Horses to Watch: These 7 lead major Saratoga, Del Mar races
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.
Results
Wednesday
Saratoga, race 8. Although Virgin Colada was beaten in the P. G. Johnson, she didn’t run badly by any means. After rating in midfield through pedestrian splits of 24.80, 50.28 and 1:15.02, she gained four lengths into fast closing fractions to finish second by 1/2 length. According to the Equibase GPS chart, Virgin Colada ran her final quarter-mile in a swift 22.48 seconds, so she’s worth watching again.
Entries
Saturday
Saratoga, race 5. Federal Judge recently returned from a 13-month layoff to finish second in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer sprinting seven furlongs at Saratoga. The Brad Cox trainee was beaten less than one length after setting the pace and warrants respect while sticking to the same class level for a 6 1/2-furlong sprint this Saturday.
Del Mar, race 4. Nothing Like You has shown flashes of significant talent for hot trainer Bob Baffert. Last December, she wired the Starlet (G2) by 5 1/4 lengths, and during the spring she trounced the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) by 7 1/2 lengths. But Nothing Like You has struggled with consistency and occasionally runs well below her best. Hopefully being freshened for nearly three months will allow Nothing Like You to deliver a peak performance in the Torrey Pines (G3), a one-mile contest for sophomore fillies.
Saratoga, race 12. Way back in 2021, when the Flower Bowl (G1) was a Grade 1 race, War Like Goddess took home top honors. Three years later, the decorated seven-year-old mare is seeking a second Flower Bowl triumph. She rallied strongly from behind a fast pace to take last month’s Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) at Delaware Park, so the two-time Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) conqueror remains in winning form for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
Del Mar, race 10. Adare Manor rarely tastes defeat, and since April she’s won the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Santa Margarita (G2) and Clement L. Hirsch (G1) in succession. I was particularly impressed with her Hirsch triumph, as Adare Manor got shuffled back in traffic before rallying powerfully to beat multiple graded stakes winner Scylla by 2 3/4 lengths. Her talent and red-hot form stamp Adare Manor as the horse to beat while facing males in the Pacific Classic (G1).
Sunday
Saratoga, race 12. Five weeks after delivering a 2 1/4-length score in a fast renewal of the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, Arthur’s Ride is seeking a second Grade 1 win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Stretching out over 1 1/4 miles shouldn’t be an issue; prior to the Whitney, he trounced a $62,500 allowance optional claimer over this track and distance by 12 3/4 lengths. Arthur’s Ride is developing into a serious Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) threat, and if he brings his A game to the Jockey Club Gold Cup he’ll be tough to catch.
Another watch list member entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup is Highland Falls, winner of the Blame (G3) and runner-up in the Monmouth Cup (G3) and Oaklawn Handicap (G2) this year. In the Monmouth Cup, Highland Falls got shuffled back in traffic and didn’t have a fair chance to chase down runaway winner Tapit Trice, so with a clear trip on Saturday he’s eligible to outrun expectations.
Del Mar, race 7. A fever derailed Muth from an intended start in the Preakness, and he hasn’t been seen in action since winning the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1) over a field including next-out Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. But the Bob Baffert-trained sophomore has put together a sharp work tab in preparation for his return in the one-mile Shared Belief, so a comeback victory is likely in the offing.