Horses to Watch: These 15 include Ky. Derby hopefuls
In this biweekly series, racing analyst J. Keeler Johnson shares promising horses from his handicapping watch list, reviewing runners who recently caught his eye and previewing horses scheduled to run back in the near future.
Upcoming entries
Agate Road
Grade 2 Pilgrim winner Agate Road received a poor pace setup when second in the Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park last month. If he encounters a quicker tempo in Saturday’s 11th race at Gulfstream, the Kitten’s Joy (G3) at 5:08 p.m. EST, Agate Road can rally to the winner’s circle.
Alva Starr
Alva Starr hasn’t missed the exacta in six starts, most notably crushing the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga by 8 3/4 lengths. She owns strong Brisnet Speed Ratings and is the even-money, morning-line favorite to kick off her 4-year-old season on a winning note in Saturday’s 10th race at Oaklawn, the American Beauty at 5:14 p.m. EST.
Bentornato
Bentornato finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Florida Sire In Reality last time out, but he’s 4-for-4 sprinting at Gulfstream Park and should appreciate cutting back to seven furlongs for Saturday’s ninth race there. The Swale is scheduled for 4:08 p.m. EST.
Carbone
Carbone has wired his first two starts by daylight margins, including a one-mile $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn. The Steve Asmussen trainee is a key win threat while joining the road to the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s 11th race at Oaklawn, the Southwest (G3) at 5:50 p.m. EST.
Coach Prime
Coach Prime suffered a wide trip when rallying to finish third by one length in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) last time out. If he’s able to save more ground while dropping blinkers in Saturday’s fifth race at Santa Anita, the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at 5:15 p.m. EST, he can run an improved race.
Fierceness
Fierceness was tons the best in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall, beating a strong field by 6 1/4 lengths. He’ll kick off his 3-year-old campaign in Saturday’s 12th race at Gulfstream, the Holy Bull (G3) at 5:45 p.m. EST and will be tough to beat if he runs to his recent sharp workouts.
Irish Aces
Strong finishing fractions made it difficult for Irish Aces to catch up after a stumbling start in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream, but he nevertheless rocketed his final five-sixteenths of a mile in about 27.75 seconds to rally wide and finish second by a neck. A better setup in Saturday’s 10th race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Tampa Bay (G3) at 4:50 p.m. EST, can help Irish Aces outrun his 6-1 morning-line odds.
Kinza
Kinza was tons the best when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita, vying for the early lead before drawing off to win by 7 1/2 lengths. The Bob Baffert-trained filly is a formidable win threat while stepping up in class for Sunday’s seventh race at Santa Anita, the Las Virgenes (G3) at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Macanga
Macanga was much the best in a one-mile, maiden special weight over the Gulfstream grass course, leading all the way and finishing quickly to beat a next-out winner by 2 1/2 lengths. She’s a logical win threat while stepping into the stakes ranks for Saturday’s eighth race at Gulfstream Park, the Sweetest Chant (G3) at 3:38 p.m. EST.
Mystik Dan
I’m not sure Mystik Dan will relish the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Southwest, but the son of Goldencents has shown flashes of talent, and he wasn’t badly beaten when fifth in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn last month. Don’t be shocked if Mystik Dan outruns his 12-1 morning-line odds.
Nothing Like You
Nothing Like You has won three straight races for Baffert, including the Desi Arnaz and Starlet (G2). She’ll have every chance to keep her win streak alive while kicking off her 3-year-old season in the Las Virgenes, where stablemate Kinza looms as her primary challenger.
Nysos
Nysos obliterated the competition in his first two starts, including the Bob Hope (G3), by the combined margin of 19 1/4 lengths. He’s versatile in terms of running style and has the pedigree to stretch out over one mile in the Robert B. Lewis, so beating Nysos is going to be mighty tough.
Skelly
Skelly has led from start to finish in six consecutive races, including five at Oaklawn. Last year’s Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) hero recently ended a layoff with victory in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn, setting the stage for another winning performance in Saturday’s eighth race there. The King Cotton starts at 4:04 p.m. EST.
Touchuponastar
Touchuponastar is 10-for-13 lifetime and 4-for-4 at Delta Downs, where he beat open company in the Delta Mile last fall. The talented 5-year-old gelding can bring his Delta record to 5-for-5 while facing fellow Louisiana-breds in Saturday’s sixth race at Delta Downs, the Louisiana Bred Premier Championship at 8:43 p.m. EST.
Vote No
Vote No is 2-for-2 on Tapeta and impressed when rallying to a 5 1/4-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Turfway Prevue at Turfway Park last month. He placed third in Keeneland’s 1 1/16-mile Bourbon (G2) last fall and should be tough while stretching out over one mile for Friday’s sixth race at Turfway, the Leonatus at 8:25 p.m. EST.
Worth another try
Runaway Happy
Runaway Happy was tons the best when debuting in a six-furlong, maiden special weight on Dec. 30 at Mahoning Valley, leading all the way to win by 21 lengths. But she didn’t post any timed workouts in January and may have been short of her best when returning in a six-furlong allowance on Thursday at Mahoning. That was where she set quick fractions of 22.97 and 46.71 seconds before weakening to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths as the 1-20 favorite. I’ll give the 3-year-old filly a chance to rebound next time.