post time is 5:19 p.m. EDT. Don’t forget, Eyeing Clover won his debut at Oaklawn over multiple next-out winners.
Forte
Forte may have drawn post 11 in Saturday’s 14th race at Gulfstream Park, the Florida Derby (G1) at 6:40 p.m. PDT, but the prospect of a wide trip shouldn’t scare off his backers. The 2022 champion 2-year-old male kicked off 2023 with a flashy, 4 1/2-length victory in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream, and he’s shaping up as a standout against the Florida Derby field. Drawing an outside post might actual be a benefit, giving Forte an opportunity to stay out of traffic in a large field.
Mage
Although Mage was beaten to fourth place in the Fountain of Youth, that was a deceptively good performance. Making his stakes and route debut off a seven-furlong debut win at Gulfstream, Mage ran into early trouble and raced wide before battling on to miss second place by only 2 1/4 lengths. He’s entered in the Florida Derby and can vie for a top-three finish if he breaks cleanly and reverts to the pacesetting tactics he employed in his maiden victory.
Smile Happy
Barely more than two weeks after rallying to a fast-finishing comeback victory in a $50,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn, 2022 Kentucky Derby alumnus Smile Happy is back in the entries for Saturday’s fifth race at Oaklawn, the Oaklawn Mile at 3:32 p.m. EDT. The Kenny McPeek trainee has lots of back class with a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and runner-up finishes in the Risen Star (G2) and Blue Grass (G1), so Smile Happy has every chance to bring his 2023 record to a perfect 2-for-2.
Worth another try
Coffee in Bed
Although Coffee in Bed was beaten to second place as the 9-10 favorite in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting seven furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita, she didn’t run badly. The Richard Mandella trainee saved ground in fifth position early on, gained ground around the turn and fought on well down the homestretch to finish two lengths behind the pace-tracking winner Anywho.
Coffee in Bed made a nice move into the teeth of second quarter-mile that elapsed in a quick 22.69 seconds, and she pulled 5 1/2 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. This was an effort the daughter of Curlin can build upon.