Horses to Watch: Cox filly debuts with impressive win

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.

Results

Saturday

Kentucky Downs, race 1. Destino d’Oro is new to my watch list after debuting with a powerful performance in a one-mile maiden special weight over the Kentucky Downs grass course. The Brad Cox-trained juvenile filly rated in ninth position for the first half of the race, then launched a giant rally to seize command and win eased up by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:35.60 seconds. She looks like a possible Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf contender in the making.

Saratoga, race 5. In his second start back from a 13-month layoff, Federal Judge become an impressive watch-list winner, leading all the way through splits of 22.12 and 45.07 seconds to smash a 6 1/2-furlong $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga by six lengths. The Brad Cox-trained 4-year-old stopped the clock at 1:16.71. He received a 95 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form and appears bound for stakes company.

Del Mar, race 4. Nothing Like You is off my watch list after finishing second by five lengths in the Torrey Pines (G3), which marked her second straight defeat at the graded-stakes level.

Saratoga, race 12. War Like Goddess spent much of the Flower Bowl (G2) boxed in with nowhere to run, trapped nine lengths behind staggeringly slow fractions of 26.08, 51.92 and 1:18.20 set by Idea Generation over a yielding turf course. Once War Like Goddess got out of traffic, she rallied boldly, running her final furlong in an excellent 11.53 seconds, according to the Equibase GPS chart. But she fell 1 1/2 lengths shy of catching Idea Generation. Given the highly unfavorable pace scenario, War Like Goddess ran well in defeat and is worth watching again.

Del Mar, race 8. Ultra Power didn’t show a lot in three starts as a 3-year-old last year, recording only a maiden victory while finishing sixth in his other two runs. But when he made his 4-year-old debut in a one-mile $40,000 allowance optional claimer over the Del Mar main track, he ran out of his skin. The Bob Baffert-trained colt stayed within 2 1/2 lengths of an opening quarter mile in 21.99 seconds, steadily advanced through splits of 45.58 and 1:10.19 and took command down the stretch to win easily by seven lengths.

A beautifully bred son of Curlin out of two-time champion Unique Bella, Ultra Power reached the finish line in a snappy 1:35.54 seconds and received a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. I can envision the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile being a viable autumn goal for Ultra Power, which is why he’s new to my watch list.

Sunday

Saratoga, race 12, A change in tactics worked wonders for Highland Falls in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Normally the type who settles around midfield, the stoutly bred son of Curlin out of Round Pond put his stamina to good use, pressing heavy favorite Arthur’s Ride through splits of 23.25, 47.67 and 1:11.31. When Arthur’s Ride gave way in the final furlong, Highland Falls drew clear to dominate by four lengths in 2:03.25, becoming a watch list winner.

Arthur’s Ride ran below my expectations, but facing unexpected pressure from Highland Falls might have compromised his chances. The Whitney (G1) winner ran his third quarter-mile in a stiff 23.64 seconds and fought gamely until the final furlong, when he tired to finish fifth by 9 1/2 lengths. Arthur’s Ride’s prior form was so strong that he’s worth watching again.

Del Mar, race 7. In his return from a five-month layoff, Muth became a watch-list winner in the Shared Belief. Making his first start since taking the Arkansas Derby (G1), Muth started as the 1-5 favorite against half a dozen sophomores and tracked fractions of 22.57 and 45.84 seconds on his way to victory by two lengths. The Bob Baffert trainee completed one mile in 1:35.64 and is clearly back in good form. Could the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) be next?

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