Horses to Watch: Play 11 at Keeneland and Oaklawn

Upcoming entries

Damon’s Mound

Damon’s Mound showed promise as a juvenile. He won his debut by 12 1/2 lengths over a field featuring future Rebel (G2) winner Confidence Game. Then he romped by 3 1/4 lengths in the Saratoga Special (G2), counting the multiple Grade 1-placed Gulfport and four-time stakes winner Super Chow among his beaten rivals. Damon’s Mound hasn’t run since finishing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois (G3) last September, but he’s eligible to rebound while shortening up and trying turf in Sunday’s seventh race at Keeneland, the Palisades (post time 4:12 p.m. EDT).

Disarm

Disarm ran impressively in the Louisiana Derby (G2) three weeks ago, rallying from behind a slow pace to finish second against the undefeated Kingsbarns. Unfortunately, that effort has left Disarm on the outside looking in as far as Kentucky Derby qualification is concerned, so he’ll seek additional Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points in Saturday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Lexington (G3, post time 5:16 p.m.).

Dr Zempf

A Group 3 winner in Ireland, Dr Zempf kicked off his U.S. campaign with a sharp triumph in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer racing about 7 1/2 furlongs over the Gulfstream Park turf course. The Chad Brown trainee is ascending the class ranks for Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland, the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1, post time 5:16 p.m.), but can’t be dismissed from consideration for a top-two finish.

First Mission

If anyone can upset Disarm in the Lexington, it might be First Mission. The Godolphin homebred crushed nine rivals in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Fair Grounds last month, drawing clear down the homestretch to win by 6 3/4 lengths. The Brad Cox trainee is progressing in the right direction and is eligible to move forward again in his stakes debut.

Love Reigns

As a juvenile last year, Love Reigns posted a dominant debut victory over the Keeneland turf course before finishing fourth in the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot, first in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland. She’s kicking off her sophomore season in Friday’s seventh race at Keeneland, the Limestone (post time 4:12 p.m.) and looms among the key win contenders.

Modern Games

The horse to beat in the Maker’s Mark Mile is Modern Games, whose 3-for-3 record in North America includes flashy victories in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and 2022 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Trainer Charlie Appleby excels with North American shippers, and Modern Games has already won at Keeneland, so all signs suggest the 3-5 morning line favorite is poised for another Grade 1 win.

New York Thunder

Another logical Palisades contender is New York Thunder, whose 2-for-2 record includes a fast maiden victory over the Gulfstream Park Tapeta track and a sharp allowance optional claiming score over the Gulfstream turf. New York Thunder has shown blazing speed and enters off sharp workouts at Keeneland, suggesting he’s a win threat even while stepping up in class.

Speak of the Devil

A deep field has assembled for Saturday’s 10th race at Keeneland, the Jenny Wiley (G1, post time 5:48 p.m.), leaving Speak of the Devil as a 10-1 longshot on the morning line. But Speak of the Devil was compromised by a modest pace in her lone start this year, and if she can recapture the fine form of her 2022 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) score, she can outrun her odds at Keeneland.

Strobe

Speedy sprinter Strobe is 4-for-5 overall and 4-for-4 on fast tracks, with all of his victories coming by blowout margins. The Godolphin homebred is stepping up in class for Saturday’s ninth race at Oaklawn, the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3, post time 5:58 p.m.), but has the Brisnet Speed ratings to challenge for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.

Twilight Gleaming

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner hasn’t started since finishing fourth in a deep renewal of the Oct. 16 Franklin (G3) won by next-out Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel. Twilight Gleaming has cracked the exacta in eight of her nine starts and looms as a logical contender while kicking off her 4-year-old campaign in Saturday’s eighth race at Keeneland, the Giant’s Causeway (post time 4:44 p.m.).

White Frost

White Frost failed by just a neck to overcome a slow pace and win the Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream last month. She gained 3 1/2 lengths in the final furlong alone and may produce a career-best effort if she receives more pace to chase in the Jenny Wiley.

Which horses do you have your eyes on?

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.